The California Lightning Sprint Car Series Heads to Merced for First Civil War Race of 2026 Torrance, CA — June 23, 2026 — The California Lightning Sprint Car Series presented by Motor City Buick/GMC heads north this Saturday night, June 27, to Bryan Lockwood’s Merced Speedway to kick off the annual Civil War Series. It will be the first of four races in the 2026 series, matching the stars and cars of the CLS against the Bay Cities Racing Association. In the five years since COVID canceled the 2020 season, three different drivers have been crowned Civil War Series champion. CLS standout David Gasper, who is now living in Indiana and competing in 410 sprint cars, captured the title in 2021 and 2022. BCRA’s Greg Dennett is the defending series champion and also wore the champion’s crown in 2023. Seven-time CLS champion Bobby Michnowicz claimed the title in 2024. Over that five-year span, six Civil War Series races have been scheduled at Merced. Gasper is the only driver with multiple wins at the Central California oval, taking the checkered flag there in 2022 and again in 2025. Single-race winners at Merced since the start of the 2021 campaign include CLS regulars Michnowicz, Eric Greco, and James Turnbull. BCRA’s Dakota Albright scored a victory there in 2024, the same season Mother Nature claimed the first scheduled Merced race. Since 2021, there have been 18 Civil War Series races contested at seven different tracks. CLS drivers have dominated the win column with 15 victories. Gasper leads the way with four wins, while Bobby Michnowicz has three and Connor Speir has two. CLS drivers with single victories during that span include Greco, Turnbull, 2025 CLS champion Aiden Lange, Jeff Dyer, Kevin Michnowicz, and AJ Bender. BCRA’s victories came courtesy of Albright and Hunter Kinney. Colorado’s Chris Crowder also made a visit west and captured a win at Ocean Speedway in 2023. Seven different tracks have hosted Civil War Series races since the COVID shutdown. Merced leads the way with six events (not counting the 2024 rainout). The original Bakersfield Speedway hosted five, while Santa Maria Speedway has hosted three. Silver Dollar Speedway, Placerville Speedway, Ocean Speedway, and Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway have each hosted one. Following Saturday’s opener, three races will remain in the 2026 Civil War Series. Round two will take place on August 7 at Plaza Park Raceway in Visalia. Round three will follow 24 hours later at the Lemoore Jet Bowl. The 2026 series will conclude where it began, at Merced, on September 19. The Lightning Sprints will be joined at Merced by the USAC Western States Midgets, Valley Sportsmen, IMCA Stock Cars, and IMCA Hobby Stocks. Spectator gates will open at 5:00 p.m., with racing getting underway at 7:00. The track website is http://www.mercedspeedway.net/ and the office phone number is 209-600-8382. For fans who cannot make it to Merced, the race will be shown live on Flo Racing. After Saturday’s race, the CLS will return to action when it joins the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars for a holiday celebration at Santa Maria Speedway. The club will then take a month off before heading north for the Plaza Park/Lemoore weekend. For updates and complete series information, follow the California Lightning Sprint Car Series on Facebook or visit the official website at racecls.com. Motor City Buick/GMC California Lightning Sprint Car Point Standings 1. Jeff Dyer … 790 2. Tyler Warner ® … 725 3. Aiden Lange … 720 4. Liam Coffey … 671 5. Jon Robertson … 581 6. Cody Nigh … 563 7. Brent Sexton … 413 8. Bobby Michnowicz … 364 9. Shane Sexton … 340 10. Braydin Collie … 332 CLS vs SCLS California Clash Points 1. Aiden Lange … 252 2. Jeff Dyer … 235 3. David Taft … 224 4. Peter Benker … 223 5. Shane Sexton … 216 6. Braydin Collie … 206 7. Cody Benker … 195 8. Brent Sexton … 189 8. Cody Nigh … 189 9. AJ Bender … 189 The CLS would like to thank the following companies for being marketing partners in the 2026 season. Series sponsor Motor City GMC Associate Sponsors American Racer Timeless Enterprises R&R Racing Quick Change Liquid Energy - The Official Energy Drink of CLS Contingency sponsors ARS BR Motorsports CSI Shocks Eibach Extreme Mufflers Keizer Wheels King Racing Optics Rebel Gears Racing Junk Rod End Supply Smith Titanium Speedmart West Evans If you would like to join the CLS and be a marketing partner in 2026, please contact Jon Robertson via email at jon.robertson@sbcglobal.net or by calling (310) 367-9050. 2026 Motor City Buick/GMC California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule March 6 CLS/SCLS Clash #1 Imperial Valley Raceway - Jeff Dyer March 7 CLS/SCLS Clash #2 Imperial Valley Raceway – David Taft March 21 CLS Ventura Raceway – Cody Nigh April 4 CLS & 305 Sprint Cars Santa Maria Speedway – Grant Sexton May 2 CLS Bakersfield Speedway/Kern – Jeff Dyer May 30 CLS Ventura Raceway – Bobby Michnowicz June 13 CLS Ventura Raceway _ Aiden Lange June 27 CLS vs BCRA Civil War Race (None Points) Merced Speedway July 4 CLS & USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Santa Maria Speedway August 7 CLS vs BCRA Civil War Race (None Points) Plaza Park Visalia August 8 CLS vs BCRA Civil War Race (None Points) Lemoore Jet Bowl August 29 CLS/SCLS Clash Race #3 Perris Auto Speedway September 19 CLS vs BCRA Civil War Race (None Points) Merced Speedway September 25 CLS with World of Outlaws CLS/SCLS Clash #4 Bakersfield Speedway September 26 CLS with World of Outlaws CLS/SCLS Clash #5 Ventura Raceway October 17 CLS Ventura Raceway October 24 CLS Ventura Raceway November 21 CLS/SCLS Clash Race #6 Barona Speedway To keep up with the CLS online, please visit the website at http://racecls.com/ and follow on the club’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/californialightningsprints. PAST CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS 1994 Tony Everhart 1995 Gary Sexton 1996 Rob Sczymczak 1997 Jon Rahe 1998 Chris Rahe 1999 Brent Sexton 2000 Greg Bragg 2001 Greg Bragg 2002 Greg Bragg 2003 David Cardey 2004 Keith Janca 2005 Johnny Bates 2006 Donny Gansen 2007 Shane Rossen 2008 Brent Sexton 2009 Stuart Hielschier Sr. 2010 Jarrett Kramer 2011 Tim Brown 2012 Bobby Michnowicz 2013 Stephen Limon 2014 Bobby Michnowicz 2015 Bobby Michnowicz 2016 Bobby Michnowicz 2017 Bobby Michnowicz 2018 Jarrett Kramer 2019 Jarrett Kramer 2021 David Gasper 2022 David Gasper 2023 Bobby Michnowicz 2024 Bobby Michnowicz 2025 Aiden Lange Special thanks to Wendy Michnowicz and Ed Haney Video. This press release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com