Saturday’s California Lightning Sprint Car Race Moved From Perris to Ventura Raceway Torrance, CA — August 25, 2026 — Just like Superman swooping in to save the day, Ventura Raceway jumped into action and gave the California Lightning Sprint Car Series, Presented by Motor City Buick/GMC, a place to race this Saturday night, August 29. The save came almost immediately after Saturday’s racing program at Perris Auto Speedway was canceled. The Perris race was scheduled to match the CLS drivers against the SoCal Lightning Sprints. When it was canceled, it appeared the CLS would have an unexpected weekend off. However, that quickly changed. “It was really within a matter of minutes when opportunity knocked,” CLS President Jon Robertson said. “We closed an opportunity door, and another one opened in almost the same breath. We were really looking forward to going to Perris. It was the first time going there in quite a while, and it was going to be a joint show with the SoCal Lightning Sprints.” “All of a sudden, Ventura called up and said they would have us there, so we jumped on it. We are looking forward to a really nice day at the beach. The biggest boon in all of this stuff is we are exchanging 100-degree weather with beach weather. So, if we had to change things at the last second, this is a good way to do it.” Saturday’s race will be the 12th of the 2026 campaign for the club, which was founded in 1994. Thus far, it has been one of the most competitive seasons in CLS history. Nine different drivers have posted wins in the first 11 races. Only point leader Jeff Dyer has won more than once. The California Highway Patrol officer has three CLS victories and has also won his last three starts with the SCLS, giving him six wins on the year. While Dyer has piled up impressive victory numbers, he has been held winless in the first three Ventura races of the season. Local driver Cody Nigh of Camarillo, seven-time CLS champion Bobby Michnowicz and defending CLS champion Aiden Lange have picked up the victories at the track longtime fans know as “The Commotion By The Ocean.” Dyer sits on top of the CLS championship standings and has a 73-point advantage over the club’s top rookie, Tyler Warner, going into Saturday’s race. Defending series champion Aiden Lange is third and is only 13-points behind Warner. Another rookie, Liam Coffey, is fourth, and Robertson is fifth. The CLS drivers and cars will become very familiar with Ventura over the next two months. Four of the club’s final seven races of the season will be staged on the track located just yards from the breaking waves of the Pacific Ocean. In addition to the CLS, Saturday’s program will feature the USCS Sprint Cars, WRA Vintage, IMCA Sport Compacts, NMRA TQ Midgets and motorcycles. Spectator gates will open at 3:00 p.m., with racing scheduled to begin at 5:30. Adult tickets are $22. Seniors 60 and older, military personnel with ID, and students with ID are $18. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. For more information, visit Ventura Raceway or call (805) 648-RACE. Ventura Raceway is located on the Ventura County Fairgrounds at 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura, CA 93001. After Saturday night at Ventura, the CLS will get two weeks off before heading to Merced on September 19 for the final round of the Civil War Series. 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, Yucca Valley, CA … 928 2. Tyler Warner ®, Alpine, CA … 855 3. Aiden Lange, Lakewood, CA … 842 4. Liam Coffey ®, San Berardino, CA … 691 5. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA … 690 6. Cody Nigh, Camarillo, CA … 681 7. Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA … 505 8. Lealand Day, Bakersfield, CA … 436 9. Braydin Collie, El Cajon, CA … 432 10. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA … 364 Bullring Nationals Points 1. Bobby Michnowicz … 261 2. Cody Nigh … 251 3. Eric Greco … 238 4. Blayden Graham … 231 5. Aiden Lange … 211 6. Greg Dennett … 209 7. Liam Coffey … 208 8. Jon Robertson … 206 8. Leland Day … 184 10. Dakota Albright … 135 CLS vs BCRA Civil War Points 1. Bobby Michnowicz … 396 1. Cody Nigh … 364 3. Greg Dennett … 344 4. Aiden Lange … 341 5. Liam Coffey … 325 6. Dakota Albright … 252 7. Eric Greco … 248 8. Blayden Graham … 231 8. Jon Robertson … 206 10 Leland Day … 184 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 – Greg Dennett July 4 CLS & USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Santa Maria Speedway – Jeff Dyer August 7 CLS vs BCRA Civil War Race (None Points) Plaza Park Visalia – Dakota Albright August 8 CLS vs BCRA Civil War Race (None Points) Lemoore Jet Bowl – Blayden Graham August 29 CLS Ventura Raceway September 19 CLS vs BCRA Civil War Race (None Points) Merced Speedway September 25 CLS with World of Outlaws CLS/SCLS Clash #3 Bakersfield Speedway September 26 CLS with World of Outlaws CLS/SCLS Clash #4 Ventura Raceway October 10 CLS/SCLS Clash Race #5 Barona Speedway October 17 CLS Ventura Raceway October 24 CLS Ventura Raceway 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