Veteran Michnowicz Dominates CLS Action With Clean Sweep at Ventura Torrance, CA — August 31, 2026 — Seven-time CLS champion Bobby Michnowicz put on a clinic when Motor City Buick/GMC presented the California Lightning Sprint Car Series at the Ventura Raceway last Saturday night. The 62-year-old swept the show, setting fast time, winning his heat and scoring a runaway victory in the 25-lap main event. Left to right: 2nd Place Tyler Warner, wWinner Bobby Michnowicz, 3rd Place Drake Cardey. CLS Photo The win was Michnowicz’s second of the season and, like his first on May 30, it came at Ventura. And once again, he led all 25 laps. Michnowicz gave the competition its first dose of “How To Do It” when he turned a lap of 13.391 in Keizer Aluminum Wheels Qualifying. That was .399 faster than teammate Jarrett Kramer, who was second quickest. Keeping it all in the family, Michnowicz’s nephew, Cody Nigh, turned in the third-best time of the night at 13.947. CLS point leader Jeff Dyer was fourth fastest with a 13.961 at the Commotion by the Ocean. “Rockstar” Jon Robertson rounded out the top five at 14.092. Michnowicz returned to the track for Racing Junk Heat #1. The CLS G.O.A.T. came from third to win the eight-lapper over Nigh and Robertson. Moments later, Kramer, the 2010, 2018 and 2019 CLS champion, started third and won Extreme Muffler Heat #2. He was chased to the Kris Kornder checkers by Dyer and USAC Western States Midget point leader Drake Cardey. Giving the competition reason for concern, Michnowicz rolled off the pole for the 25-lapper. Impressive teenager Tyler Warner was alongside. Dyer and Nigh occupied row two, with Kramer and Robertson in the third row. Rookie Liam Coffey and Cardey started in row four. As soon as the race began, Michnowicz flew into the lead with Warner, Dyer, Kramer and Nigh giving chase. Dyer, who not only leads the points standings but also tops the club with three wins, found daylight on the inside of series-leading rookie Warner coming off turn two and raced into second. At the end of the first circuit, it was Michnowicz ahead of Dyer, Warner, Nigh and Kramer. Michnowicz quickly built a lead, but it was erased when newcomer Parker Drottz rolled to a stop in turn two on lap four, bringing out the first yellow flag of the race. For the restart, the only change in the top five was Kramer, making his second CLS start of 2026, moving up to fourth. Dyer went to the top in an attempt to drive around Michnowicz on the restart. However, the longtime racer fought him off and raced away to another comfortable lead before the race was slowed again on lap six. The top three remained unchanged for the second and final yellow of the race. However, Cardey, driving one of four Sexton Gatlin Racing cars entered on the night, had charged from eighth to fourth. Michnowicz got a great restart at the flick of the green and pulled away again. Dyer gained some ground back but appeared to slow on lap 14. One lap later, he rolled into the infield after an O-ring let go, causing a fuel leak. That elevated Warner to second and Cardey to third. With the laps winding down, Michnowicz suddenly had a half-track lead. Unfortunately for him, he could not see the tremendous battle behind him as teenagers Warner and Cardey fought for second. At the checkers, Michnowicz, in his Outlaw Wings/Super Shox/Inland Rigging/Bondio Fabrication/Fabozzi Metal Works/Fast Time Studios/Keizer/TJ Forged/Timeless T Shirts/Triple X Chassis/Kawasaki ZX10/21K, had a bulging 4.915-second advantage over runner-up Warner. Cardey placed third with Kramer and Nigh fourth and fifth. “We were working our tails off; we had a fuel problem in the heat race,” Michnowicz told the crowd. “We just barely got it buttoned back up and got out there. I didn’t know if it was going to run or not. If it was not going to run, I was going to pull in before the green. It wasn’t perfect, but it ran pretty good. What a strenuous racetrack Jim (promoter Jim Naylor) gave us. I was hanging my head on my headrest, taking breaths and hoping for some yellow.” Cardey received the Eibach Spring Forward/West Evans Hard Charger Awards. Newcomer Drottz won the Rebel Gears Hard Luck Award. Warner’s second runner-up finish in a row, combined with Dyer’s bad luck, allowed the teenager to cut his deficit from 73 points to 36 in the title chase. Defending CLS champion Aiden Lange is third. Robertson sits fourth, with Nigh only one point behind in fifth. The CLS is off until September 19, when it ventures north to conclude the annual Civil War Series with the Bay Cities Racing Association. For updates and complete series information, follow the California Lightning Sprint Car Series on Facebook or visit the official website at racecls.com. For updates and complete series information, follow the California Lightning Sprint Car Series on Facebook or visit the official website at racecls.com. Ventura Raceway August 29 Results Keizer Aluminum Wheels Qualifying: 1. Bobby Michnowicz, 13.931; 2. Jarrett Kramer, 13.790; 3. Cody Nigh, 13.947; 4. Jeff Dyer, 13.961; 5. Jon Robertson, 14.092; 6. Tyler Warner, 14.097; 7. Brent Sexton, 8. Ted Kruppa, 14.963; 9. Ryan Greco, 14.982, 10. Adam Jones, 16.430; 11. Parker Drotz, 16.527; DNQ Liam Coffey; DNQ Drake Cardey Racing Junk Heat #1: 1. Michnowicz, 2. Nigh, 3. Robertson, 4. Coffey, 5. Greco, 6. Drotz Extreme Muffler Heat #2 (8 Laps): 1. Kramer, 2. Dyer, 3. Cardey, 4. Warner, 5. Krupa, 6. Jones Main Event (25 Laps With Starting Positions and Time Behind) 1. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA, … (1st) 2. Tyler Warner, Alpine, CA, (2nd) … +4.915 3.Drake Cardey, Riverside, CA, (8th) … +5.525 4. Jarrett Kramer, Spring Valley, CA, (5th) … +8.553 5. Cody Nigh, Camarillo, CA, (4th) … +9.605 6. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA, (6th) … +1 Lap 7. Ryan Greco, Palmdale, CA, (10th) … +1 Lap 8. Ted Krupa, (9th) … +2 Laps 9. Liam Coffey, San Bernardino, CA, (7th) … +7 Laps 10. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, (3rd) … +10 Laps 11. Adam Jones, Santee, CA, (11th) … +21 Laps 12. Parker Drottz, El Segundo, CA ,(12th) … +23 Laps DNS Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA 2026 CLS Contingency Awards Aug 29th– Ventura Heat Races Award Recipient Racing Junk Heat Race #1 winner Competition Suspension Inc. $50 product certificate Bobby Michnowicz Extreme Muffler Heat Race #2 winner Extreme Muffler $50 product certificate Jarret Kramer Main Event Award Winner 2nd place BR Motorsports - $25 product certificate Tyler Warner 3rd place Saldana Racing Products - $50 product certificate Drake Cardey 4th place King Racing Products $25 product certificate Jarret Kramer 5th place Smith titanium - Cody Nigh Quick time Keizer Aluminum Wheels- $50 product certificate Bobby Michnowicz Spring Forward (Hard Charger) Eibach - $100 product certificate West Evans - $25 product certificate Drake Cardey Hard Luck Award Rebel Gear Parker Drottz Criteria Award CLS Member Extreme Mufflers 10% off purchase CLS Member EZ Up 30-40% off purchase CLS Member RC Fuel Injection 50% off products and services to all race series participants CLS Member Rod End Supply $30 off each $100 for CLS participants Series Champion Triple X Race Components $500 off any chassis or chassis kit Motor City Buick/GMC California Lightning Sprint Car Point Standings 1. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA … 1019 2. Tyler Warner ®, Alpine, CA … 983 3. Aiden Lange, Lakewood, CA … 842 4. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA … 799 5. Cody Nigh, Camarillo, CA … 798 6. Liam Coffey ®, San Berardino, CA … 778 7. Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA … 529 8. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA … 506 9. Leland Dag, Bakersfield, CA … 436 10. Braydin Collie, El Cajon, CA … 425 Bullring Nationals Final 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 – Bobby Michnowicz 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