CLS and SCLS Join the World of Outlaws This Week — Dakota Albright Wins Civil War Battle, But Bobby Michnowicz Wins the War Torrance, CA — September 21, 2026 — Longtime Bay Cities Racing Association star Dakota Albright scored his second BCRA vs. Motor City Buick/GMC California Lightning Sprint Series, Quick Change Liquid Energy Civil War main event win of 2026 last Saturday night at Merced Speedway. Despite Albright's two victories, the series championship went to CLS superstar Bobby Michnowicz, who finished sixth in the series closer. This week, the CLS and SoCal Lightning Sprint Cars will close out the California Clash Series on the same cards as the World of Outlaws at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway and Ventura Raceway. This weekend's races will have plenty of ramifications. In addition to drivers battling for championships in each series, the events will serve as the third and fourth rounds of the California Clash Series. If that isn't enough, the two nights will also make up the 10th Annual Western States Lightning Sprint Car Championship. With four races remaining, including this weekend's pair, California Highway Patrol officer Jeff Dyer holds a slim 36-point advantage over rising teenage star Tyler Warner in the battle to become the 20th different champion in the 32-year history of the California Lightning Sprint Car Series. Defending CLS champion Aiden Lange is third, with "Rockstar" John Robertson fourth and Cody Nigh fifth. Lange currently sits atop the California Clash Series standings heading into the final two rounds. Dyer, who has won six main events this season between the CLS and SCLS, trails by 17 points in second. SCLS point leader David Taft and fellow SCLS regulars "Shugah" Shane Sexton, Ryan Dumas and Peter Benker are third through fifth. Dyer and Taft won the first two California Clash Series races in March at Imperial Valley Raceway. When it comes to the Western States Championship, Michnowicz brings an impressive record into the weekend. In addition to sewing up the Civil War Series championship last week and winning the two-night Bull Ring Nationals earlier this year, he has captured four of the previous nine Western States Championship races and finished in the top four seven times. The only other driver with more than one Western States title is USAC/CRA star AJ Bender. Indiana's Andy Bradley won the first time the race was staged at the original Bakersfield Speedway in 2017. Like Bradley, Doug Nunes and two-time CLS champion David Gasper have each won the race once. In addition to the CLS and SCLS regulars, Colorado drivers Steve Becker and T.J. Tengrove will be on hand to challenge the West Coast stars. Becker is the current RMLSA point leader, while Tengrove has posted three wins this season. Friday's World of Outlaws "Nashville West Showdown" at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway will see the grandstand gates open at 5:00 p.m., with hot laps beginning at 6:30. Reserved seats are $50 in advance and $55 on race day. Adult general admission tickets are $45 in advance and $50 on race day. Tickets for children ages 6-12 are $15 in advance and $20 on race day, while children 5 and under are admitted free. On Saturday at Ventura Raceway, grandstand gates will open at 5:00 p.m., with hot laps beginning at 6:30 for the "World of Outlaws Toyota Racing Battle on the Beach" presented by ARP. Reserved seats are $50 in advance and $55 on race day. Adult general admission is $45 in advance and $50 at the gate. Tickets for children ages 6-12 are $15 in advance and $20 on race day. Children 5 and under are free. Advance tickets for both events are available through the World of Outlaws website at worldofoutlaws.com. For fans unable to attend in person, both nights will be streamed live on DIRTVision. Last week at Merced, defending Civil War Series champion Greg Dennett paced the field with a lap of 12.169 in Keizer Aluminum Wheels Qualifying. Fellow BCRA racer Matt Land was second quickest at 12.296. Ageless Michnowicz, a seven-time CLS champion, recorded the third-fastest lap of the night at 12.417. Albright was fourth at 12.434, and CLS leading rookie Liam Coffey was fifth with a lap of 12.868. Dennett continued his impressive night when he defeated Michnowicz and Coffey in Heat #1. The second eight-lapper went to Albright over Marshall Sexton and Justin Norton. For the fourth and final Civil War main event of 2026, Dennett started on the pole with Albright alongside. Michnowicz lined up on the inside of row two with Land alongside. Rookie Coffey and Sexton started in row three. Albright, in his familiar Vito Trucking - J & A Powder Coating - Romey's Window Cleaning entry, took the lead from Dennett near the midpoint of the race. Michnowicz, who made a last-minute right-rear tire change, had worked his way up to second. However, he did not add fuel before the main, and the car sputtered to a stop before the finish, costing him a podium result. When the checkered flag ended the race, BCRA's Albright was first across the line, with Dennett second and Coffey third. Justin Norton and Bryan Keys rounded out the top five. The victory was the third for a BCRA car and the second for Albright in four Civil War Series races in 2026. Dennett scored the other BCRA victory. Blayden Graham posted the lone CLS win in the Mike Schweitzer #41 at the Lemoore Jet Bowl. After this week's races, the CLS will wrap up the 2026 season with races at its home track, Ventura Raceway, on October 17th and 24th. For updates and complete series information, follow the California Lightning Sprint Car Series on Facebook or visit the official website at racecls.com. September 19 CLS/BCRA Civil War Merced Speedway Results Keizer Aluminum Wheels Qualifying: 1. Greg Dennett, 12.169; 2. Matt Land, 12.296; 3. Bobby Michnowicz, 12.417; 4. Dakota Albright, 12.434; 5. Liam Coffey, 12.768; 6. Marshall Sexton, 12.784; 7. Josef Ferolito, 12.823; 8. Justin Norton, 13.063; 9. Bryan Keys, 13.097; 10.Kindal Barstow, 13.546 Heat Race #1 (8 Laps): 1. Dennett, 2. Coffey, 3. Michnowicz, 4. Ferolito, 5. Keys Heat #2 (8 Laps): 1. Albright, 2. Sexton, 3. Norton, 4. Keys, 5. Land, 6. Barstow Main Event With Starting Positions (20 Laps) 1. Dakota Albright, Waterford, CA … 2nd 2. Greg Dennett, Livermore, CA … 1st 3. Liam Coffey, San Bernardino, CA … 5th 4. Justin Norton, Ceres, CA … 8th 5. Bryan Keys, Waterford, CA … 9th 6. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA … 3rd 7. Marshall Sexton, Ceres, CA … 6th 8. Josef Ferolito, Modesto, CA … 7th 9. Matt Land, Elk Grove, CA … 4th 10. Kindal Barstow, Denair, CA … 10th 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 … 507 2. Greg Dennett … 481 3. Liam Coffey … 450 4. Dakota Albright … 390 5. Cody Nigh … 360 6. Aiden Lange … 341 7. Eric Greco … 248 8. Blayden Graham … 231 9. Justin Norton … 219 10. Jon Robertson … 206 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 – Dakota Albright 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 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