California Lightning Sprint Car Series Championship Chase Hits the Home Stretch Saturday at Ventura Torrance, CA — October 13, 2026 — With just two races remaining, the California Lightning Sprint Car Series, presented by Motor City Buick/GMC, heads to Jim Naylor’s Ventura Raceway this Saturday night, October 17, for the penultimate round of the 2026 season. At the center of the championship showdown are veteran Jeff Dyer and the series’ leading rookie, Tyler Warner, with a season’s worth of work coming down to the final two nights. Dyer, a California Highway Patrol officer from Yucca Valley, California, holds a 43-point advantage over the talented teenager. With a series-leading three victories this season, Dyer has combined winning speed with consistency. Before the most recent three races, he had finished outside the top 10 only once. Two of those last three outings, however, put a dent in his championship cushion. He finished 11th at Ventura and 10th at Bakersfield, where a crash cut his night short. Just 24 hours after the Bakersfield setback, he bounced back with a third-place finish at Ventura three weeks ago. Warner, a high school football player from Alpine, California, has kept the pressure on the veteran. His runner-up finish at Ventura at the end of August took a sizable bite out of Dyer’s lead. He then finished eighth at Bakersfield on September 25, two positions ahead of the point leader, before adding a fourth-place finish the following night at Ventura. Now, the rookie heads into the home stretch with a championship within his reach. While the Dyer-Warner title chase commands the spotlight, the battle for third is even tighter. Camarillo’s Cody Nigh and Torrance’s “Rockstar” Jon Robertson hold third and fourth, respectively, with just 25 points separating the veterans. Nigh, who won the series’ first Ventura appearance in March, will be looking to return to victory lane while keeping Robertson in his rearview mirror. Rookie Liam Coffey holds fifth in the standings, followed by four accomplished veterans with a boatload of championships. Defending CLS champion Aiden Lange sits sixth, while seven-time series champion and CLS G.O.A.T. Bobby Michnowicz occupies seventh. Brent Sexton, whose résumé includes two CLS championships and a title with the now-defunct POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprints, is eighth. Reigning SoCal Lightning Sprint Car Series champion Peter Benker ranks ninth, with his teenage son, Cody, rounding out the top 10. Ventura has hosted five CLS races this season, and the winner’s list offers an interesting twist: Nigh is the only driver currently in the top five in points to have conquered the beloved seaside oval in 2026. Ageless Michnowicz leads the way with two Ventura victories, while Lange and Northern California standout Dakota Albright have claimed one apiece. With proven Ventura winners throughout the field and precious few opportunities left to gain ground, Saturday’s showdown promises plenty of action—and every position could help decide who wears the 2026 championship crown. Sharing the bill with the CLS on Saturday’s program will be the USAC Western Midgets, VRA Dwarf Cars, VRA Hobby Stocks, and VRA Junior Classes. Spectator gates will open at 3:00 p.m., with racing scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Adult tickets are $22.00. Seniors (60+), military personnel with ID, and students with ID are $18.00. Children 12 and under are admitted free. For more information, visit Ventura Raceway or call (805) 648-RACE. The Ventura Raceway is located on the Ventura County Fairgrounds at 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura, CA 93001. 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 … 1234 2. Tyler Warner ®, Alpine, CA … 1191 3. Cody Nigh, Camarillo, CA … 1016 4. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA … 991 5. Liam Coffey ®, San Berardino, CA … 922 6. Aiden Lange, Lakewood, CA … 842 7. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA … 760 8. Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA … 719 9. Peter Benker, Alpine, CA … 519 10. Cody Benker, Alpine, CA … 465 Final California Clash Series Points (CLS vs SCLS) 1. David Taft … 461 2. Jeff Dyer … 450 3. Cody Nigh … 407 4. Peter Benker … 398 5. Brent Sexton … 379 6. Tyler Warner … 378 7. Cody Benker … 376 8. Jon Robertson … 341 9. Shane Sexton … 325 10. Liam Coffey … 297 Final Points 10th Annual Western States Lightning Sprints Championship 1. Bobby Michnowicz … 254 2. David Taft … 237 3. Cody Nigh … 218 4. Jeff Dyer … 215 5. Tyler Warner … 208 6. Jon Robertson … 192 6. Peter Benker … 192 8. Brent Sexton … 190 9. Cody Benker … 181 10. Liam Coffey … 144 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 Final 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 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 – Brent Sexton September 26 CLS with World of Outlaws CLS/SCLS Clash #4 Ventura Raceway – Dakota Albright 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