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Welcome To The Official Website Of The California Lightning Sprints! 

California Lightning Sprints
SEPTEMBER 23:
VENTURA RACEWAY
Ventura, California
SEPTEMBER 30:
MERCED SPEEDWAY
Merced, California
(CLS/BCRA Civil War)
OCTOBER 14:
MOHAVE VALLEY RACEWAY
Mohave Valley, Arizona
(CLS/SWLS Best of West)

2023 CLS Membership Application Form (pdf format)

UPDATED 2023 CLS SCHEDULE

CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINTS RETURN TO BOBBY MICHNOWICZ’S PLAYGROUND, THE VENTURA RACEWAY, SATURDAY
(Torrance, CA, September 18, 2023) There is bad news brewing for the competitors in the California Lightning Sprint Car Series heading into this Saturday night’s race at Jim Naylor’s Ventura Raceway. The bad news is that five-time series champion Bobby Michnowicz will be on hand. In the first three races for the CLS at the beautiful track located on the beach at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, Michnowicz has emerged victorious each time. To make matters more stomach-churning for the competition, he won the last 2022 race at the track in October. In fact, the last time any lightning sprint car driver not named Bobby Michnowicz won at Ventura was on July 9, 2022, when the affable driver had car issues and two-time series champion David Gasper took the victory...(more)

CHRIS CROWDER MAKES IT TWO IN A ROW IN THE CLS/BCRA CIVIL WAR SERIES

(Torrance, CA, September 11, 2023) Colorado’s Chris Crowder made his second consecutive start in the annual Civil War Series that pits the California Lightning Sprints vs the Bay Cities Racing Association last Saturday night at the Bakersfield Speedway. Much to the chagrin of the 13 California drivers on hand, “The Centennial State” invader captured the main event in a BCRA-owned car for the second race in a row. Civil War Series point leader Greg Dennett and Cody Nigh joined the happy victor on the podium.....(more).

CLS MEMBER COMMUNICATION
(Torrance, CA, September 11, 2023)
Thanks everyone for a great program at Bakersfield last Saturday night! Everyone put on a professional and racy show, I want to thank all of our CLS regulars and the BCRA folks who traveled to make this civil war race a success. It was some of the best racing in a while....(more)

CIVIL WAR POINT STANDINGS (AFTER SEPTEMBER 9)
1. 47 GREG DENNETT 378, 2. 8g ERIC GRECO 355, 3. 35jr DAKOTA ALBRIGHT 333, 4. 21x BOBBY MICHNOWICZ 323, 5. 13x AIDEN LANGE 315, 6. 57 CONNOR SPEIR 308, 7. 42 JON ROBERTSON 273, 8. 3ff CHRIS CROWDER 273, 9. 97 LELAND DAY 165, 10. 4x SETH DYER 153, 11. 4 JEFF DYER 135, 12. 3f/41B SHANE SEXTON 128, 13. 45 CODY NIGH 122, 14. 44 BRENT SEXTON 101, 15. 9 SCOTT KINNEY 99...(more).

CLS POINT STANDINGS (AFTER SEPTEMBER 9)
1. 21X BOBBY MICHNOWICZ 1365, 2. 8g ERIC GRECO 1297, 3. 42 JON ROBERTSON 1038, 4. 57 JEFF DYER 998, 5. 25 CONNOR SPEIR 964, 6. 13x AIDEN LANGE 875, 7. 4x SETH DYER 798, 8. 45 CODY NIGH 710, 9. 3 PAT KELLEY 661, 10. 22 A J BENDER 611, 11. 44 BRENT SEXTON 591, 12. 47 GREG DENNETT 378, 13. 3ff CHRIS CROWDER 373, 14. 97 LELAND DAY 344, 15. 35jr DAKOTA ALBRIGHT 333....(more).

SEPTEMBER 9 BAKERSFIELD RACE RESULTS

THE CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINTS/BAY CITIES RACING ASSOCIATION CIVIL WAR CONTINUES SATURDAY AT BAKERSFIELD
(Torrance, CA, September 4, 2023) The California Lightning Sprint Car Series and Bay Cities Racing Association will square off again in the annual Civil War Series this Saturday night, September 9th, at Scott Schweitzer’s Bakersfield Speedway. The race will be round three of four in the series and the second on “The West’s Fastest 1/3 Mile High Banked Clay Oval.” Spectator gates will open at 4:00 p.m. and the first race of the night will take the green flag at 6:00....(more).

COLORADO’S CHRIS CROWDER TAKES ROUND #2 OF THE CLS VS BCRA CIVIL WAR SERIES AT OCEAN SPEEDWAY

(Torrance, CA, August 23, 2023)
Colorado racing star Chris Crowder made the trek west to compete in the California Lightning Sprints versus Bay Cities Racing Association Civil War series during the 63rd running of the Johnny Key Classic last Saturday, at the Ocean Speedway. When all was said and done, the long drive was worthwhile as Crowder outdistanced Bobby Michnowicz to win the main event. Third and fourth-place finishes from BCRA regulars Greg Dennett and Dakota Albright saw them take over the top two spots in the Civil War standings.....(more).

CLS POINT STANDINGS (AFTER AUGUST 19)
1. 21X BOBBY MICHNOWICZ 1253, 2. 8g ERIC GRECO 1180, 3. 57 JEFF DYER 998, 4. 42 JON ROBERTSON 948, 5. 25 CONNOR SPEIR 862, 6. 13x AIDEN LANGE 766, 7. 4x SETH DYER 727, 8. 3 PAT KELLEY 661, 9. 22 A J BENDER 611, 10. 44 BRENT SEXTON 591, 11. 45 CODY NIGH 588, 12. 56k CODY GRIGGS 299, 13. 18 ROBBY BROCKMAN 280, 14. 97 LELAND DAY 259, 15. 47 GREG DENNETT 246......(more).

CIVIL WAR POINT STANDINGS (AFTER AUGUST 19)
1. 47 GREG DENNETT 246, 2. 35jr DAKOTA ALBRIGHT 244, 3.  8g ERIC GRECO 238, 4.  21x BOBBY MICHNOWICZ 211, 5.  57 CONNOR SPEIR 206, 6.  13x AIDEN LANGE 206, 7.  42 JON ROBERTSON 183, 8.  3ff CHRIS CROWDER 140, 9.  4 JEFF DYER 135, 10. 44 BRENT SEXTON 101, 11. 9 SCOTT KINNEY 99, 12. 18f JOSEF FEROLITO 96, 13. 3f SHANE SEXTON 94, 14. 4x SETH DYER 82, 15. 39 DANIEL CAUGHRAN 82.....(more).

CLS MEMBER COMMUNICATION
(Torrance, CA, August 21, 2023)
Greetings racers! Fantastic racing at a new venue over the weekend. If you weren't there you missed out on all of the fun at our first ever appearance at Ocean Speedway. I'd specifically like to thank Greg Dennett and the rest of the BCRA club for hosting a smoothly run show. Everything went off like clockwork and we had a great race on a super fun track.....(more).

AUGUST 19 WATSONVILLE RACE RESULTS


THE CLS TAKES ON THE BCRA IN THE CIVIL WAR AT THE JOHNNY KEY CLASSIC ON SATURDAY
(Torrance, CA, August 15, 2023) For the California Lightning Sprint car series, this Saturday will be a historic night. For the first time in the 29-season history of the CLS, it will be racing at the Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, California at the 63rd Johnny Key Classic. In addition, it will be round #2 of the Civil War Series that annually matches the CLS vs Northern California’s Bay Cities Racing Association. Gates for Saturday’s prestigious night of racing will open at 3:30 and racing will start at 5:15.....(more).

CLS MEMBER COMMUNICATION
(Torrance, CA, August 9, 2023)
Reminder...... get yourself prepared for our next California Lightning Sprints race on August 19th at Ocean Speedway. This is the Johnny Key Classic and CLS/BCRA Civil War race #2 ....(more).


CLS MEMBER COMMUNICATION
(Torrance, CA, August 7, 2023)
FYI..... due to events at the fairground the CLS/BCRA Civil War Race #4 (Albright Memorial) at Merced Speedway previously scheduled for October 7th has been rescheduled to the prior week, September 30th.....(more).


CLS MEMBER COMMUNICATION
(Torrance, CA, July 17, 2023)
Howdy folks, A couple of notes during our downtime until the next CLS/BCRA race on August 19th at Ocean Speedway.......(more).

CLS MEMBER COMMUNICATION
(Torrance, CA, July 12, 2023) Howdy racers.... Since we've got a bit of time off before the next CLS race at Ocean Speedway on August 19th there are other opportunities out there to still go out and get dirty. Our racing brethren to the north are running a non-wing event at Merced on July 22nd. This would be a good opportunity to hone your non-wing skills for the Albright Memorial at the same track in October....(more).
 
MICHNOWICZ LEADS WIRE TO WIRE AGAIN TO WIN HIS FOURTH CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT RACE OF THE YEAR
(Torrance, CA, July 10, 2023) For the drivers in the California Lightning Sprint Car Series, what could be worse than Bobby Michnowicz starting on the front row for the main event? The answer is, Bobby Michnowicz starting on the front row in the main event two races in a row. That is just what happened at Jim Naylor’s Ventura Raceway last Saturday night when the veteran racer not only captured the main event for the second time in a row but once again led every inch of the way....(more).
 
CLS POINT STANDINGS (AFTER JULY 8)
1. 21x Bobby Michnowicz 1121, 2  8g Eric Greco 1072, 3.  4 Jeff Dyer 998, 4.  42 Jon Robertson 858, 5.  57 Connor Speir 761, 6.  4x Seth Dyer 727, 7.  3 Pat Kelley 661, 8. 13x Aiden Lange 648, 9.  22 A J Bender 611, 10. 44 Brent Sexton 591, 11. 45 Cody Nigh 588, 12. 56k Cody Griggs 299, 13. 21k Jarrett Kramer 267, 14. 18 Robby Brockman 260, 15. 97 Leland Day 259....(more).   

CLS MEMBER COMMUNICATION
(Torrance, CA, July 9, 2023)
Great racing at Ventura Raceway last night, that place never disappoints. Perfect racing, great track and excellent competition. The CLS members pulled out another winner of a race against adversity. I'd like to thank all of the racers who showed up and brought their "A" game, you folks are truly examples of a professional act.....(more).

JULY 8 VENTURA RACE RESULTS

THE CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR SERIES RETURNS TO THE VENTURA RACEWAY ON SATURDAY
(Torrance, CA, July 5, 2023)
After three weekends off, the California Lightning Sprint Car Series gets back in action this Saturday when it returns to Jim Naylor’s Ventura Raceway. The man to beat in the race is five-time series champion Bobby Michnowicz. The veteran tops the CLS victory list this year with three wins and has won both of the Ventura races. As well as topping the win chart, he also has a 63-point lead in the championship standings as he seeks his first title since 2017....(more).

CLS MEMBER COMMUNICATION
(Torrance, CA, July 5, 2023)
Greetings racers! Now that everyone's survived the Independance Day celebrations it's time to go cool off at the beach. Drag those racecars out of the garage, charge your transponders and head to Ventura Raceway this Saturday for our next California Lightning Sprints race. Come cool off, smell the ocean and the methanol and enjoy some great racing!...(more).

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, 2020 No Award, 2021 David Gasper, 2022 David Gasper

 
 
 

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