Defending California Lightning Sprint Car Series champion Bobby Michnowicz served notice that he is out to win his record tying third CLS championship when he won the season opening event last Saturday night at the California Mid-Winter Fair and Fiesta on the Imperial County Fairgrounds in El Centro.
The veteran Lomita racer, who led the series with seven wins on the way to his second championship in 2014, started the 20-lap main on the quarter-mile oval on the outside of the sixth row in his T-Shirts by Timeless/Rosson Racing/Pflum & Wagner Racing/Fuel Safe Racing Cells/Keizer Wheels/DLX Chassis/Kawasaki ZX10 #21k. 2014 series Rookie of the Year Corey Hoover of Corona was the initial leader in the main event in a car previously driven by Michnowicz. San Diego’s Damon Arnett and Placentia veteran Dan Hillberg were Hoover’s closest pursuers on the start.
Winner Bobby Michnowicz surrounded by third place finisher Cori Andrews (left) and Alex Grigoreas (left) after the season opening California Lightning Sprint Car main event in El Centro last Saturday.
By the end of the second circuit, teenager Hoover had built about a half straight lead. Michnowicz was using the outside line and by the end of the second lap had motored his way up to second.
Hoover was still out front and Michnowicz was still second when disaster nearly struck for the top three in last year’s standings – Michnowicz, Arnett and Jeff Dyer – on an aborted restart on lap nine. Michnowicz got over the right rear of Hoover and got up in the air. When he came back down he was sideways and was drilled by Dyer who in turn was slammed into by Arnett. The impact sent Michnowicz straight and he continued on, but Dyer slid to the infield while Arnett snapped off a couple flips. All drivers were okay and Michnowicz was able to restart. However, Arnett and Dyer’s cars suffered too much damage and they were done for the night.
Hoover was at the point when the race restarted, but he hit a hole coming out of turn four and slid to a stop handing the lead Michnowicz. Once the race restarted it was all Michnowicz and he steered his battered car to his initial win of the 2015 campaign. Upland veteran Alex Grigoreas took the runner-up spot with Murrieta sophomore Cori Andrews third. Hoover drove it back up to fourth at the finish with San Bernardino’s James Heling fifth. Only the top five were on the lead lap at the end.
Rookie Jon Robertson of Torrance was the main event “Hard Charger” going from his 15th place starting spot to finish 6th.
Earlier in the night Michnowicz out qualified the field with a lap of 12:987. Grigoreas won the first heat of the night and returning driver Chris Dickey of San Diego won the second.
The next race on the schedule will be at the Bakersfield Speedway on March 21st.
El Centro main event finish (with starting positions). 1; Bobby Michnowicz (6th). 2 Alex Grigoreas (4th), 3. Cori Andrews (11th), 4. Corey Hoover (2nd), 5. James Heling (12th), 6. Jon Robertson (15th), 7. James Squire III (10th), 8. Mike Kotlinski (13th), 9. Dale Gamer (7th), 10. Pat Kelley (14th), 11. Damon Arnett (1st), 12. Jeff Dyer (5th), 13. Dan Hillberg (4th), 14. Chris Dickey (10th), 15. Tom Downing (9th)
2015 CLS Pont Standings
1. Bobby Michnowicz – Lomita – 223
2. Alex Grigoreas – Upland – 219
3. Cori Andrews – Murrieta – 200
4. Corey Hoover – Corona – 197
5. James Heling – San Bernardino – 189
6. Jon Robertson – Torrance – 183
7. James Squire III – Lakeside – 181
8. Mike Kotlinksi – Nuevo – 174
9. Dale Gamer – Anaheim – 170
10. Jeff Dyer – Ft. Irwin – 168
The California Lightning Sprint Car’s would like to thank the 2015 series sponsors Christian Stover Foundation, Circle Track Performance, Cold Fire West, DK Machine , Drake Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, Hoosier Racing Tires, Keizer Wheels, Performance by Rosson Racing, Racing Optics, Saldana Race Products, Super Shocks, T Shirts by Timeless and Weld Racing Wheels. If you or your company would like to become part of the series for the 2015 season, please call Bobby Michnowicz at: (310) 320-5569.
To keep up with the CLS on line, please visit the web site at: http://www.calightningsprints.com/index.html
2015 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule
March 7: Imperial Valley Raceway (El Centro) 1/4 Mile – Bobby Michnowicz
March 21: Bakersfield Speedway 1/3 Mile
April 11: Ventura Raceway 1/5 Mile
April 25: Bakersfield Speedway 1/3 Mile
May 9: Santa Maria Speedway 1/4 Mile
May 23: Perris Auto Speedway 1/2 Mile (Salute To Indy)
June 6: Ventura Raceway 1/5 Mile
June 20: Bakersfield Speedway 1/3 Mile
July 4: Perris Auto Speedway 1/2 Mile (Firecracker)
July 18: Ventura Raceway 1/5 Mile
August 15: Perris Auto Speedway 1/2 Mile
August 29: Santa Maria Speedway 1/4 Mile
September 19: Perris Auto Speedway 1/2 Mile
September 26: Bakersfield Speedway 1/3 Mile
October 17: Ventura Raceway 1/5 Mile
November 7: Imperial Valley Raceway (El Centro) 1/4 Mile – TBD
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