After taking one race off, 17-year-old high school student Kevin Michnowicz staged a thunderous return to the California Lightning Sprint Car Series when he nealry swept the show at Chris Kearn’s Santa Maria Speedway last Saturday night. Michnowicz set the fast qualifying time, won his heat race and came back from a spin to capture his third main event of the 2011 campaign.
Soon after qualifying, the young racer’s rampage over the competition started to become more evident when he stormed from his last place starting spot to win his six-lap heat race.
Michnowicz started the 20-lap main event on the inside of the third row and many in the crowd were conceding that he would walk away with the win on the 1/3 of a mile banked clay oval. However, a lap three spin brought out the yellow flag and sent him to the back for the restart.
Once the green flag waved, Michnowicz went to work and began his march to the front of the pack. Using the top side of the racetrack, the Lomita based teenager raced around defending series champion Jarrett Kramer of Spring Valley and Carlsbad’s Jacob Will for first and second on the tenth circuit. Once out front, Michnowicz built a comfortable lead. Kramer took second from Will and was closing on Michnowicz as they weaved their way through the lapped traffic, but in the end, Michnowicz crossed under the checkered flag with about a 10 car length lead. Kramer finally had some good luck for a change and ended up second. Will, again in the Seth Kramer #12, finished third with veterans Dan Hillberg of Placentia, who was smoking all night due to an oil problem, and Anaheim’s Guy Maresch rounding out the top five.
Like Michnowicz, Kramer, who was fast qualifier, was also a heat winner earlier in the night. Veteran Dan Lancaster brought out the only CLS red flag when he got upside down in the main event. He was uninjured.
The victory was Michnowicz’ third win in four starts in 2011. For the #21K that he drives, it was its fourth win in five CLS starts this year. His father, Bobby, drove it to the win at the Bakersfield race at the end of April. With this week for the CLS, the younger Michnowicz will make his 360 Sprint Car debut in the ASCS Southern California Region race at Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway in Hanford.
Wildomar’s Tim Brown, who came in as the point leader, was fourth fast qualifier and took fourth in his heat. However, the veteran racer fought handling problems and finished ninth in the main event. It was his first finish outside the top four in 2011. Heading into the Salute to Indy at Perris Auto Speedway on May 28th, Brown has a 36 point over Hillberg in the 2011 championship chase. Teenagers Will and Alexander Bissett of Hemet are third and fourth in the standings while consistent driving Dale Gamer of Anaheim is fifth.
The CLS has added three dates to the 2011 schedule at the Victorville Raceway Park. The first will be on June 11th followed by September 10th and October 29th.
The California Lightning Sprint Car Series would like to thank 2011 series sponsors Christian Stover Foundation, Circle Track Performance, DJ Safety, Electro Tech Powder Coating, Elliott’s Powder Coating, DK Machine and Fabrication, Hoosier Tires, Keizer Wheels, Performance by Rosson Racing, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Saldana Race Products and Sander Engineering. If you or your company would like to become part of the California Lightning Series for the 2011 season, please call Dan Hillberg at: (714) 719-0295
Santa Maria Main Event: 1. Kevin Michnowicz (Lomita), 2. Jarrett Kramer (Spring Valley ), 3. Jacob Will (Carlsbad), 4. Dan Hillberg (Placentia), 5. Guy Maresch (Anaheim Hills), 6 Alexander Bissett (Hemet), 7. Darren Hillberg (Corona), 8. Dale Gamer (Anaheim), 9. Tim Brown (Wildomar), 10. Paul Krueger (Buena Park), 11. Dawn Sparland (San Marcos), 12. Stephen Limon (Corona), 13. Dan Lancaster
2011 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Point Standings
1. Tim Brown – Wildomar – 845
1. Dan Hillberg – Placentia – 809
3 Jacob Will – Carlsbad – 770
4. Alexander Bissett – Hemet – 763
5. Dale Gamer – Anaheim – 702
6. Paul Krueger – Buena Park – 664
7. Darren Hillberg – Corona – 653
8. Stephen Limon – Corona – 638
9. Dan Lancaster – 627
10. Jarrett Kramer – Spring Valley – 607
2011 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule
March 12 – Perris Auto Speedway – Kevin Michnowicz
April 2nd – Perris Auto Speedway – Kevin Michnowicz
April 16th – Ventura Raceway – Dan Hillberg
April 30th – Bakersfield Speedway – Bobby Michnowicz
May 14th – Santa Maria Speedway – Kevin Michnowicz
May 28th – Perris Auto Speedway
June 11th – Victorville Raceway Park
July 2nd – Perris Auto Speedway
July 23rd – Bakersfield Speedway
July 30th – Perris Auto Speedway
August 20th – Perris Auto Speedway
August 27th – Santa Maria Speedway
September 10th – Victorville Raceway Park
September 24th – Bakersfield Speedway
October 15th – Ventura Raceway
October 29th – Victorville Raceway Park
November 4th – Perris Auto Speedway
November 5th – Perris Auto Speedway
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 Ganson
2007 Shane Rosson
2008 Brent Sexton
2009 Stuart Hielcshier Sr.
2010 Jarrett Kramer