5.9.15 California Lightning Sprints Results
Veteran racer Alex Grigoreas dominated the show and scored his first ever California Lightning Sprint Car main event win on “Mega 97 FM Night” last Saturday at the Santa Maria Raceway. In posting the win on the rough track, the Upland, California based racer became the third different winner in the first five CLS races in 2015.
Grigoreas, behind the wheel of his familiar Woodland Auto Display, Cataba Farms, Baldozier Racing, Phased Power, Factory Jones Racing, K&N, Oval Track Performance, Rosson Racing, Turn One Hooligans sponsored Henchcraft/Yamaha R1, was fast out of the box and proved that he meant business when he out qualified the field with a sizzling lap of 14.319. That was nearly a half second quicker than second fast qualifier Doug Nunes.
Grigoreas – aka “The Flying Greek” – started fifth in his heat race and took the lead on the final lap when he passed former teammate Jeff Dyer of Fort Irwin for the win. Grigoreas then drew a six for the invert of the main event. That placed him on the outside of the third row to begin the 20-lapper.
Alex Grigoreas of Upland, California won his first ever California Lightning Sprint Car main event last Saturday at the Santa Maria Speedway. California Lightning Sprint Cars Photo.
For the main, Grigoreas had the likes of two-time champ and current point leader Bobby Michnowicz from Lomita, San Bernardino’s James Heling, Cori Andrews of Murrieta and Dyer ahead of him and Kingsburg resident Nunes alongside. With those drivers starting in front of him, it looked to be a tough deal.
In addition to the tough drivers and cars starting in in front of him, Grigoreas, like the other drivers, was going to have to deal with a rough, dry track. The seasoned veteran conquered the track and worked his way up to second only to see Michnowicz, who has two wins already this year, in the lead. Grigoreas then did something few have done over the past few seasons in CLS competition. He hunted down and passed Michnowicz for the top spot. Despite one nearly costly error when he hit a hole in turn one, Grigoreas led the rest of the way for the win, which also put the capper on him sweeping the show.
Nunes, who like Michnowicz has two wins thus far in 2015, ended up second, with Michnowicz third. Despite losing her brakes due to a crushed floor pan, Andrews, who was driving a team car to Michnowicz, finished fourth. Dyer, who was nursing a very sore leg after a recent surgery, took fifth.
As well as out qualifying the field and winning his heat and the main, Grigoreas was also the main event “Hard Charger.”
In addition to Grigoreas, Nunes won the other heat on the night.
Michnowicz still sits on top of the points standings with a comfortable 65-point lead over Grigoreas. Dyer is third with Placentia’s Dan Hillberg fourth and Heling fifth.
The CLS takes this weekend off, but they get back in action on May 23rd at the annual “Salute to Indy” at Perris Auto Speedway. It will be their first of four appearances at the famous Riverside County clay oval in 2015. Joining them on the quadruple header program will be the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars and the PAS Senior & Young Gun Sprints.
Santa Maria Main Event (with starting positions): 1. Alex Grigoreas (6th), 2. Doug Nunes (5th), 3. Bobby Michnowicz (4th), 4. Cori Andrews (2nd), 5. Jeff Dyer (3rd), 6. James Heling (1st), 7. Pat Kelley (11th), 8. Robert Wilhelm (8th), 9. Dale Gamer (7th), 10. Jon Robertson (12th), 11. Don Kuener (12th), 12. Dan Hillberg (10th)
2015 CLS Point Standings
1. Bobby Michnowicz – Lomita – 1077
2. Alex Grigoreas – Upland – 10123.
3. Jeff Dyer – Ft. Irwin – 962
4. Dan Hillberg – Placentia – 924
5. James Heling – San Bernardino – 896
6. Dale Gamer – Anaheim – 849
7. Pat Kelley – Chino – 803
8. Jon Robertson – Torrance – 799
9. Cori Andrews – Murrieta – 757
10. Doug Nunes – Kingsburg – 664
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 – Bobby Michnowicz (Civil War CLS vs BCRA)
April 11: Ventura Raceway 1/5 Mile – Doug Nunes
April 25: Bakersfield Speedway 1/3 Mile – Doug Nunes
May 9: Santa Maria Raceway 1/4 Mile – Alex Grigoreas
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 1: Merced (Civil War CLS vs BCRA)
August 15: Perris Auto Speedway 1/2 Mile
August 29: Santa Maria Raceway 1/4 Mile
September 19: Perris Auto Speedway 1/2 Mile
September 26: Bakersfield Speedway 1/3 Mile (Civil War CLS vs BCRA)
October 17: Ventura Raceway 1/5 Mile
November 21: Imperial Valley Raceway (El Centro) 1/4 Mile – TBD
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