Racing with a heavy heart, point leader Bobby Michnowicz steam rolled the field and won the California Lightning Sprint Car main event last Saturday night at Jim Naylor’s Ventura Raceway. The victory was the Lomita veteran’s fourth win in seven CLS races this year and gives him a commanding 122-point lead in the championship standings as the season nears the halfway point.
Last week, Michnowicz lifelong friend/family member Don Weaver passed away from a complication of leukemia. Weaver, who was involved in racing from the early 1950’s, was around Michnowicz through all of his exploits in the racing world including runs in TQ Midgets, CRA, NARC & WoO Sprint Cars and currently CLS. It was a lot of extra incentive for the two-time CLS champ to win in honor of his friend.
Coming from the inside of the second row in the main event, Michnowicz, who qualified second fastest on the night, was fourth coming off turn on the opening lap behind Jeff Dyer of Fort Irwin, Zach Zauss of Murrieta and Upland’s Alex Grigoreas. Grigoreas, who was coming back from a wicked flip at Perris Auto Speedway two weeks ago, and Michnowicz both got past Zauss on the first circuit and took up residence the second and third place spots.
Fast qualifier Doug Nunes of Kingsburg, who won the last race at Ventura on April 11th, looked to be a player in the main event, but he spun out on lap four while running fourth and had to restart at the back.
By the time Nunes had looped it, Michnowicz had worked his way past Grigoreas and was parked on leader Irwin’s tail for the restart and tried to pass the Army sergeant coming off turn two. Dyer held back the advance and opened up about a two-car length lead.
Dyer, who passed his test to get into the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department a couple days after the race, maintained his slender lead over Michnowicz and Grigoreas. Near the halfway point, Michnowicz had worked his way back to Dyer’s push bar and was ready to pounce on any opening. Coming off turn four, Dyer gave the wily veteran some space on the low line and Michnowicz quickly pounced. He took the T-Shirts by Timeless/Rosson Racing/Pflum & Wagner Racing/Fuel Safe Racing Cells/Keizer Wheels/DLX Chassis/Kawasaki ZX10 #21k to the inside and by the time they slid into turn one the next lap, there was a new leader.
From that point on, there was no stopping the two-time champ. Dyer, who was then busy trying to hold off Grigoreas for second, stayed close until Michnowicz smoked the field on a late race restart with four laps to go. Michnowicz raced away for his series leading fourth win by over a half straightaway. Dyer fought of former teammate Grigoreas for second with Kevin Michnowicz and Nunes fourth and fifth.
Kevin Michnowicz was the main event “Hard Charger” going from 11th to 4th.
Nunes lap of 12.172 was the fastest qualifying time in the 17-car field. Nunes and Placentia’s Dan Hillberg won the heat races. Hillberg then had to sit out the main event due to a battery failure.
Heading into the next race at the Bakersfield Speedway on June 20th, Michnowicz has a 122-point lead over Grigroeas in the championship standings. Dyer is 17-point behind Grigoreas. Hillberg and James Heling of San Bernardino remain fourth and fifth.
Chino’s Pat Kelley is still the top rookie in the series and leads Jon Robertson of Torrance by 46-points.
Ventura Main Event Results: 1. Bobby Michnowicz (3rd), 2. Jeff Dyer (1st), 3. Alex Grigoreas (4th), 4. Kevin Michnowicz (11th), 5. Doug Nunes (6th), 6. Zach Zauss (2nd), 7. Pat Kelley (12th), 8. Tom Downing (7th), 9. James Heling (16th), 10. Dale Gamer (10th), 11. Robert Wilhelm (11th), 12. Jeremy Queener (5th), 13. Jarrett Kramer (8th), 14. Jon Robertson (13th), 15. Cal Smith (14th), 16. Don Kuener (15th)
2015 CLS Pont Standings
1. Bobby Michnowicz – Lomita – 1438
2. Alex Grigoreas – Upland – 1316
3. Jeff Dyer – Ft. Irwin – 1299
4. Dan Hillberg – Placentia – 1181
5. James Heling – San Bernardino – 1176
6. Dale Gamer – Anaheim – 1115
7. Pat Kelley – Chino – 1099
8. Jon Robertson – Torrance – 1053
9. Cori Andrews – Murrieta – 757
10. Don Kuener – Perris – 651
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) – Bobby Michnowicz
June 6: Ventura Raceway 1/5 Mile – Bobby Michnowicz
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