7.4.12 California Lightning Sprints Results
Lomita, California veteran Bobby Michnowicz scored his second straight California Lightning Sprint Car main event win before one of the largest crowds in the 17-year history of Perris Auto Speedway on July 4th. The win, his second of the 2012, ties him for the series lead with his teenage son.
Michnowicz began the main event on the inside of the fourth row. By the end of the first circuit on the famous Riverside County clay oval, he was already in third and was only trailing longtime veteran Dan Hillberg of Placentia and impressive rookie Damon Arnett of San Diego. The sly veteran quickly got by both of them and had secured the lead by the time the second lap was over.
While Michnowicz was working his way to the point, Stewart Hielscher Jr., who started directly behind him, was also headed towards the front. The Murrieta driver worked his way by Arnett and Hillberg and was in second by the end of the fourth go round. Hillberg, who came into the night second in points and only 12 behind leader “Zoom” Guy Maresch of Anaheim Hills, saw his championship hopes take a serious blow when he dropped out of the race on lap eight for a disappointing 17th place finish.
Problems also took their toll on Arnett when he got upside down while running third on lap ten in a tangle that also included fellow rookie Jeff Dyer. Like Hillberg, both of them were done for the night.
Once the race restarted, Michnowicz had no problems at all and stretched his lead to a half straight that he carried all the way to the Kevin Winters’ checkered flag. Hielscher stayed in second and was a half straight ahead of 2011 Rookie of Year and new daddy Steve Limon of Corona. Anaheim’s
Dale Gamer took fourth with Maresch fifth. For the second year in a row, Sydney Speedway champion D.J. Raw made the trek from his home in Australia to race on Independence Day at The PAS and he finished 12th in a team car to Hillberg. Darren Hillberg won the Oil Twins Amsoil Hard Charger Award.
Hielscher and military demolitions expert Dyer won the heat races earlier in the night.
Maresch, who came in with only a 12-point lead over Hillberg in the championship standings, left the track with a massive 64-point advantage. Michnowicz climbed into third and only trails second place Hillberg by 10-points. Limon and Gamer round out the top heading into the next race at The PAS on July 28th.
The California Lightning Sprint Car Series would like to thank 2012 series sponsors Christian Stover Foundation, Rod End Supply, Sander Engineering, Saldana Race Products, DK Machining and Fabrication, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Hoosier Racing Tires, Circle Track Performance, DJ Safety, Performance by Rosson Racing, Racing Optics, Electro Tech Powder Coating and Oil Twins Amsoil (Hard Charger Award at The PAS). If you or your company would like to become part of the California
Lightning Series for the 2012 season, please call Dan Hillberg at: (714) 719-0295.
To keep up with the CLS on line, please visit the web site at: http://www.calightningsprints.com/index.html
Main Event Finishing Order With Starting Positions
1. Bobby Michnowicz (7th), 2. Stuart Hielscher Jr. (9th), 3. Steve Limon (5th), 4. Dale Gamer (6th), 5. Guy Maresch (3rd), 6. Darren Hillberg (16th), 7. Dan Lancaster (11th), 8. James McCauley (10th), 9. Alexander Bissett (18th), 10. Zach Zauss (17th), 11. Jim Squire (13th), 12. D.J. Raw (14th), 13. Tom Downing (1st), 14. Damon Arnett (4ht), 15. Jeff Dyer (8th), 16. Jon Simms (12th), 17. Dan Hillberg (2nd), 18. J.J. Bagwell (17th)
2012 California Lightning Sprint Car Points
1. Guy Maresch – Anaheim Hills – 852
2. Dan Hillberg – Placentia – 788
3. Bobby Michnowicz – Lomita – 778
4. Steve Limon – Corona – 770
5. Dale Gamer – Anaheim – 737
6. Darren Hillberg – Corona – 688
7. Damon Arnett – Corona – 670
8. Alexander Bissett – Hemet – 663
9. Zach Zauss – Murrieta – 618
10. Tom Downing – Lakewood – 454
2012 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule
July 28 – Perris Auto Speedway – California Racers Hall of Fame Night
August 11 – Santa Maria Speedway
August 18 – Perris Auto Speedway
September 1 – Bakersfield Speedway – Civil War vs BCRA
September 15 – Perris Auto Speedway – Glenn Howard Memorial
September 22 – Ventura Raceway
September 20 – Bakersfield Speedway
November 2 – Perris Auto Speedway – Oval Nationals
November 3 – Perris Auto Speedway – Oval Nationals
TBA – Awards Banquet