Before the biggest crowd of the year, veteran racer Bobby Michnowicz scored his fourth California Lightning Sprint Car Series main event win at the “Southern California Home of Major League Sprint Car Racing,” Perris Auto Speedway on July 4th.
A quick field of 17 CLS cars signed in for the holiday show and Michnowicz, who calls Lomita home, turned in the fastest qualifying lap with a time of 17:820 on the famous Riverside County clay oval. Corona’s Steven Limon and Dan Hillberg of Placentia, who are locked in a great fight for the 2013 CLS title, qualified second and third respectively in front of the massive crowd.
Two heat races proceeded the main event and scoring the wins were Hillberg and Limon.
The “Flyin’ Jew,” Zach Zauss of Murrieta and San Clemente’s Ronnie Hancock comprised the front row for the start of the 20-lap main. Hancock, who was hard charger the week before at the Orange Show Stadium, had a car that did not take off when he hit the go pedal at the outset and that handed the lead to Zauss with San Diego’s Damon Arnett giving immediate chase. Whatever problem Hancock had was quickly rectified and he and Stewart Hielscher Jr. both went to the top two spots at the end of the first circuit. Michnowicz, who started deep in the field in 10th, found himself all the way up to third by the end of the second lap.
Michnowicz continued his impressive drive towards the front when he took second position from Hancock on the fifth lap, but that is as far as he got for a long time as he stayed in the runner-up spot until the white flag.
Limon relieved Hancock of the third spot and he set his sights on leaders Hielscher and Michnowicz on lap eight. They were already dazzling the fans as they weaved their way through the lapped traffic. Lappers almost bit Hielscher one time in turn three, but a scramble on the low line let him maintain the top spot.
Michnowicz was not going to give up without a fight. He closed on the former college football player at the end of the 18th lap. Michnowicz got a good run down the back chute on lap 19 and it looked like he was going to pull alongside, but Hielscher had a better run and beat him to turn three. However, Michnowicz found a sweet spot on the track at the edge of the cushion and drove by the young leader at the Kevin Winter’s white flag. Hielscher stayed close and gave it a run into turn three the last time, but there would be no catching Michnowicz and the T-Shirts by Timeless/Bondio Fabrication/Doug’s Auto Body/Drake/Ron Bach Construction/Superschocks/Power Performance #21K. Hielscher was about two lengths back at the finish. Limon took third followed by Hancock and Hillberg.
The impressive main event ran green to checkered without a stop in a time of 6:07:95.
In addition to winning the main event, Michnowicz also captured the Oil Twins Amsoil Hard Charger award.
After climbing out of his car, Michnowicz talked over the P.A. to the large crowd. “Let me catch my breath, I am worn out,” he laughed. “Good job by Stewie. He drove a
great race in traffic and it was a good race. I have lost them on the last lap and it ticks you off, but he drove a great race.”
Limon added 12-points to his advantage and leads Hillberg by 18 heading into the series next race at Route 66 Motorplex in Victorville on July 27th. The “World Famous” Tom Downing of Lakewood is third in the standings, Michnowicz is fourth and second year CLS driver Arnett is fifth, his loftiest ever position in CLS standings.
For 2013, cars in the CLS will be carrying transponders and they will qualify at all events. The driver with the most fast qualifying times at the end of the season will win the “Cold Fire West Qualifying Championship” and will pocket an extra $500.00. Another new sponsor to the series this season is Extreme Muffler. They will sponsor the “Extreme Muffler Heat Race Championship” and the driver with the most heat race wins will collect a $500.00 check.
The California Lightning Sprint Car Series would like to thank series sponsors Christian Stover Foundation, Rod End Supply, Cold Fire West, Sander Engineering, Saldana Race Products, DK Machining and Fabrication, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Hoosier Racing Tires, Circle Track Performance, Extreme Muffler, Performance by Rosson Racing, Electro Tech Powder Coating, Oil Twins Amsoil and Haul Ass Fuel. If you or your company would like to become part of the California Lightning Series for the 2013 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
Perris Auto Speedway Main Event (with starting positions): 1. Bobby Michnowicz (10th), 2. Stewart Hielscher Jr. (6th) 3. Steven Limon (7th), 4. Ronnie Hancock (2nd), 5. Dan
Hillberg (8th), 6. Darren Hillberg (5th), 7. Tom Downing (3rd), 8. 6. Damon Arnett (9th), 9. Guy Maresch (17th), 10. Zach Zauss (1st) 11. Mike Kotlinski (11th), 12. Dale Gamer (14th), 13. James Squire III (12th), 14. Jon Squire (13th). 15. Donna Kotlinski (16th), 16. Jeff Dyer (17th)
2013 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Points
1. Steve Limon – Corona – 1655
2. Dan Hillberg – Placentia – 1637
3. Tom Downing – Lakewood – 1403
4. Bobby Michnowicz – Lomita – 1330
5. Damon Arnett – San Diego – 1272
6. Guy Maresch – Anaheim Hills – 1270
7. Zach Zauss – Murrieta – 1262
8. Jeff Dyer – Silver Lake – 1216
9. Dale Gamer – Anaheim – 1201
10. Alex Bissett – Hemet – 1060
2013 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule
March 9 Perris Auto Speedway Winged – Dan Hillberg
March 16 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – King of California Mini Sprint Challenge – Bobby Michnowicz
March 30 Ventura Raceway Winged – Steve Limon
April 13 Perris Auto Speedway Winged – Jarrett Kramer
April 20 Bakersfield Speedway Non Wing – King of California Mini Sprint Challenge – Doug Nunes
April 27 Orange Show Stadium Winged – Bobby Michnowicz
May 11 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – King of California Mini Sprint Challenge – Bobby Michnowicz
May 25 Perris Auto Speedway Winged – Kevin Michnowicz
June 29 Orange Show Stadium Winged – Steve Limon
July 4 Perris Auto Speedway Winged – Bobby Michnowicz
July 27 Route 66 Motorplex Winged
August 10 Santa Maria Speedway Winged
August 17 Perris Auto Speedway Winged
September 14 Perris Auto Speedway Winged
September 28 Bakersfield Speedway Winged
October 19 Ventura Raceway Winged
November 2 Perris Auto Speedway Winged
November 3 Perris Auto Speedway Winged
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