7.9.22 California Lightning Sprints Results
(Torrance, CA, July 12, 2022) The hottest lightning Sprint car driver in the nation, David Gasper, took the lead with two laps to go and raced to the win in the California Lightning Sprint Car Series main last Saturday night at the Ventura Raceway. The triumph was the teenager’s third in a row and series-leading fifth win of 2022. In addition, it allowed the 2021 series champion to take the lead in the point standings for the first time this year.
Twelve CLS cars made the trek to the famous 1/5 of a mile oval that is located next to the beach on the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The first order of business was time trials. Palmdale’s Eric Greco, who came into the night leading Gasper by four points in the standings, topped the chart in West Evans Motorsports Qualifying with a lap of 12.211. It was Greco’s series-leading fourth fast time of the 2022 campaign. Gasper was second quickest when he stopped the clocks at 12.241 and Yucca Valley’s Jeff Dyer was third at 12.255.
A pair of eight-lap heat races preceded the main event. “Rockstar” Jon Robertson of Torrance won his first heat of the year in the Extreme Muffler Heat Race #1 when he beat Ventura local Robb Pelmear and Greco to the Chris Kornder checkered flag. Gasper, who calls Santa Barbara home, won the Yoshimura R&D Heat Race #2 over rookie Connor Speir of Fillmore, and five-time series champion Bobby Michnowicz of Oak Hills. It was Gasper’s second heat race triumph of the year.
When the cars rolled through the pit gate for the 25-lap main event, Michnowicz and Dyer lined up in row one. The second row featured Robertson and Pelmear with young gassers Greco and Gasper in row three.
Veteran Michnowicz, whose lone win this year came at Ventura on April 30th, raced into the lead on the start ahead of Dyer. Before the field exited turn two on the opening circuit, Gasper, in the Kittle Motorsports/Certified Construction/Rattlesnake Ridge/Valley Precision Products/Martin Roofing/B2 Design/Hyper Race Cars/Saldana Race Products #18, drove by Pelmear for third.
Things stayed tight with Michnowicz about two car lengths ahead of Dyer at the end of the second lap. By the end of the fifth go around, the leader had expanded his advantage to approximately 5 car lengths. However, the size of that advantage seesawed back and forth several times in the early going. And the same with third place Gasper. The teenager would close on Dyer one lap and on the next lap he would lose some ground.
Things remained status quo up front until lap nine when Michnowicz was slowed by a lapped car. That allowed Dyer to close to the leader’s rear end. Once the two leaders negotiated their way by the lapper, the same car momentarily slowed third place Gasper.
The race returned to its normal pace until lap 19 when things started to get very interesting. Michnowicz was again slowed by a lapped car, and Dyer and Gasper closed in. On lap 21, the same lapped car and the lead trio came up on a pack of other lapped cars in turn one. The lapper was the first to get past the pack. Michnowicz and Dyer hit the corner nose to tail on the edge of the cushion, leaving the bottom wide open. Seeing that, Gasper bolted to the inside and raced by Dyer for second.
Once past Dyer, Gasper glued himself to Michnowicz’ rear. Michnowicz could not get away as he was still being impeded by the same lapped car. As they completed lap 23, Gasper went to the outside of Michnowicz. They battled side by side through one and two and came off the corner with the same lapped car just in front of them. Michnowicz stayed on the bottom and Gasper knifed his way in between the leader in the lapped car thrilling the crowd as they sped toward turn three, three abreast. The two leaders finally shook off the lapped car and continued to race side by side into three and all the way through turn four. Gasper planted his right rear on the edge of the cushion coming off four and rocketed into the lead as they took the white flag. When they got to turn one on the final go around, Gasper turned to the inside forcing Michnowicz to tap on the binders. That sewed up the win for the defending series champ as he pulled away coming off turn two. When they crossed the line in the race that went green to checkers uninterrupted, it was Gasper for the win by three car lengths. Michnowicz was second with Dyer right behind him in third. Pelmear placed fourth with Greco fifth.
In addition to winning the main and taking the point lead, Gasper also received the SpeedMart, Advanced Racing Suspension, Hepfner Racing Hard Charger Awards which equal to $100.00 in product certificates.
After Saturday’s race, Gasper, who was crowned the 2021 series Rookie of the Year as well as winning the championship, has a 17-point lead over Greco. Dyer stayed third in the standings. Camarillo’s Cody Nigh, who missed the race, remains fourth with Michnowicz breaking into the top five for the first time this year.
Gasper will attempt to make it four wins in a row in the “Kittle Blue” #18 when the series returns to action at Ventura on July 23rd.
CLS officials are still collecting lap money for the August 6th race at the Santa Maria Raceway. If you would like to donate, laps are $50.00 each. You can use the contact information in this release for Jon Robertson to confirm payment or ask any questions.
Extreme Muffler Heat Race #1: 1. Jon Robertson, 2. Robb Pelmear, 3. Eric Greco, 4. Jeff Dyer, 5. Dale Gamer
Yoshimura R&D Heat Race #2: 1. David Gasper, 2. Connor Speir, 3. Bobby Michnowicz, 4. Dominic Del Monte, 5. Pat Kelley, 6. Pat Dyer
Ventura 25-Lap Main Event (with starting positions)
1. David Gasper, Santa Barbara, CA, 6th
2. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA, 1st
3. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, 2nd
4. Robb Pelmear, Ventura, CA, 4th
5. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA, 5th
6. Dominic Del Monte, Gardena, CA, 7th
7. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA, 3rd
8. Connor Speir, Fillmore, CA. 8th
9. Dale gamer, Anaheim, CA, 9th
10. Seth Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, 11th
11. Pat Kelley, Chino, CA, 10th
DNS – Jacob Magallanes, Pasadena, CA
Lap Leaders: Bobby Michnowicz 1-23, Gasper 24-25.
CLS Contingency Awards
Heat Race #1 – Extreme Muffler $50.00 Product Certificate – Jon Robertson
Heat Race #2 – Yoshimura R& D – $50.00 CSI Product Certificate – David Gasper
Saldana Racing Products Wildcard Award – $50.00 Product Certificate – Dale Gamer
1st Place Main Event – Eibach Springs $100.00 Product Certificate – David Gasper
2nd Place Main Event – Vahlco Wheels $50.00 Product Certificate – Bobby Michnowicz
3rd Place Main Event – Jake Swanson Shock Technology $50 Product Certificate – Jeff Dyer
4th Place Main Event – Hyper Chassis – $50 Product Certificate – Robb Pelmear
5th Place Main Event – Smith Titanium Product Certificate – Eric Greco
10th Place Main Event – King Racing Products $25.00 Product Certificate – Seth Dyer
Fast Qualifier – West Evans Motorsports $25.00 Product Certificate – Eric Greco
Hard Charger – Speed Mart $25.00 Product Certificate – David Gasper
Hard Charger – Advanced Racing Suspension $50.00 Product Certificate – David Gasper
Hard Charger – Hepfner Racing Products $25.00 Product Certificate – David Gasper Hard Luck Award – Speed Mart $25.00 Product Certificate – Jacob Magallanes
1st Car Not On The Lead Lap – Rebel Gears 30% Off Coupon – Jon Robertson
California Lightning Sprint Car Series Point Standings
1. David Gasper, Santa Barbara, CA, 1134
2. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA, 1117
3. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, 1099
4. Cody Nigh, Camarillo, CA, 1029
5. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA, 865
6. Will Browne, Glendora, CA, 854
7. Connor Speir, Fillmore, CA, 746
8. Pat Kelley, Chino, CA, 721
9. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA, 597
10. Dominic Del Monte, Gardena, CA, 539
CLS vs BCRA “Civil War Series” Points
1. David Gasper – CLS – 142
2. Dakota Albright – BCRA – 126
3. Eric Greco – CLS – 126
4. Will Browne – CLA 116
5. Harlee Aguilera – BCRA – 109
6. Cody Nigh – CLS – 104
7. Greg Dennett – BCRA – 100
8. Hunter Kinney – BCRA – 92
9. Matt Land – BCRA – 89
10. Tim Kinser – 83
The following companies have become marketing partners with the CLS in 2022. They have offered up more than $13,000.00 in contingencies that will be awarded on top of the regular racing purses and they will be paid out throughout the year. Yoshimura R&D, Hoosier Tires West, T-Shirts By Timeless, Extreme Mufflers, Saldana Racing Products, Rod End Supply, Speed Mart, Cold Fire West, West Evens Motorsports, RC Fuel Injection, Jake Swanson Shock Technology, Advanced Racing Suspensions, CSI Shocks, Eibach Springs, Triple X Race Components, King Racing Products, Hyper Racing Products, Rebel Gears, Vahlco Wheels, Wilwood Disk Brakes, Fuel Safe Systems, MPI, Circle Track Performance, E-Z UP, Hepfner Racing, Smith Titanium, and Hoosier Speed.
If you or your company would like to become a partner of the longtime racing organization, contact Jon Robertson via email at mailto:jon.robertson@sbcglobal.net or by calling (310) 367-9050.
http://rebelgears.com/http://rebelgears.com/2022 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule
March 25 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – Grant Sexton
April 2 Merced Speedway Non-Wing –– Civil War #1 – David Gasper
April 16 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – A.J. Bender
April 30 Ventura Raceway Winged (Make Up Main) David Gasper
April 30 Ventura Raceway Winged – Bobby Michnowicz
May 14 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – A.J. Bender
May 21 Ventura Raceway Winged – Eric Greco
June 11 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – David Gasper
June 25 Ventura Raceway Winged – David Gasper
July 9 Ventura Raceway Winged – David Gasper
July 23 Ventura Raceway Winged
August 26 Silver Dollar Speedway Winged – Civil War #2
August 27 Placerville Speedway Winged – Civil War #3
September 10 Lemoore Raceway Winged
September 24 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – Civil War #4
October 8 Mohave Valley Raceway Winged – With SWLS
October 29 Ventura Raceway Winged
November 15 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – With USAC Midgets – Civil War #5
November 17 Placerville Speedway Non-Wing – With USAC Midgets – No Points
November 18 Placerville Speedway Non-Wing – With USAC Midgets – No Points
November 19 Placerville Speedway Non-Wing – With USAC Midgets – No Points
To keep up with the CLS online, please visit the website at http://racecls.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/californialightningsprints
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, 2014 Bobby Michnowicz, 2015 Bobby Michnowicz, 2016 Bobby Michnowicz, 2017 Bobby Michnowicz, 2018 Jarrett Kramer, 2019 Jarrett Kramer, 2021 David Gasper