Visiting Bay Cities Racing Association driver Doug Nunes bested a 17-car field to win the 20-lap California Lightning Sprint Car main event last Saturday night at Chris Kearn’s Santa Maria Speedway. The CLS returns to its home track, Perris Auto Speedway, this Saturday for the annual Christian Stover Memorial.
A large crowd was on hand to the see the show, which also featured the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars. The CLS put on a textbook race going non-stop from green to checkered in a little over five minutes. On a track that was fast and heavy, Nunes, who resides in Kingsburg, started on the pole in his #2 Lightning Sprint and steered it up front all the way to his first ever CLS win. Lomita’s Bobby Michnowicz, who is tied for the series lead with two main event wins, raced home second, with Corona’s Steve Limon third. Placentia veteran Dan Hillberg came from eighth to fourth and Fresno’s Stan Yockey, who started ninth, finished fifth.
Championship point leader Guy Maresch of Anaheim Hills was the hard charger of the race coming the 12th starting spot to finish seventh.
Hillberg and series leading rookie Damon Arnett of San Diego, won the two eight lap heat races to open the CLS portion of the show.
Maresch came into Santa Maria with an 82-point advantage in the standings, but Limon closed the gap to 50-points with his third straight top three finish.
The CLS continues with its busy second half of the season when it returns to Perris Auto Speedway this Saturday for the annual Christian Stover Memorial. The race honors Stover, a fast rising open wheel star, who visited The PAS victory circle in CLS competition. The USAC/CRA Sprints and PAS Senior Sprints will also be on Saturday’s program.
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
Santa Maria Main Event (with starting positions): 1. Doug Nunes (1st), 2. Bobby Michnowicz (3rd), 3. Steve Limon (6th), 4. Dan Hillberg (8th), 5. Stan Yockey (9th), 6. Dale Gamer (4th), 7. Guy Maresch (12th), 8. Damon Arnett (7th), 9. James McCauley (10th), 10. Zach Zauss (13th), 11. Dan Lancaster (14th), 12. Donna Kotlinski (15th), 13. Chance Sheffield (17th), 14. Alexander Bissett (3rd), 15. Jeff Dyer (2nd), 16. Tom Downing (11th), 17. Darren Hillberg (15th)
2012 California Lightning Sprint Car Points
1. Guy Maresch – Anaheim Hills – 1160
2. Steve Limon – Corona – 1110
3. Bobby Michnowicz – Lomita – 1069
4. Dan Hillberg – Placentia – 1042
5. Dale Gamer – Anaheim – 1038
6. Damon Arnett – San Diego – 943
7. Darren Hillberg – Corona – 911
8. Zach Zauss – Murrieta – 904
9. Alexander Bissett – Hemet – 896
10. Donna Kotlinski – Nuevo – 655
2012 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule
February 25 – Perris Auto Speedway – Kevin Michnowicz
March 10 – Perris Auto Speedway – Kevin Michnowicz
March 17 – Bakersfield Speedway – Rained Out
March 31 – Perris Auto Speedway – Stuart Hielscher Jr.
April 14 – Bakersfield Speedway – Rained Out
April 28 – Perris Auto Speedway – Dan Hillberg
May 12 – Bakersfield Speedway – Civil War vs BCRA – Scott Kinney
May 26 – Perris Auto Speedway – Salute to Indy – Bobby Michnowicz
July 4 – Perris Auto Speedway – Fireworks Show – Bobby Michnowicz
July 28 – Perris Auto Speedway – Hall of Fame Night – Steve Limon
August 11 – Santa Maria Speedway – Doug Nunes
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
October 13 – Route 66 Motorplex
November 2 – Perris Auto Speedway – Oval Nationals
November 3 – Perris Auto Speedway – Oval Nationals
TBA – Awards Banquet
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