8.18.12 California Lightning Sprints Results
Lomita, California’s Bobby Michnowicz scored his series leading third win of 2012 when the California Lightning Sprint Car Series visited Perris Auto Speedway last Saturday night.
Starting in the fifth spot, Michnowicz trailed pole sitter Dale Gamer of Anaheim and “The World Famous” Tom Downing of Lakewood after Kevin Winter’s threw the green flag to start the 20-lap race. Veteran Michnowicz quickly got past Downing for second and then lifted the lead from Gamer coming out of turn two on the second circuit.
Second year racer Steve Limon of Corona started marching toward the front of the pack on lap five when he went from third to fifth. Last year’s Rookie of the year, the U.S. Army veteran who has been the hottest driver in the loop as of late, then wrestled the second spot away from former Speedway Motorcycle racer Gamer and aimed his #4X at leader Michnowicz.
As Michnowicz and Limon started weaving their way through the lapped traffic while running first and second, two cars were also coming through the pack. Michnowicz son Kevin, a recent high school graduate who won the first two mains of 2012, flew into third. At the same time Placentia’s Dan Hillberg, who started 11th, took fourth.
Kevin Michnowicz may have been the fastest car on the track. He chased down Limon and raced past him for the runner up spot, but as he exited turn two on lap 18, his car violently crashed into the wall. Surprisingly, the 18-year-old star quickly climbed from the battered and bent racecar uninjured, but he was obviously done for the night.
Once the race restarted with two laps to go, 2010 champ and new father Jarrett Kramer, who was making a rare 2012 appearance, grabbed the third spot, but he, like Limon, did not have enough time to get past Michnowicz who took a length and a half victory. Following the lead trio across the line were Hillberg and Gamer.
Kramer’s drive from 12th to third in the main earned him the “Oil Twins Amsoil Hard Charger Award.”
Kramer and Hillberg won the two heat races earlier in the night.
Limon’s second place finish allowed him to close to within 23-points of series leader Guy Maresch of Anaheim Hills, who finished seventh in the main. Bobby Michnowicz, who is third, is 62-points behind Maresch.
The CLS gets this Saturday night off before heading to the Bakersfield Speedway on September 1st for the “2nd Round of the Civil War vs BCRA“
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. Bobby Michnowicz (5th), 2. Steve Limon (9th), 3. Jarrett Kramer (12th), 4. Dan Hillberg (11th). 5. Dale Gamer (1st). 6. Tom Downing (4th), 7. Guy Maresch (8th), 8. Ryan Sherman (2nd), 9. Zach Zauss (6th),
10. Dan Lancaster (17th), 11. Damon Arnett (3rd), 12. James McCauley (13th), 13. Chance Sheffield (19th), 14. Donna Kotlinski (15th), 15. Kevin Michnowicz (10th), 16. Jon Sims (18th), 17. Jeff Dyer (7th), 18. James Squire (14th), 19. Mel Murphy (16th)
2012 California Lightning Sprint Car Points
1. Guy Maresch – Anaheim Hills – 1263
2. Steve Limon – Corona – 1140
3. Bobby Michnowicz – Lomita – 1201
4. Dan Hillberg – Placentia – 1167
5. Dale Gamer – Anaheim – 1148
6. Damon Arnett – San Diego – 1025
7. Zach Zauss – Murrieta – 996
8. Darren Hillberg – Corona – 904
9. Alexander Bissett – Hemet – 896
10. Tom Downing – Lakewood – 758
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 – Bobby Michnowicz
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