Eric Greco Dominates CLS Main Event at Plaza Park Raceway
Torrance, CA — August 27, 2025 — After flying in from Idaho for the race, point leader Eric Greco put on a flawless performance last Friday night at Plaza Park Raceway. The Boise State student opened the evening by breaking the California Lightning Sprint Car Series (CLS), presented by Motor City Buick/GMC, track record in qualifying, and he closed it by leading every lap of the 25-lap main event. The win was his second of the year and his first since the season opener at Imperial Valley Raceway on April 12.
Greco’s record-breaking lap of 10.938 seconds in Diablo Fabrication qualifying marked his third quick time of the 2025 season and tied him with Lakewood’s Aiden Lange for most fast times this year. Rookie standout Drake Cardey of Riverside clocked in second fastest at 10.954, followed by Lange (11.021), Fresno’s T.J. Smith (11.062), and Riverside’s Zate Legend (11.120).
In the heats, El Cajon’s Braydin Collie, who came in just seven points behind Cardey in the Rookie of the Year chase, topped the Hyper Racing first heat over “Rock Star” Jon Robertson and Greco. Seven-time series champion Bobby Michnowicz captured Extreme Muffler heat two ahead of Cody Nigh and Smith.
Greco started the 25-lap main from the pole with Smith alongside. Cardey and Lange made up row two, while Legend and CHP officer Jeff “Ponch” Dyer started from row three. After an initial false start, Greco powered into the lead on the restart and never looked back. Early drama came on lap three when Smith bicycled in turn two, slipping from second to fifth and handing Cardey the runner-up spot. Lange and Cardey then waged a spirited back-and-forth battle before Cardey secured the position on lap five.
That fight worked to Greco’s advantage, allowing him to build a three-second lead. A lap-seven yellow for Nigh momentarily bunched the field, but during the caution, Robertson, Dyer, Legend, and BCRA regular Hunter Kinney retired from the race.
On the restart, Cardey made a brief bid for the lead, but Greco quickly reasserted control and steadily pulled away. Behind him, Smith, Lange, and Michnowicz traded positions in a fierce battle for third, with Smith eventually getting the better of it.
By the halfway point, Greco was once again nearly three seconds clear, and by lap 20 he was a half-track ahead. With no late-race yellows to slow him down, Greco stormed to victory with a commanding margin. Smith slipped past Cardey on the final lap to claim second. Michnowicz crossed in fourth, and Lange completed the top five.
“This track is amazing,” the happy winner told the crowd after the race. “Everyone who runs this track is so good because of the shape. We have never run a track with a cushion with the lightning sprints because the tracks are so big. I was just trying to pace myself because I have never ran on a cushion before. If I saw a nose, I was going to kick it up a couple of gears.”
Michnowicz’s eighth to fourth run netted him the Eibach Spring Forward and SpeedMart Hard Charger awards. Kinney, who got upside down in qualifying and lost a chain in the main event, ended up with the Hyper Racing and SpeedMart Hard Luck Awards.
This Saturday, August 30th, the CLS ventures to the Ventura Raceway for a show that will also include Dwarf Cars, WMR Midgets, West Coast Sport Compacts, VRA Vintage Sprints, and Kids Classes in action at Ventura. Spectator gates open at 3:00 p.m. with the first green flag at 5:30. Adult tickets are $18. Seniors (65+) and Military & Students with ID are $15. Kids 12 and under are free with a paid adult.
Ventura Raceway is located on the Ventura County Fairgrounds at 10 W. Harbor Boulevard, Ventura, CA 93001. The track website is www.venturaraceway.com, and the office phone number is (805) 648-RACE.
After Ventura, the CLS will get one weekend off before a doubleheader of Civil War races with the BCRA. On Friday, September 12th, the two groups will square off at Bakersfield Speedway, followed the next night at Merced Speedway. At Bakersfield, they will be a part of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car show that will be streamed live worldwide on DirtVision.
Qualifying: 1. Eric Greco, 10.938; 2. Drake Cardey, 10.954; 3. Aiden Lange, 11.021; 4. T.J. Smith, 11.062; 5. Zate Legend, 11.120; 6. Jeff Dyer; 11.190; 7. Leland Day, 11.228; 8. Cody Nigh, 11.286; 9. Braydin Collie, 11.313; 10. Brent Sexton, 11.440; 11. Jon Robertson, 11.480; 12. Bobby Michnowicz, 14.992; DNS Hunter Kinney, No Time
Heat #1: 1. Collie; 2. Robertson; 3. Greco; 4. Lange; 5. Day; Kinney DNS
Heat #2: 1. Michnowicz; 2. Nigh; 3. Smith; 4. Dyer; 5. Cardey; 6. Sexton
Main Event – 20 Laps (With Starting Positions)
1. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA … 1st
2. T.J. Smith, Fresno, CA … 2nd
3. Drake Cardey, Riverside, CA … 3rd
4. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA … 8th
5. Aiden Lange, Lakewood, CA … 4th
6. Cody Nigh, Camarillo, CA … 9th
7. Braydin Collie, El Cajon, CA … 7th
8. Leland Day, Bakersfield, CA … 11th
9. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA … 6th
10. Zate Legend, Riverside, CA … 5th
11. Hunter Kinney, Sacramento, CA … 12th
12. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA … 10th
DNS Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA
2025 CLS Contingency Awards
8/22/25 – Plaza Park
Heat Races – Award – Recipient
Racing Junk Heat Race #1 winner
Competition Suspension Inc. $50 product certificate – Brayden Collie
Extreme Muffler Heat Race #2 winner
Extreme Muffler $50 product certificate – Bobby Michnowicz
ARS Heat Race #3 winner
Advanced Racing Suspensions $50 product certificate
Main Event Award Winner – Eric Greco
2nd place
BR Motorsports – $25 product certificate – T.J. Smith
3rd place
Joie of Seating – $250 product certificate – Drake Cardey
4th place
Saldana Racing Products – $50 product certificate – Bobby Michnowicz
5th place
King Racing Products $25 product certificate – Aiden Lange
Highest finisher with Hoosier tires on all 4 corners.
Hoosier – free tire – T.J Smith
Quick time
Diablo Fabrication $50 product certificate – Eric Greco
Spring Forward (Hard Charger)
Eibach – $100 product certificate
SpeedMart – $50 product certificate – Bobby Michnowicz
Hard Luck Award
Hyper Racing – $50 product certificate
SpeedMart – $50 product certificate – Hunter Kinney
For more updates and series information, follow the California Lightning Sprint Car Series on social media and visit the official website at racecls.com.