9.15.12 California Lightning Sprints Results
Longtime Lomita, California racer Bobby Michnowicz scored his series leading fourth main event win in the California Lightning Sprint Car Series last Saturday night at Perris Auto Speedway. In addition to collecting the trophy and the first place paycheck, the victory propelled Michnowicz to the top of the point standings with only five races remaining in the 2012 campaign. This Saturday night the CLS will be making its only 2012 appearance at Jim Naylor’s Ventura Raceway.
Michnowicz came into the night only three-points behind Anaheim Hills driver Guy Maresch. Maresch had led the standing since May, but a heat race tangle and subsequent flip dealt a heavy blow to his championship aspirations. Maresch’s #50 car was seriously damaged in the flip. For the main, he was only able to take the green flag for the points and immediately pulled off ending up 16th.
Veteran Jim Squire of Lakeside beat Upland’s Alex Grigoreas to the first turn at the star of the 20-lap main event. Michnowicz, who started inside the third row, showed that he meant business early on as he was in third by the time the pack screamed off turn two. Grigoreas, a longtime competitor in the old SCRA Sprint Car Series, tried to knife his way inside Squire as they came off turn four the first time. They almost touched and they both bobbled. That allowed Michnowicz to race around the outside of Grigoreas as they exited turn four on the opener for second. Michnowicz kept the white #12 on the outside and roared past Squire as they exited the second corner on lap two. Once out front, he immediately streaked off to huge lead.
The 2011 Rookie of the Year, Steve Limon of Corona, was plagued by problems for the second race in a row. Heading into the race at Bakersfield the week before, Limon was second in the point standing, but engine problems took him out of that one early on. At The PAS on Saturday, Limon had more problems. He was trying to pass Squire and Grigoreas on lap two when he seemed to catch a piece of Squire and slid sideways and was then clobbered by San Diego’s Damon Arnett. Limon got his car back to the pits for repairs, but by the time he was back on the track, he was 14 laps down. Arnett, the leading rookie thus far in 2012, was not quite as fortunate. He bent a bunch of bolt on parts and he was done for the night.
When the green light came on after the yellow for Limon, Michnowicz ran away from the pack again. Grigoreas and Jeff Dyer took Squire for second and third respectively on the restart and soon thereafter, the hard charging Dyer relegated “The Greek” to third. Three laps later, Grigoreas’ teammate, Dan Hillberg of Placentia, took him for the third spot. Grigoreas ended up dropping out while running fourth when his engine over heated on lap 12 and Hillberg dropped out during a lap 15 yellow.
Michnowicz had a late race scare when he tangled with the lapped car of Iowa native Chance Sheffield on the back straight. The leader continued on, but a yellow came out when Sheffield stopped against the inside wall without his nose wing and with a broken front end. Once the race restarted with one lap to go, Michnowicz quickly opened a seven car length lead over Dyer that he carried the final lap to the checkered flag. Dyer stayed second followed Anaheim’s Dale Gamer, Murrieta’s Zach Zauss and Dan Lancaster of Imperial Beach. Only six of the original 17 starters was still around at the end of the 20-lapper. Dyer, who started 10th, was the Oil Twins Amsoil Hard Charger.
Earlier on the hot, late summer evening, Hillberg and Limon won the six lap heat races.
Michnowicz came into the event three points out of first place, but heading into this Saturday’s race at Ventura, he leads Hillberg by 61-points in the championship standings. Maresch is third 12points behind Hillberg and Limon is 10-points in back of Maresch. The top four in the standings are only separated by 84 points and any of the four could still take the crown.
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
Perris Auto Speedway main event with starting spots: 1. Bobby Michnowicz (5th), 2. Jeff Dyer (10th), 3. Dale Gamer (6th), 4. Zach Zauss (12th), 5. Dan Lancaster (14th), 6. Ryan Sherman (3rd), 7. Donna Kotlinski (11th), 8. Dan Hillberg (8th), 9. James McCauley (9th), 10. Jim Squire (2nd), 11. Alex Grigoreas (1st), 12. Mike Kotlinski (17th), 13. Chance Sheffield (15th), 14. Steve Limon (7th), 15. Damon Arnett (4th), 16. Ryan Maresch (16th), 17. Tom Downing (17th)
2012 California Lightning Sprint Car Points
1. Guy Maresch – Anaheim Hills – 1409
2. Bobby Michnowicz – Lomita – 1406
3. Steve Limon – Corona – 1378
4. Dan Hillberg – Placentia – 1374
5. Damon Arnett – San Diego – 1195
6. Dale Gamer – Anaheim – 1148
7. Zach Zauss – Murrieta – 1137
8. Darren Hillberg – Corona – 1039
9. Tom Downing – Lakewood – 946
10. Alexander Bissett – Hemet – 896
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 – Jarrett Kramer
September 15 – Perris Auto Speedway – Glenn Howard Memorial – Bobby Michnowicz
September 22 – Ventura Raceway
September 29 – 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