9.19.21 California Lightning Sprints Results
(Upland, CA, September 25, 2021) Twenty-four hours after a tough night at the Bakersfield Speedway, David Gasper drove across town to the Kern County Raceway Park and scored an impressive win in the California Lightning Sprint Car Series 20-lap main event. It was the second win of the year for the rookie driver.
Gasper’s Saturday result was very uncharacteristic of the way his first season with the CLS has gone. In the main, he had nowhere to go, got into another car that was stopped on the track and tipped over. He was able to continue, but with six laps left, his right rear went flat, and he finished 13th. Sunday at, his racing luck did a 180.
For the second night in a row, Lakewood’s Aiden Lange was the fastest qualifier with a lap of 14.814.
Campo’s Don Hart captured the first heat race of the night when he beat Bakersfield local Cade Lewis and Lange to the checkers. In the second heat race, Palmdale’s Eric Greco made a dramatic sweep around the outside in the last corner to pass Gasper for the victory. “Rockstar” Jon Robertson of Torrance finished third. Series point leader James Turnbull of Indio lost a left rear wheel and did not finish the second heat.
A dash for cash, featuring the first three finishers from both heats, determined the lineup for the first three rows of the main event. The finishing order of the dash put winner Lewis on the pole. He was joined at the front by Gasper in his Kittle Motorsports/Gasper Racing/Valley Precision Products/#18. Lange was on the inside of the second row with Greco alongside. Robertson of Torrance and Hart were in row three.
When the race began, Gasper swept into the lead and led every inch of the way. Lewis was second on the start with Greco third and fast qualifier Lange fourth. Greco tried to advance his position when he went low to pass Lewis in turn one on the second circuit. However, he clipped the inside berm. Even though he quickly recovered, Lange took full advantage of the opportunity he was presented with and drove around the outside to pass Greco and take third.
By the end of lap four, Gasper had pulled away from Lange and Greco who were staging a great battle for third. Things slowed when Lewis clipped the inside berm in turn one and slid to a stop bringing out the second and final yellow flag of the race. Unfortunately the young driver’s car was damaged, and he was done for the night.
Lange, Greco, and Hart were behind Gasper for the restart. As soon as the green light flashed back on, Lange tried to go around the leader in the first bend. However, the track was heavily watered before the race and was still extremely slippery. Thus, Lange could not find the necessary traction to get by. From that point on, it was all Gasper. He continually moved away in the familiar “Kittle Blue” racecar, and by the time the checkered flag gave him his second win of the year, he was more than a full straightaway in front. Lange won his battle with Greco and finished second. Hart finished fourth. Point leader Turnbull came all the way from 11th to finish 5th and was the race “Hard Charger.”
“We did not have a great night last night,” a happy Gasper told the crowd after the race. “We came here and qualified second, finished second in the heat and second in the dash. The only other thing we could go for was first (in the main) and here we are. I would not want to drive for anyone else than Kittle Motorsports. I cannot thank them enough.”
The CLS returns to action this Saturday night at the Ventura Raceway. Spectator gates will open at 3:30 and the first race will be at 5:30. The track is located on the Ventura County Fairgrounds at 10 W. Harbor Boulevard (93001). The website is http://venturaraceway.com/ and the office phone number is (805) 648-RACE.
The CLS would like to thank 2021 series sponsors Hoosier Tires, T Shirts By Timeless, TJ Forged Racing Wheels, and Walker Performance Filtration. If you or your company would like to become part of the series, please call Alex Grigoreas at (909) 437-3170.
To keep up with the CLS online, please visit the website at http://racecls.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/californialightningsprints/
Kern County Raceway Park Main Event Results (with starting position)
1. Dave Gasper – Santa Barbara, CA – 1st
2. Aiden Lange – Lakewood, CA – 3rd
3. Eric Greco – Palmdale, CA – 4th
4. Don Hart – Campo, CA – 6th
5. James Turnbull – Indio, CA – 11th
6. Jon Robertson – Torrance, CA – 5th
7. Jeff Dyer – Yucca Valley, CA – 7th
8. Pat Kelley – Chino, CA – 9th
9. Dale Gamer – Anaheim, CA – 10th
10. Cade Lewis – Bakersfield, CA – 1st
11. Chase Gaal – O’Neals, CA – 12th
12. Brent Owens – Rancho Cucamonga – 8th
California Lightning Sprint Car Series Points
1. James Turnbull – Indo, CA – 1268
2. Eric Greco – Palmdale, CA – 1227
3. David Gasper ® – Santa Barbara, CA – 1164
4. Jeff Dyer – Yucca Valley, CA – 1021
5. Jon Robertson – Torrance, CA – 824
6. A.J. Bender – San Diego, CA – 823
7. Dominic Del Monte – Gardena, CA – 813
8. Aiden Lange – Lakewood, CA – 795
9. Bobby Michnowicz – Oak Hills, CA – 759
10. Pat Kelley – Chino, CA – 724
CLS/BCRA Civil War Series Point Standings
1. Eric Greco – CLS – 336
2. Dave Gasper – CLS – 335
3. James Turnbull – CLS – 325
4. Brandon Leedy – BCRA – 297
5. Dominic Del Monte – CLS – 247
6. Terry Bergstrom – BCRA – 240
7. Dakota Albright – BCRA – 227
8. Bobby Michnowicz – CLS – 1226
8. Jeff Dyer – CLS – 226
10. Aiden Lange – CLS – 215
2021 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule
March 13 Bakersfield Speedway – Eric Greco
April 10 Bakersfield Speedway – Bobby Michnowicz
April 24 Merced Speedway (Wayne Albright Memorial – Round #1 of the Civil War Series with BCRA – Wingless) – James Turnbull
May 15 Bakersfield Speedway – A.J. Bender
June 5 Ventura Raceway – A.J. Bender
June 19 Keller Auto Speedway (Hanford) – Postponed due to heat.
July 3 Santa Maria Speedway – Eric Greco
July 24 Santa Maria Speedway (Wing Madness #1) Santa Maria – A.J. Bender
August 7 Merced Speedway (Civil War Series #2 with BCRA – Winged) – Dave Gasper
August 28 Ventura Raceway – Eric Greco
September 18 Bakersfield Speedway (Civil War #3 with BCRA – Winged) – Kevin Michnowicz
September 19 The Dirt Track At Kern County Raceway Park – David Gasper
October 2 Ventura Raceway
October 30 Ventura Raceway
November 16 Bakersfield Speedway (Civil War #4 with BCRA – Winged and Western States Lightning Sprint Car Championship)
November 18 Placerville Speedway Hangtown 100 – (Co sanctioned with BCRA and in companion with the USAC National Midgets)
November 19 Placerville Speedway Hangtown 100 – (Co sanctioned with BCRA and in companion with the USAC National Midgets)
November 20 Placerville Speedway Hangtown 100 – (Co sanctioned with BCRA and in companion with the USAC National Midgets)
The schedule is subject to change due to Covid restrictions.
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