A last lap spin by leader Bobby Michnowicz gave the lead and the victory in last Saturday night’s California Lightning Sprint Car main event to defending series champion Jarrett Kramer at the Bakersfield Speedway. Kramer’s brother Seth, making only his second appearance of 2011, chased his sibling across the line to finish second.
The initial attempt to get the 20 lap main underway on the 1/3 of a mile clay oval only got as far as turn one before Tom Downing and Michnowicz got together and spun. Dan Lancaster, Dan Hillberg and Zach Zauss all piled in behind trying to avoid the mess. Lancaster and Zauss sustained damage to their cars and were unable to continue.
When the green came out, Darren Hillberg rocketed into the lead, but he spun in turn three and brought out another yellow flag. For the restart, Guy Maresch was out front in his #50 car with the Kramer brothers in tow. Seth Kramer quickly took the lead from Maresch once the green flag flew and brother Jarrett was by Maresch by the time the race reached the 10% mark.
After his original tangle on lap one, Michnowicz had to restart in tenth, but he quickly steam rolled his way through the field and was third trailing only the Kramer duo by the end of the third go around. The 1994 CRA champion kept his forward momentum up and passed Jarrett Kramer for second at the end of lap five and then drove around leader Seth Kramer on the back straight on lap seven. Once out front, Michnowicz pulled away. Jarrett Kramer passed his brother for second and began the chase of the leader.
By the time the race reached the halfway point, Michnowicz was nearly a half straight in front. However, by lap 14 and in the middle of lapped traffic, Jarrett Kramer caught the leader. Michnowicz maintained the top spot with his pursuer close behind until the final yellow flag flew with two laps to go when Dan Hillberg spun in turn four.
With clear sailing up front and no lapped cars between them, Michnowicz got the jump for the green, white checkered restart and quickly built a decent lead. He took the white flag and seemed to be locked in for his sixth win of 2011, but he spun to the infield in turn one on the final go round handing the lead and the eventual win to Jarrett Kramer. Seth Kramer raced across the line in second with soon to be crowned champion Tim Brown third. Teenager Alexander Bissett, back in his own car, finished fourth with Maresch fifth. Michnowicz recovered to finish sixth.
Like the main event, Jarrett Kramer beat Seth to win the first heat race. Brown won the other.
With only two point paying races left in the 2011 season, Brown left Bakersfield with an imposing 213-point lead over Jarrett Kramer. Bissett continued his upward climb and moved up to third in the standings. Dan Hillberg and Dale Gamer round out the top five in the points.
The CLS will return to the Ventura Raceway for the last time in 2011 on October 15th and will wrap up the season at the Ovals Nationals at Perris Auto Speedway the first weekend of November.
The California Lightning Sprint Car Series would like to thank 2011 series sponsors Christian Stover Foundation, Circle Track Performance, DJ Safety, Electro Tech Powder Coating, Elliott’s Powder Coating, DK Machine and Fabrication, Hoosier Tires, Keizer Wheels, Performance by Rosson Racing, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Saldana Race Products and Sander Engineering. If you or your company would like to become part of the California Lightning Series for the 2011 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
Bakersfield Main Even: 1. Jarrett Kramer (Spring Valley), 2. Seth Kramer (Bakersfield), 3. Tim Brown (Wildomar), 4. Alexander Bissett (Hemet), 5. Guy Maresch (Anaheim Hills), 6. Bobby Michnowicz (Lomita), 7. Dale Gamer (Anaheim), 8. Stephon Limon (Corona), 9. Paul Krueger (Buena Park), 10. Dan Hillberg (Placentia), 11. Darren Hillberg (Corona), 12. Tom Downing (Lakeside), 13. Dan Lancaster (Imperial Beach), 14. Zach Zauss (Hemet)
2011 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Point Standings
1. Tim Brown – Wildomar – 2164
2. Jarrett Kramer – Spring Valley – 1951
3. Alexander Bissett – Hemet – 1828
4. Dan Hillberg – Placentia – 1803
5. Dale Gamer – Anaheim – 1723
6. Darren Hillberg – Corona – 1718
7. Stephen Limon – Corona – 1664
8. Dan Lancaster – Imperial Beach – 1639
9. Paul Krueger – Buena Park – 1630
10. Guy Maresch – Anaheim Hills – 1585
2011 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule
March 12 – Perris Auto Speedway – Kevin Michnowicz
April 2nd – Perris Auto Speedway – Kevin Michnowicz
April 16th – Ventura Raceway – Dan Hillberg
April 30th – Bakersfield Speedway – Bobby Michnowicz
May 14th – Santa Maria Speedway – Kevin Michnowicz
May 28th – Perris Auto Speedway – Jarrett Kramer
June 11th – Victorville Raceway Park – Bobby Michnowicz
July 2nd – Perris Auto Speedway – Darren Hillberg
July 23rd – Bakersfield Speedway – Bobby Michnowicz
July 30th – Perris Auto Speedway – Bobby Michnowicz
August 20th – Perris Auto Speedway – Jarrett Kramer
August 27th – Santa Maria Speedway – Tim Brown
September 17th – Victorville Raceway Park – Bobby Michnowicz
September 24th – Bakersfield Speedway – Seth Kramer
October 15th – Ventura Raceway
November 4th – Perris Auto Speedway (heats only)
November 5th – Perris Auto Speedway
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 Ganson
2007 Shane Rosson
2008 Brent Sexton
2009 Stuart Hielcshier Sr.
2010 Jarrett Kramer