Last Saturday night, before one of the biggest crowds in Perris Auto Speedway history, Ramona, California’s A.J. Bender scored a convincing win in the California Lightning Sprint Car 20-lap main event. In addition to posting the win, Bender also took the point lead away from older brother A.J. Bender in the championship point standings.
When the green light came on to start the main event, Guy Maresch of Anaheim Hills took the initial lead from outside row one over El Cajon’s Robert Wilhelm and Lakeside’s Karl Von Yokes. Von Yokes moved up to the runnerup spot on lap two, but the “Bender Team” was already steaming towards the front. A.J. started outside row number four with Bobby just to his left. By the end of lap three, they had passed every car in front of them including Maresch and they were running first and second. Spring Valley’s Jarrett Kramer, who was third in points at the beginning of the night, moved up to third on lap three as well.
Making only his second start of the season in the CLS series, 16-year old Kevin Michnowicz, son of 1994 CRA champion Bobby Michnowicz, found his way to fourth on lap five after starting last in the 10 car field.
By the half way point A.J. had a half straight lead over his older brother, who had won five of the first ten main events in 2010. As the race progressed it looked like the brothers would finish first and second, but Bobby’s car suddenly slowed and dropped from the race on lap 18. He had fuel problems earlier in the night.
A.J. easily led the last two laps of the race that went green to checkers uninterrupted. Kramer was a straightaway behind A.J. at the finish and claimed second. Michnowicz was third when the checkered ended the race followed by Von Yokes and Maresch. However, Michnowicz’s car was found 20 pounds light in a post race inspection and Von Yokes car did not pass a full test. Both of them were disqualified and that moved Maresch up to third with Seth Kramer fourth and Robert Wilhelm fifth.
With his win, A.J. Bender took over the point lead for the first time in 2010. Jarrett Kramer, who led the points most of the first half of the season, climbed back to second. Coming into the race, Bobby Bender was the point leader, but his mechanical problems dropped him to third with Guy Maresch and Dan Hillberg rounding out the top five (complete top 10 is listed below).
Kramer and Michnowicz won the eight lap heat races earlier in the night. Jim Squire flipped in his heat race. While he emerged unhurt, his car was damaged and he was out for the evening.
The series will take the next couple of weekends off before returning to Perris Auto Speedway on July 24th for the 1st Annual Christian Stover Memorial.
DVD’s from Saturday’s race will be available form Raceway Video. You can visit their website at: www.racewayvideo.com. You can also call: (818) 618-9764
California Lightning Sprint Car Series would like to acknowledge the following sponsors for making the 2010 campaign possible. The Christian Stover Foundation, Performance by Rosson Racing, BK Wings, Circle Track Performance and Hoosier Tires. Anyone wishing to come on board as a series sponsor can call Brent Sexton at: (619) 454-6945.
For more information on this Saturday’s race or the 2010 California Lightning Sprint Car Series, contact Brent Sexton ((619) 454-6945 or sextonfire@cox.net) or Scott Daloisio (909 226-7768 or sdaloisiosports@aol.com).
MAIN EVENT FINISH (with starting positions)
1. A.J. Bender (8th)
2. Jarrett Kramer (5th)
3. Guy Maresch (2nd)
4. Seth Kramer (6th)
5. Robert Wilhelm (1st)
6. Dale Gamer (3rd)
7. Bobby Bender (7th)
8. Jon Squire (9th)
DQ: Kevin Michnowicz & Karl Von Yokes
2010 CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS
1. A.J. Bender – Ramona, CA – 1242
2. Jarrett Kramer – Spring Valley, CA – 1227
3. Bobby Bender – Ramona, CA – 1226
4. Guy Maresch – Anaheim Hills, CA – 1012
5. Dan Hillberg – Placentia, CA – 995
6. Dale Gamer – Anaheim, CA – 986
7. Robert Wilhelm – El Cajon, CA – 963
8. Seth Kramer – Spring Valley, CA – 938
9. Cory Ballard – Orange, CA – 837
10. Peter Benker – El Cajon, CA – 828
2010 CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SRPINT CAR MAIN EVENT WINNERS
Bobby Bender … 5
Jarrett Kramer … 2
Johnny Bluntach … 1
Cory Ballard … 1
Dan Hillberg … 1
A.J. Bender … 1
2010 CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE
July 24th … Perris Auto Speedway (1st Annual Christian Stover Memorial
July 31st … Bakersfield Speedway
August 14th … Perris Auto Speedway
August 28th … Perris Auto Speedway
September 11th … Ventura Raceway
September 25th … Bakersfield
October 2nd … Perris Auto Speedway
October 9th … Perris Auto Speedway (Southern California Fair)
November 5th & 6th … Perris Auto Speedway (Oval Nationals)
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 Hielshier Sr.
2010 Jarrett Kramer