(Torrance, CA, May 28, 2019) The POWRi Lucas Oil California Lightning Sprint Car Series will be heading back to its home track, the Ventura Raceway, this Saturday night for round #7 of the 2019 campaign. Going into the race, three different drivers have posted two wins each in the first six races.
Saturday’s appearance will be the third of eight at Jim Naylor’s picturesque oval located a couple of hundred feet from the breaking blue waves of the Pacific Ocean on the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Two-time and defending series champion Jarrett Kramer of Spring Valley captured the main events at the CLS first two appearances at the venue this year. Five-time series champion Bobby Michnowicz of Lomita and Kingsburg’s Doug Nunes have evenly split the other four races on the schedule.
Kramer, 37, grabbed the point lead after the second race of the season at Ventura on March 16th. The veteran driver led the championship chase up until two weeks ago when he had a disastrous night at the Barona Speedway. After suffering engine problems in qualifying, he left the track to borrow another car. By the time he got back qualifying and the heat races were done forcing him to start last in the main event. Things spiraled further downhill when he only completed two laps and finished dead last. It was his first finish outside of the top three all year.
Michnowicz and Nunes quickly pounced on Kramer’s bad luck by finishing first and second in the 25-lap Barona main event. The outcome propelled Michnowicz and Nunes past Kramer and put them first and second in the season-long championship standings. Going into Saturday’s race, Michnowicz, 58, leads Nunes by a mere 5-points. Despite his issues at Barona, Kramer is third and is only 29-points behind Michnowicz. Teen stars Eric Greco of Palmdale and Aiden Lange of Lakewood are fourth and fifth.
In addition to the CLS, the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars, VRA Senior Sprints, Dwarf Cars and Street Stocks will all be in action on Saturday. Spectator gates open at 3:00 P.M. and the first race is at 5:30.
Fans who would like to attend Saturday’s race on the beach in Ventura can find the track on the Ventura County Fairgrounds at 10 W. Harbor Boulevard (93001). The track website is http://venturaraceway.com/ and the office phone number is (805) 648-RACE.
The POWRi Lucas Oil California Lightning Sprint Car Series would like to thank the following sponsors for helping make the 2019 season possible: Lucas Oil, All Coast Construction, Christian Stover Foundation, Circle Track Performance, Cold Fire West, Fast Undercar, Hoosier Tire, Keizer Wheels, Outlaw Wings, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Speed Partz, Super Shocks, T Shirts by Timeless and Woodland Auto Display.
If you or your company would like to become part of the series for its 26th season in 2019, please call Bobby Michnowicz at (310) 320-5569.
To keep up with the CLS online, please visit the website at http://racecls.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/californialightningsprints/
2019 POWRi Lucas Oil California Lightning Sprint Cars Series Point Standings
- Bobby Michnowicz – Lomita, CA – 737
- Doug Nunes - Kingsburg, CA - 732
- Jarrett Kramer – Spring Valley, CA - 708
- Eric Greco - Palmdale, CA - 664
- Aiden Lange – Lakewood, CA - 623
- Cody Nigh – Camarillo, CA - 581
- Jeff Dyer – Bermuda Dunes, CA – 574
- Dominic Del Monte – Gardena, CA – 561
- Dalton Sexton - Lakeside, CA - 529
- A.J. Bender – San Diego, CA – 458
2019 POWRi Lucas Oil California Lightning Sprint Car Series
March 16 Bakersfield Speedway – Doug Nunes
March 23 Ventura Raceway – Jarrett Kramer
April 6 Barona Speedway – Doug Nunes
April 20 Bakersfield Speedway – Bobby Michnowicz
May 4 Ventura Raceway – Jarrett Kramer
May 18 Barona Speedway – Bobby Michnowicz
June 1 Ventura Raceway
June 15 Bakersfield Speedway
July 6 Ventura Raceway
July 27 Santa Maria Raceway
August 10 Barona Speedway
August 24 Ventura Raceway
September 7 Ventura Raceway
September 21 Bakersfield Speedway
October 5 Ventura Raceway
October 26 Ventura Raceway
November 17 Bakersfield Speedway