TORRANCE, CALIF. (July 1, 2019) - The POWRi Lucas Oil California Lightning Sprint Car Series will hit the halfway point in its 26th season at its home track, Jim Naylor’s Ventura Raceway, this Saturday night, July 6th. Spectator gates at the “Best Little Dirt Track in America” will open at 3:00 P.M. and the first race will be at 5:30.
Going into this weekend’s race, Jarrett Kramer of Spring Valley, the 2010 and 2018 CLS champion, is on top of the 2019 championship standings. The 37-year-old father of two has a 32-point lead and it would be no surprise if he increased the size of his advantage on Saturday. In the series first three races at the picturesque beachside oval this year, Kramer has emerged victorious each time.
Kramer’s closest pursuer in the standings is Kingsburg veteran, Doug Nunes. Like Kramer, Nunes has three wins this season including the last race at the Bakersfield Speedway on June 15th. However, Ventura has been the bogey track for the 42-year-old. In the first eight races of the campaign, he has only finished out of the top three two-times. Both, a 17th and a 19th, came at Ventura. His best outing there this year was a third on May 4th.
Five-time series champion Bobby Michnowicz sits third in the standings, but only trails leader Kramer by 53-points. The 55-year-old is the only driver besides Kramer and Nunes to score wins in the CLS this year and he has a pair of victories. They came a month apart at Bakersfield and Barona. Thus far at Ventura this year, he has a third, a fifth and a seventh.
Teenager Eric Greco of Palmdale and Ventura local Cody Nigh of Camarillo round out the top five in points. Greco was second to Kramer in a photo finish at Ventura on March 23rd. In the two races there since he has recorded a ninth and an eighth-place finish. Nigh was second to Kramer at Ventura on June 1st and was third behind Kramer and Greco in March. His worst finish there this year was a 12th on May 4th.
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.
In addition to the CLS, the VRA Sprint Cars, Senior Sprints, Hobby Stocks and Focus/WMR Midgets will also be in action.
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/ or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/californialightningsprints/
2019 POWRi Lucas Oil California Lightning Sprint Cars Series Point Standings:
- Jarrett Kramer – Spring Valley, CA - 973
- Doug Nunes - Kingsburg, CA 941
- Bobby Michnowicz - Lomita, CA 920
- Eric Greco - Palmdale, CA - 838
- Cody Nigh – Camarillo, CA - 826
- Jeff Dyer – Bermuda Dunes, CA - 784
- Dominic Del Monte – Gardena, CA – 737
- Aiden Lange - Lakewood, CA – 719
- A.J. Bender – San Diego, CA - 708
- Dalton Sexton - Lakeside, CA – 644
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 – Jarrett Kramer
June 15 Bakersfield Speedway – Doug Nunes
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