(Torrance, CA, November 17, 2019) The POWRi Lucas Oil California Lightning Sprint Car Series will finish its 26th consecutive season with the 3rd Annual Western States Lightning Sprint Car Championship at the Bakersfield Speedway this Saturday night, November 23rd. Spectator gates will open at 3:00 P.M. with racing at 6:00.
Heading into the race, Jarrett Kramer already has his third overall and second straight CLS championship sewed up. The 37-year-old veteran from Spring Valley comes into the final race of the year with an insurmountable 222-point lead over 2nd place A.J. Bender of San Diego.
While the first-place trophy is already getting Kramer’s name etched on it, there are three tight battles for position Still to be decided in the top 10.
The first of those battles’ features Bender and Camarillo’s Cody Nigh and it is for second place in the championship standings. New father Bender, who won one of the main events at the Ventura Raceway last month and who won the last race at Bakersfield on September 21st, enters the night with a 17-point advantage over Nigh.
The battle for fourth is even tighter than the one for the runner-up spot. Teenage racers Eric Greco of Palmdale and Lakewood’s Aiden Lange will take the war for fourth to the final checkered flag of the year. Headed into the race at the track affectionately referred to as the “Okie Bowl,” Greco is a mere 3 points in front of Lange, who like Bender, won a main event at Ventura on October 26th.
The other battle in the top-10 features another one of the CLS talented teens, Dominic Del Monte of Gardena, and battle-tested Doug Nunes who calls Kingsburg home. Del Monte has a 31-point lead over Nunes going into the race, but Nunes has won two of the four races at Bakersfield this year.
In addition to the CLS, the USAC National & Western Midgets and Hobby Stocks will also be racing on the tripleheader racing program.
Fans who would like to attend the CLS season finale can find the Bakersfield Speedway at 5001 N. Chester Ext., in Bakersfield (93308). The track website is http://www.bakersfieldspeedway.com/ and the office phone number is (661) 393-3373.
The next event for the CLS after Saturday’s race in Bakersfield will be the 2019 awards banquet on February 1st. The gathering will be from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. at Frantone’s Pizza & Spaghetti Villa at 10808 Alondra Boulevard in Cerritos (90703). Banquet tickets are $30.00 per person and will feature an all you can eat Italian buffet, beverages and dessert (wine and beer available for additional cost). You can order tickets by sending a check to: CLS, 22126 Vermont Boulevard, Unit A, Torrance, CA 90502
POWRi Lucas Oil California Lightning Sprint Car Standings
Jarrett Kramer – Spring Valley, CA – 1983
A.J. Bender – San Diego, CA – 1761
Cody Nigh - Camarillo, CA - 1744
Eric Greco – Palmdale, CA – 1611
Aiden Lange - Lakewood, CA – 1608
Dominic Del Monte – Gardena, CA – 1570
Doug Nunes -Kingsburg, CA – 1539
Jeff Dyer – Yucca Valley, CA – 1368
Bobby Michnowicz - Lomita, CA – 1295
Jon Robertson - Torrance, CA – 1192
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/