CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINTS AT BAKERSFIELD SATURDAY (Torrance, CA, May 10, 2022) The California Lightning Sprint Car Series returns to action this Saturday, May 14th, in an exciting open-wheel tripleheader that will also feature the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars and NMRA ¾ Midgets at Scott Schweitzer’s Bakersfield Speedway. The race will be the sixth of the season for the CLS and it will be the third visit of the year to “The West’s Fastest 1/3 Mile High Banked Clay Oval.” Two drivers who hope to have a change in luck at Bakersfield are defending series champion David Gasper of Santa Barbara and five-time series champ Bobby Michnowicz of Oak Hills. Gasper, who turned 17-years-old on Monday, lost an engine in his first two appearances at the track this year. He did not start the main event on March 25th. On April 16th, he jumped into Mark Henry’s car and came home 10th. Michnowicz was knocked out for the night when engine problems forced him from the action while leading his heat race at the “Okie Bowl” in March. At the last series race at the track in April, his water pump broke its bracket, fell off, and ripped the fuel lines off the car knocking it out of action for the second month in a row. While that was bad luck for the two champion drivers, bad luck for the rest of the field may have come to surface two weeks ago at the Ventura Raceway when both drivers had their cars perform flawlessly. The end result was Gasper leading every inch of the way for his second victory of the year in the March 26h makeup main event and wily veteran Michnowicz leading it wire to wire for his initial win of the year in the nightcap. To compound the concerns of the competition, Michnowicz placed third in the first race of the evening with Gasper doing likewise in the night’s other main event. Palmdale’s Eric Greco, who has sat on top of the points heap since the second race of the season, will bring a 24-point lead over Camarillo’s Cody Nigh heading into Saturday’s race. Gasper, who won the second race of the year at Merced, has clawed his way back to third. Despite missing a race earlier this year, Yucca Valley’s Jeff Dyer is fourth. Glendora-based rookie Will Browne is fifth. Of the series regulars who have made four or more main event starts this year, Dyer has the best finishing percentage at 2.75. Greco is next with a 3.40. Gasper is third at 3.75. Dyer and San Diego’s A.J. Bender, who won the last CLS race at Bakersfield on April 16th, will both do double duty on Saturday competing in the CLS Series along with the USAC/CRA 410s. In addition to the three classes of open-wheel cars, hobby stocks will also be racing on Saturday night. Fans who would like to attend the show can find the track 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 pit gate will open at 2:00 p.m., spectator gates at 4:00, and racing will start at 6:00. Adult tickets are $20.00. Seniors and military get in for $18.00. For kids 6-12 it is $5.00 and children 5 and under are free. California Lightning Sprint Car Series Point Standings 1. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA … 608 2. Cody Nigh, Camarillo, CA … 584 3. David Gasper, Santa Barbara, CA … 510 4. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA … 499 5. Will Browne ®, Glendora, CA … 449 6. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA … 389 7. Pat Kelley, Chino, CA … 331 8. Dominic Del Monte, Gardena, CA … 320 9. A.J. Bender, San Diego, CA … 231 10. Jeremy Queener, Lake Elsinore, CA … 207 10. Trevor Ballou, Corona, CA, 207 CLS vs BCRA “Civil War Series” Points 1. David Gasper – CLS - 142 2. Dakota Albright – BCRA – 126 3. Eric Greco – CLS – 126 4. Will Browne – CLA 116 5. Harlee Aguilera – BCRA – 109 6. Cody Nigh – CLS – 104 7. Greg Dennett – BCRA – 100 8. Hunter Kinney – BCRA – 92 9. Matt Land – BCRA – 89 10. Tim Kinser - 83 The following companies have become marketing partners with the CLS in 2022. They have offered up more than $13,000.00 in contingencies that will be awarded on top of the regular racing purses and they will be paid out throughout the year. Yoshimura R&D, Hoosier Tires West, T-Shirts By Timeless, Extreme Mufflers, Saldana Racing Products, Rod End Supply, Speed Mart, Cold Fire West, West Evens Motorsports, RC Fuel Injection, Jake Swanson Shock Technology, Advanced Racing Suspensions, CSI Shocks, Eibach Springs, Triple X Race Components, King Racing Products, Hyper Racing Products, Rebel Gears, Vahlco Wheels, Wilwood Disk Brakes, Fuel Safe Systems, MPI, Circle Track Performance, E-Z UP, Hepfner Racing, Smith Titanium, and Hoosier Speed. If you or your company would like to become a partner of the longtime racing organization, contact Jon Robertson via email at mailto:jon.robertson@sbcglobal.net or by calling (310) 367-9050. CLS Contingency Awards Heat Race #1 – Extreme Muffler $50.00 Product Certificate – Heat Race #2 – CSI Shocks - $50.00 Product Certificate – Heat Race #3 - Saldana Race Products - $50.00 Product Certificate – 1st Place Main Event - Eibach Springs $100.00 Product Certificate – 2nd Place Main Event - Vahlco Wheels $50.00 Product Certificate – 3rd Place Main Event - Jake Swanson Shock Technology $50 Product Certificate – 4th Place Main Event – Hyper Chassis - $50 Product Certificate – 5th Place Main Event – Smith Titanium Product Certificate – 10th Place Main Event – King Racing Products $25.00 Product Certificate – Fast Qualifier - West Evans Motorsports $25.00 Product Certificate – Hard Charger - Speed Mart $25.00 Product Certificate – Hard Charger - Advanced Racing Suspension Product Certificate – Hard Luck Award – Speed Mart $25.00 Product Certificate - 1st Car Not On The Lead Lap – Rebel Gears 30% Off Coupon 2022 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule March 25 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – Grant Sexton April 2 Merced Speedway Non-Wing –– Civil War #1 – David Gasper April 16 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – A.J. Bender April 30 Ventura Raceway Winged (Make Up Main) David Gasper April 30 Ventura Raceway Winged – Bobby Michnowicz May 14 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – With USAC/CRA May 21 Ventura Raceway Winged June 11 Bakersfield Speedway Winged June 25 Ventura Raceway Winged July 9 Ventura Raceway Winged July 23 Ventura Raceway Winged August 26 Silver Dollar Speedway Winged – Civil War #2 August 27 Placerville Speedway Winged – Civil War #3 September 10 Lemoore Raceway Winged September 24 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – Civil War #4 October 8 Mohave Valley Raceway Winged – With SWLS October 29 Ventura Raceway Winged November 15 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – With USAC Midgets - Civil War #5 November 17 Placerville Speedway Non-Wing – With USAC Midgets - No Points November 18 Placerville Speedway Non-Wing – With USAC Midgets - No Points November 19 Placerville Speedway Non-Wing – With USAC Midgets - No Points To keep up with the CLS online, please visit the website at http://racecls.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/californialightningsprints 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 Gansen, 2007 Shane Rossen, 2008 Brent Sexton, 2009 Stuart Hielschier Sr., 2010 Jarrett Kramer, 2011 Tim Brown, 2012 Bobby Michnowicz, 2013 Stephen Limon, 2014 Bobby Michnowicz, 2015 Bobby Michnowicz, 2016 Bobby Michnowicz, 2017 Bobby Michnowicz, 2018 Jarrett Kramer, 2019 Jarrett Kramer, 2021 David Gasper This press release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com