SIX CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT RACES RELOCATED TO THE BAKERSFIELD SPEEDWAY AT KEVIN HARVICK’S KERN RACEWAY (Torrance, CA, February 4, 2025) The California Lightning Sprints presented by Motor City GMC Series has made an alteration to its 2025 racing schedule. Due to the closing of the Bakersfield Speedway, the 31-year-old club has been forced to move six races to, well, the Bakersfield Speedway. That is the Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. That jewel of a dirt track is located across town, in the shadow of the gorgeous half-mile paved oval adjacent to California’s Interstate 5. The logo for the Bakerfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway Fortunately for the CLS, longtime Bakersfield Speedway promoter Scott Schweitzer will be making the move as well and he is taking the entire schedule with him. That involves the six CLS races and includes the Kubota High Limit Series race on March 21st and the September 12th date with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars. The Bakersfield Speedway, which would have celebrated its 80th season of racing in 2025, has been a longtime and favorite stop for the CLS. This year, the six races at “The West’s Fastest 1/3 Mile High Banked Clay Oval” would have made it the series home track. However, the track at Kern will now be the home abode for the CLS. “When I found out, I was just really sad,” seven-time CLS Champion Bobby Michnowicz said of the track's closing. “For like a day, I told Wendy (Bobby’s wife) that I felt like I lost a loved one. It was devastating. I have been going there since 1980. It is arguably the best lightning sprint car track in the country. It is a bummer.” “The Schweitzer’s know what they are doing,” Michnowicz continued. “He (promoter Scott Schweitzer) is going to reconfigure Kern. I feel he is going to do a good job. It won’t replace or be another Oildale, because I think you cannot do that. I don’t think you will ever have one of those, but I think it will be good and we will all be on an equal playing field.” Michnowicz won more lightning sprint car races than any driver in the history of the “Okie Bowl.” He also won in other types of cars there. “I don’t know,” Michnowicz responded when asked if he knew how many main events he had won there. “I won in non-wing sprint cars, Focus Midgets, and lightning sprints, but I really do not know how many. Somehow, if you take all of my wins, about 90% of them were at that track. I don’t know why. I just loved that track.” The CLS has made one appearance at Kern in the past. It was on September 19, 2021, and now USAC/CRA sprint car star David Gasper won the main event. Ironically, it came 24 hours after a race at the Bakersfield Speedway that Michnowicz son, Kevin, won. CLS drivers will first lock horns on the reconfigured track at the club’s 31st anniversary season opener. In fact, the second and third races of the new campaign will also be on the same oval on April 12th and May 3rd. Fans can stay updated on the California Lightning Sprints Presented By Motor City GMC on the club’s Facebook page or website at http://racecls.com/index.html. The CLS would like to thank the following companies for being partners in the 2025 season. Motor City GMC, American Racer Tires, Extreme Mufflers, RacingJunk.com, Rod End Supply, BR Racing, King Racing Products, Saldana Race Products, Extreme Technology, ARS Advanced Racing Suspension, West Evans, CSI Shocks, Speedmart, Hyper Racing, Rebel Gears, E-Z Up, Smith Titanium, Triple X Chassis, RC Fuel Injection. 2025 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule March 21 Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’ Kern Raceway CLS vs BCRA Civil War With the High Limit Sprint Cars Series on Flo April 12 Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’ Kern Raceway With the Ultimate Sprint Car Series May 3 Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’ Kern Raceway May 17 Merced Speedway CLS vs BCRA Civil War May 31 Ventura Raceway June 7 Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’ Kern Raceway With the Ultimate Sprint Car Series June 21 Ventura Raceway July 5 Santa Maria Speedway With USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series on Flo July 26 Santa Maria Speedway With NARC Sprint Car Series on Flo August 22 Plaza Park Raceway August 23 Lemoore Jet Bowl Raceway August 30 Ventura Raceway September 12 Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’ Kern Raceway CLS vs BCRA Civil War With World of Outlaws on Dirt Vision September 13 Merced Speedway CLS vs BCRA Civil War Albright Memorial October 4 Ventura Raceway October 25 Ventura Raceway November 25 Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’ Kern Raceway Western Lightning Sprint Car Championship with USAC National Midgets on Flo To keep up with the CLS online, please visit the website at http://racecls.com/ and follow on the club’s Facebook page 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, 2022 David Gasper, 2023 Bobby Michnowicz, 2024 Bobby Michnowicz This press release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com