The California Lightning Sprint Car Series Heads to the Beach This Saturday at Ventura Torrance, CA – May 26, 2025 — The California Lightning Sprint Car Series (CLS), presented by Motor City Buick/GMC, will return to the picturesque Ventura Raceway this Saturday night, May 31st, for its second appearance at the seaside oval in 2025. Racing at the famed track — affectionately known as “The Best Little Dirt Track in America” — begins at 5:30 p.m., with spectator gates opening at 3:00 p.m. Leading the CLS championship charge is Palmdale’s Eric Greco, who carries a 40-point advantage over seven-time CLS champion Bobby Michnowicz. Greco, the winner of the 2025 season opener in Bakersfield, placed fifth at the series’ first Ventura outing on May 3rd and recently finished second to David Gasper at the Civil War Series opener in Merced. Motor City Buick/GMC California Lightning Sprint point leader Eric Greco. CLS Photo. Chasing the leaders in the Motor City Buick/GMC point standings are Aiden Lange (Lakewood) in third, Cody Nigh (Camarillo) in fourth with standout rookie Drake Cardey of Riverside rounding out the top five. Lange claimed victory in the previous Ventura event, while Cardey turned heads with a remarkable runner-up finish in just his fourth career Lightning Sprint Car race. Oak Hills-based Michnowicz placed third that night with his nephew, Nigh fourth. Adding to the drama this Saturday will be the return of rising star Gasper, the two-time CLS champion and current third-place driver in the USAC/CRA Sprint Car standings. The Goleta-based 20-year-old will once again pilot Mike Schweitzer’s #41, the same car he drove to the win at Merced two weeks ago. Fresh off a third-place result at the USAC/CRA event in Perris last Saturday, the talented racer is sure to be a major factor in Ventura. Saturday’s action-packed program will also feature racing from the VRA Sprint Cars, Senior Sprints, VRA Hobby Stocks, IMCA Sport Compacts, Go-Karts, and VRA Kids Classes. Event Details: Location: Ventura Raceway, 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura, CA 93001 (Ventura County Fairgrounds) Gates Open: 3:00 p.m. Racing Starts: 5:30 p.m. Tickets: Adults: $18.00 Seniors (60+), Military (with ID), and Students (with ID): $18.00 Kids 12 and under: Free with accompanying adult Website: http://venturaraceway.com Phone: (805) 648-RACE After Ventura, the CLS continues its 31st season when it returns to the Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway on June 7th, followed by another Ventura Raceway date on June 21st. Don't miss the thunder on the beach this Saturday night in Ventura! CLS Raffle News: The CLS is excited to announce that Outlaw Wings has donated a free top wing to be raffled off on October 25th. Raffle tickets are just $5 and will be available at all CLS events throughout the season. For more updates and series information, follow the California Lightning Sprint Car Series on social media and visit the official website at racecls.com. The CLS would like to thank the following companies for being partners in the 2025 season. Motor City Buick/GMC, American Racer Tires, T Shirts By Timeless, Advanced Racing Suspension, BR Motorsports, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Diablo Fabrication and Design, Eibach Springs, Extreme Mufflers, EZ UP, Hoosier Tires, The Joie of Seating, King Racing Products, Outlaw Wings, RacingJunk.com, RC Fuel Injection, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, SpeedMart, and Triple X Race Components. If you would like to join the CLS and be a marketing partner in 2025, please contact Jon Robertson via email at jon.robertson@sbcglobal.net or by calling (310) 367-9050. Motor City Buick/GMC California Lightning Series Points 1. Eric Greco … 392 2. Bobby Michnowicz … 352 3. Aiden Lange … 324 4. Cody Nigh … 319 5. Drake Cardey … 300 5. Zate Legend … 284 7. Jeff Dyer … 268 8. Braydin Collie … 256 9. Bruce Douglass … 227 10. Leland Day … 196 CLS vs BCRA Point Standings 1. David Gasper, CLS … 133 2. Eric Greco, CLS … 130 3. Hunter Kinney, BCRA … 124 4. Jeff Dyer, CLS … 122 5. Bobby Michnowicz, CLS … 118 6. Cody Nigh, CLS … 102 7. Greg Dennett, BCRA … 95 8. Dakota Albright, BCRA … 94 9. Braydin Collie, CLS … 88 10. Zate Legend, CLS … 84 2025 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule April 12 Bakersfield Speedway Eric Greco May 3 Ventura Raceway Aiden Lange May 17 Merced Speedway David Gasper (CLS vs BCRA Civil War) May 31 Ventura Raceway June 7 Bakersfield Speedway 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 CLS vs BCRA Civil War 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 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 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 Special Thanks to Wendy Michnowicz This press release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com