Dakota Albright Wins Bull Ring Nationals Opener at Plaza Park Torrance, CA — August 10, 2026 — Bay Cities Racing Association standout Dakota Albright charged to victory in the opening round of the Bull Ring Nationals last Friday at Keller Auto Center Plaza Park Raceway in Visalia. The race was also round two of the annual California Lightning Sprint Cars vs. BCRA Civil War Series. Winner Dakota Albright center, with second place Cody Nigh left and third place Bobby Michnowicz right. CLS photo. Thirteen-year-old Blayden Graham topped a blazing-fast Keizer Aluminum Wheels qualifying session with an 11.160 lap. Eric Greco was second at 11.225, followed by seven-time CLS champion Bobby Michnowicz at 11.241. Albright and defending CLS champion Aiden Lange completed the top five. Remarkably, the entire field was separated by only 0.549 seconds. Michnowicz won RacingJunk Heat Race #1 over Graham and Coffey, while Cody Nigh captured Extreme Muffler Heat Race #2 ahead of Greco and Albright. Michnowicz and his nephew Nigh shared the front row for the main event, with Greco and Albright in row two. Michnowicz led the opening lap before Nigh took command and planted his car on the bottom. The San Diego State graduate controlled the next 22 circuits while Albright attacked the cushion and steadily closed in. With three laps remaining, Albright made his move, swept into the lead and raced to the checkered flag. Nigh, already a CLS winner at Ventura this season, finished second. Michnowicz took third, followed by Greco and Lange. Albright’s charge from fourth to first also earned him the Eibach Springs Spring Forward Award and the West Evans Hard Charger Award. Fast qualifier Graham’s promising night ended just before halfway when contact with Albright damaged the front end of his car. Thus, Graham received the Rebel Gears Hard Luck Award. The victory made Albright the second BCRA driver to defeat the CLS this season, joining Greg Dennett. He also became the seventh different winner in 10 CLS races in 2026. Jeff Dyer, who missed the weekend while on a cruise, remains the only multiple winner with three victories. Albright left Friday’s race leading the two-night Bull Ring Nationals standings, but was not going to compete in Saturday’s finale. Nigh was second in points, followed by Michnowicz, Greco and Lange. After two rounds of the Civil War Series, Michnowicz held a 12-point lead over Albright. Lange was third, with Dennett and Nigh tied for fourth. For updates and complete series information, follow the California Lightning Sprint Car Series on Facebook or visit the official website at racecls.com. Keizer Aluminum Wheels Qualifying: 1. Blayden Graham, 11.160; 2. Eric Grecco, 11.225; 3. Bobby Michnowicz, 11.241; 4. Dakota Albright, 11.323; 5. Aiden Lange, 11.349; 6. Cody Nigh, 11.352; 7. Greg Dennett, 11.425; 8. Jon Robertson, 11.482; 9. Liam Coffey, 11.524; 10. Leland Day, 11.709 Racing Junk Heat #1: 1. Michnowicz, 2. Graham, 3. Coffey, 4. Lange, 5. Dennett Extreme Muffler Heat #2: 1. Nigh, 2. Grecco, 3. Albright, 4. Robertson, 5. Day Main Event – 25 Laps (With Starting Position and Distance Behind 1. Dakota Albright, Waterford, CA (4th) 2. Cody Nigh, Camarillo, CA (2nd) … 0.370 3. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA (1st) … 1.223 4. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA (3rd) … 2.278 5. Aiden Lange, Lakewood, CA (5th) … 5.529 6. Greg Dennett, Livermore, CA (9th) … 6.308 7. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA (7th) … 9.462 8. Liam Coffey, San Bernardino, CA (8th) … 11.227 9. Leland Day, Bakersfield, CA (10th) … + 1 Lap 10. Blayden Graham, Bakersfield, CA (6th) … 11 Laps Heat Races - Award - Recipient Racing Junk Heat Race #1 winner Competition Suspension Inc. $50 product certificate - 21k Bobby Michnowicz Extreme Muffler Heat Race #2 winner Extreme Muffler $50 product certificate - 45 Cody Nigh ARS Heat Race #3 winner Main Event Award Winner 2nd place BR Motorsports - $25 product certificate - 45 Cody Nigh 3rd place Saldana Racing Products - $50 product certificate - 21k Bobby Michnowicz 4th place King Racing Products $25 product certificate - 8g Eric Greco 5th place Smith titanium - 13x Aiden Lange Quick time Keizer Aluminum Wheels- $50 product certificate - 41 Blayden Graham Spring Forward (Hard Charger) Eibach - $100 product certificate West Evans - $25 product certificate - 35jr Dakota Albright Hard Luck Award Rebel Gear - 41 Blayden Graham Criteria - Award CLS Member - Extreme Mufflers 10% off purchase CLS Member - EZ Up 30-40% off purchase CLS Member - RC Fuel Injection 50% off products and services to all race series participants CLS Member - Rod End Supply $30 off each $100 for CLS participants Series Champion - Triple X Race Components $500 off any chassis or chassis kit Motor City Buick/GMC California Lightning Sprint Car Point Standings 1. Jeff Dyer … 928 2. Tyler Warner ® … 855 3. Aiden Lange … 842 4. Liam Coffey ® … 691 5. Jon Robertson … 690 6. Cody Nigh … 681 7. Brent Sexton … 505 8. Lealand Day … 436 9. Braydin Collie … 432 10. Bobby Michnowicz … 364 CLS vs BCRA Civil War Points 1. Bobby Michnowicz … 264 1. Dakota Albright … 252 3. Aiden Lange … 243 4. Greg Dennett … 240 4. Cody Nigh … 240 6. Liam Coffey … 212 7. Eric Greco … 123 8. Justin Norton … 101 8. Jon Robertson … 100 10 Leland Day … 97 Bullring Nationals Points 1. Dakota Albright … 135 2. Cody Nigh … 131 3. Bobby Michnowicz … 129 4. Eric Greco … 123 5. Aiden Lange … 113 6. Greg Dennett … 105 7. Jon Robertson … 100 8. Braydin Graham … 95 8. Liam Coffey … 95 10. Leland Day 87 CLS vs SCLS California Clash Points 1. Aiden Lange … 252 2. Jeff Dyer … 235 3. David Taft … 224 4. Peter Benker … 223 5. Shane Sexton … 216 6. Braydin Collie … 206 7. Cody Benker … 195 8. Brent Sexton … 189 8. Cody Nigh … 189 9. AJ Bender … 189 The CLS would like to thank the following companies for being marketing partners in the 2026 season. Series sponsor Motor City GMC Associate Sponsors American Racer Timeless Enterprises R&R Racing Quick Change Liquid Energy - The Official Energy Drink of CLS Contingency sponsors ARS BR Motorsports CSI Shocks Eibach Extreme Mufflers Keizer Wheels King Racing Optics Rebel Gears Racing Junk Rod End Supply Smith Titanium Speedmart West Evans If you would like to join the CLS and be a marketing partner in 2026, please contact Jon Robertson via email at jon.robertson@sbcglobal.net or by calling (310) 367-9050. 2026 Motor City Buick/GMC California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule March 6 CLS/SCLS Clash #1 Imperial Valley Raceway - Jeff Dyer March 7 CLS/SCLS Clash #2 Imperial Valley Raceway – David Taft March 21 CLS Ventura Raceway – Cody Nigh April 4 CLS & 305 Sprint Cars Santa Maria Speedway – Grant Sexton May 2 CLS Bakersfield Speedway/Kern – Jeff Dyer May 30 CLS Ventura Raceway – Bobby Michnowicz June 13 CLS Ventura Raceway _ Aiden Lange June 27 CLS vs BCRA Civil War Race (None Points) Merced Speedway – Greg Dennett July 4 CLS & USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Santa Maria Speedway – Jeff Dyer August 7 CLS vs BCRA Civil War Race (None Points) Plaza Park Visalia – Dakota Albright August 8 CLS vs BCRA Civil War Race (None Points) Lemoore Jet Bowl August 29 CLS/SCLS Clash Race #3 Perris Auto Speedway September 19 CLS vs BCRA Civil War Race (None Points) Merced Speedway September 25 CLS with World of Outlaws CLS/SCLS Clash #4 Bakersfield Speedway September 26 CLS with World of Outlaws CLS/SCLS Clash #5 Ventura Raceway October 17 CLS Ventura Raceway October 24 CLS Ventura Raceway November 21 CLS/SCLS Clash Race #6 Barona Speedway 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 2025 Aiden Lange Special thanks to Wendy Michnowicz and Ed Haney Video. This press release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com