CLS - California Lightning Sprints
The California Lightning Sprints are the premier winged Lightning Sprints series in the country. 2024 marks the Southern California based club's 30th season of operation. Lightning sprints are 1000cc super-bike powered full midget chassis that are one of the most exciting experiences in short track racing. The relatively small dirt and clay oval tracks (1/4 - 1/3 mile) and high speeds (in excess of 100 mph) make for easy-to-view, action-packed, high-intensity racing for everyone. Drivers must possess extraordinary reflexes, coordination, and setup skills in order to excel in these cars. Whether as a gateway series to full sized sprint cars or as a destination for the local racer who wants to hone their keen senses and competitive skills, Lightning Sprints are the biggest bang for your buck and have something for everyone. We provide a series that is professionally run, administrated and highly competitive.
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CLS - California Lightning Sprints Dirt Track Racing Schedule
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CLS - California Lightning Sprints Dirt Track Racing News
- GRANT SEXTON OPENS HIS 2025 SEASON SATURDAY AT THE MOHAVE VALLEY RACEWAY
(Lakeside, CA, February 20, 2022) Grant Sexton, the 2023 Avanti Windows and Doors USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series Rookie of the Year, will launch his 2024 racing campaign this Saturday night, February 22nd, when the series visits Arizona's Mojave Valley Raceway. His father, Brent, who finished third in last year's Rookie of the Year chase, has been forced out of this weekend's race due to a mechanical issue. Grant, who will turn 21 in July, is looking to rebound from a hard sophomore year in the toughest non-wing sprint car series west of the Mississippi. In his Rookie of the Year season, he had four top-10 finishes and one top-five. His best finish that year was a fifth at Bakersfield on June 24th. Last season, he was plagued by bad luck throughout the USAC/CRA campaign. Several occasions saw him being in the wrong place at the wrong time and getting tangled up in somebody else's mess. Thus, he only placed in the top-10 once. That was a sixth at Perris. The tough year saw the third-generation racer, who placed eighth in the 2023 standings, end up 16th in 2024. In his Rookie of the Year run, Sexton made two starts on the banked Mohave Valley 1/3 of a mile clay oval that is located about five minutes from the Colorado River. The first one was on May 6th, and he placed sixth. Five months later he ended up 20th. Last April at Mohave, he finished third in his heat on the "Copper State" track. In the 30-lap main, he put on the best show of the night. After starting 21st, the talkative driver sliced and diced his way up to 11th on the tricky surface. That earned him the Jim and Chet Gardner Hard Charger award for passing more cars than any other driver in the race. Unfortunately, things did not go quite so well at last year's late-season Western World Championships on the Arizona track. Persistent brake problems plagued his #22 car both nights. He finished 26th on Friday and 23rd on Saturday. The young but experienced veteran driver fared better in the inaugural season of the Inland Rigging Ultimate Sprint Car Series in 2024. He made six starts and recorded four top ten finishes. Amongst them were fifth and third place results. Despite running a limited schedule with the new series, he ended up 12th in points. This weekend was supposed to be the first time Grant's father, Brent, would race a 410 sprint car. The three-time lightning sprint car champion drove a 360-powered car in his rookie season with USAC/CRA in 2024. However, his new 410 stuck a valve when they bumped the car off on Monday. He will miss this week's show but hopes to be ready for the March 1st race at Perris. Adult tickets for Saturday's race at Mohave Valley, which is located five minutes from the Colorado River and 20 minutes from downtown Laughlin, Nevada, are $25.00. Kids tickets are $15.00 and children 5 and under are free. Parking is free. Spectator gates will open at 3:30 on Saturday and the first race will take the green flag at 5:30. The Mohave Valley Raceway is located at 2750 Laguna Road in Mohave Valley, Arizona. The track's website is https://www.mohavevalleyraceway.com/. The office phone number is 928-346-3000. Sexton Gatlin Racing would like to thank the following companies for making the 2024 season possible. East County Electric Works, Keys Brothers, BR Motorsports, Maxima Oil, Automated Interiors, Valley Lubricant Services, Sexton Fire Protection, BK Wings, Troy Dirt. If you or your company are interested in becoming a marketing partner with Sexton Gatlin Racing in 2024, please call (619) 454-6945 or E-mail mailto:sextonfire@cox.net or mailto:sextonfire@gmail.com. Brent Sexton 2024 Results 2/24/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 15th A Main 3/1/24 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Lightning Sprints 4th A Main 3/2/24 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Lightning Sprints 2nd A Main 3/8/24 Imperial Valley Raceway Imperial Valley 360/410 Sprint Cars 12th A Main 3/9/24 Imperial Valley Raceway Imperial Valley 360/410 Sprint Cars 16th A Main 3/16/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 13th A Main 3/23/24 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 14th A Main 4/6/24 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 17th A Main 4/20/24 Bakersfield Speedway USCS Sprint Cars 25th A Main 4/20/24 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprints 6th A Main 4/27/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 16th A Main 5/18/24 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprints 6th A Main 5/25/24 Barona Speedway SoCal Lightning Sprints 1st A Main 6/1/24 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 10th A Main 6/8/24 Barona Speedway SoCal Lightning Sprints 5th A Main 6/22/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 13th A Main 7/6/24 Santa Maria Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 15th A Main 7/13/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 9th A Main 7/20/24 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 7th B Main 8/10/24 Santa Maria Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 14th A Main 8/31/24 Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 13th A Main 9/1/24 Santa Maria Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 9th A Main 9/13/24 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprints 7th A Main 9/14/24 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 14th A Main 9/21/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 11th A Main 10/18/24 Imperial Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 13th A Main 10/19/24 Imperial Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 13th A Main 11/1/24 Mohave Valley Raceway Western World Championships 18th B Main 11/2/24 Mohave Valley Raceway Western World Championships 10th B Main Grant Sexton 2024 Results 2/24/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 18th A Main 3/8/24 Imperial Valley Raceway Imperial Valley 360/410 Sprint Cars 9th A Main 3/9/24 Imperial Valley Raceway Imperial Valley 360/410 Sprint Cars 5th A Main 3/16/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 21st A Main 3/23/24 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 16th A Main 4/6/24 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 11th A Main 4/20/24 Bakersfield Speedway USCS Sprint Cars 16th A Main 4/27/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 19th A Main 5/11/24 Barona Speedway So Cal Lightning Sprints 3rd A Main 5/18/24 Bakersfield Speedway USCS Sprint Car Series 5th A Main 6/1/24 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 3rd A Main 6/22/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 6th A Main 7/6/24 Santa Maria Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 20th A Main 7/20/24 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 7th A Main 8/10/24 Santa Maria Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 23rd A Main 8/31/24 Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 20th A Main 9/1/24 Santa Maria Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 24th A Main 9/14/24 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 9th A Main 9/21/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 21st A Main 10/18/24 Imperial Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 21st A Main 10/19/24 Imperial Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 11th A Main 11/1/24 Mohave Valley Raceway Western World Championships 26th A Main 11/2/24 Mohave Valley Raceway Western World Championships 23rd A Main Braydin Collie 2024 Results 7/6/24 Santa Maria Speedway California Lightning Sprints 6th A Main 8/3/24 Barona Speedway SoCal Lightning Sprints 5th A Main 8/17/24 Barona Speedway SoCal Lightning Sprints 9th A Main 9/28/24 Barona Speedway SoCal Lightning Sprints 6th A Main 10/18/24 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Lightning Sprints 7th A Main 10/19/24 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Lightning Sprints 2nd A Main 10/26/24 Barona Speedway So Cal Lightning Sprints 7th A Main AJ Bender 2024 Results 9/14/24 Ventura Raceway California Lightning Sprints 5th A Main This release was produced by Scott Daloisio. Contact (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- JEFF DYER RETURNS TO MOHAVE VALLEY RACEWAY WITH USAC/CRA THIS SATURDAY NIGHT
(Yucca Valley, CA, February 19, 2025) After the Avanti Windows and Doors USAC/CRA season opener was rained out last Saturday night at Perris Auto Speedway, Jeff Dyer will return to the site of his best night in sprint car racing, the Mohave Valley Raceway, this Saturday, February 22nd. Four months ago, competing in the best 410 traditional sprint car field assembled in the west last year, the racing California Highway Patrol Officer made both main events in the prestigious 57th Western World Sprint Car Championship. While last week's rainout frustrated many, it benefited Yucca Valley, California-based Dyer. The veteran driver was nervously awaiting his engine which was being freshened up and was supposed to be delivered on Friday. The plan when he went to bed on Thursday night was to get up early and install it on Saturday morning and then head to the track. However, the famous half-mile oval was saturated after heavy rains, and track officials were forced to pull the plug on the season opener. That gave Dyer some extra time to do the install before this week's race. Needless to say, after making both Western World mains at Mohave in November, Dyer is excited to hit the banked 1/3 mile clay oval this week. And not just because he did so well there in the Western World. "I am excited about going back there for a few reasons," the friendly driver said Wednesday night. "We did run very well there last time. Also, at the end of the year, I still wasn't 100 percent. I was about 60% better. Now for not doing anything the last few months, my body is feeling better and I am just excited to get the year going. It has been kind of a long off-season, but it allowed me to heal up a little bit more. I probably rushed it a bit last year." Dyer is referring to the nasty crash he was injured in at Perris last July 13th. A car ahead of him began flipping and landed on Dyer's cage while he was trying to avoid the mayhem. The blow knocked the former United States Army Demolitions Expert out cold. Unconsciously, his foot hit the throttle pedal and launched him head-on into the wall. The result was a broken arm and a bad concussion. "I am probably 95 to 100% now," said the driver nicknamed "Ponch" after the CHiP'S character. "Every now and then, I have some trouble with my elbow. It kind of flares up like I have tendinitis every now and then. My grip is back to normal, and my strength is a lot better." As usual, the 2025 season will be a busy one for Dyer. In addition to racing in the USAC/CRA Series, he plans to run his lightning sprint when the schedule permits. After Saturday's sojourn to the Copper State, he will return to Perris on Saturday, March 1st. After a week off, USAC/CRA heads to the Imperial Valley Raceway on March 14 and 15. In addition, there is the possibility that the SoCal Lightning Sprint Car Series will be racing on the same program at Imperial. If that is the case, Dyer will race in both classes. The following weekend, the busy schedule will continue its feverish pace when the California Lightning Sprints, Presented by Motor City GMC, will kick off their campaign on the same card as the Kubota High Limit Sprint Cars on the Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway. "We are going to hit the ground running and hopefully have a great season," Dyer concluded. Adult tickets for Saturday's race at Mohave Valley, which is located five minutes from the Colorado River and 20 minutes from downtown Laughlin, Nevada, are $25.00. Kids tickets are $15.00 and children 5 and under are free. Parking is free. Spectator gates will open at 3:30 on Saturday and the first race will take the green flag at 5:30. The Mohave Valley Raceway is located at 2750 Laguna Road in Mohave Valley, Arizona. The track's website is https://www.mohavevalleyraceway.com/. The office phone number is 928-346-3000. In 2025, the following marketing partners will help keep the Dyers on track. Straight Time Stirrups, Haircuts By Susie, Jobu Racing, Justice Brothers, Fonseca Racing, Specialty Fasteners, and Blud Racing Lubricants. If you would like to be a part of Dyer Motorsports in 2024, call (760) 550-7237 or send an email to mailto:dyermotorsports4@gmail.com. Jeff is racing in memory of his grandparents, Glenn, and Beverly Sels, throughout the 2025 season. Scott Daloisio produced this release. For more information: phone (909) 226-7768 or E-mail mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com.
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CLS - California Lightning Sprints Dirt Tracks
- Imperial Valley Raceway Race TrackImperial, California, USA
- Merced Speedway Race TrackMerced, California, USA
- Placerville Speedway Race TrackPlacerville, California, USA
- Santa Maria Raceway Race TrackNipomo, California, USA
- Ventura Raceway Race TrackVentura, California, USA