CLS - California Lightning Sprints

• dirt track racing organizations

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

Schedules are known to change without warning, double check with race track before heading out.

CLS - California Lightning Sprints Dirt Track Racing News

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  Sexton Gatlin Racing Returns to Placerville Speedway This Weekend

  Lakeside, CA, May 1, 2025 — This Friday and Saturday, May 2nd and 3rd, Sexton Gatlin Racing (SGR) will make its highly anticipated return to Placerville Speedway as drivers Brent Sexton and his son Grant compete in the Ultimate Sprint Car Series (USCS) at the iconic Northern California venue. This marks the Lakeside, California-based team's first appearance at Placerville since a dominant showing in 2022. SGR's last outing at the red clay oval was as part of the show at the three-night Hangtown 100 in November 2022, which was co-sanctioned by the California Lightning Sprint Car Series and Bay Cities Racing Association. The team swept all three main events that weekend: San Diego's AJ Bender took victories on the first two nights, with Grant Sexton finishing second and sixth. On the final night, it was 17-year-old Grant's turn to shine, claiming the win with Bender right behind in second. Brent, a three-time lightning sprint car series champion, also made all three main events in 2022, finishing fifth, 12th, and 15th. His oldest son, Dalton, qualified for all three mains as well, earning finishes of 10th, 12th, and 15th. This Friday, Brent returns to the seat for one night only before heading off for his annual vacation in Cabo San Lucas. He enters the weekend ranked fourth in USCS points, just four digits out of third. In four starts this season, Brent's best finish was a fifth-place showing at Ocean Speedway on March 28. Grant, now 20, will be racing both nights. Thus far, he has made two USCS starts in 2025. He earned an eighth-place finish at Ventura Raceway on March 8 and was poised for a top-five finish at Bakersfield on April 12 before contact with another car knocked him out of contention, resulting in a 17th-place finish. He currently sits 20th in the championship standings. Placerville Speedway Details: Opened in 1965, Placerville Speedway is located on the El Dorado County Fairgrounds (100 Placerville Drive, Placerville, CA). Gates open at 4:00 p.m. with on-track action beginning at 5:15 p.m. both nights. Tickets: Friday, May 2: Purchase Here Saturday, May 3: Purchase Here Tickets will also be available at the gate for walk-up customers each night. For more information, visit PlacervilleSpeedway.com or call (530) 344-7592. 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, and 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 2025 Results 3/8/25 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 13th A Main 3/14/25 Imperial Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars DNS 3/15/25 Imperial Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 14th A Main 3/28/25 Ocean Speedway USCS Sprint Cars 5th A Main 3/29/25 Merced Speedway USCS Sprint Cars 12th A Main 4/12/25 Bakersfield Speedway USCS Sprint Cars 12th A Main Grant Sexton 2025 Results 2/22/25 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 20th A Main 3/8/25 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 8th A Main 3/14/25 Imperial Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 19th A Main 4/12/25 Bakersfield Speedway USCS Sprint Cars 17th A Main AJ Bender 2025 SGR Results 3/15/25 Imperial Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 23rd A Main Braydin Collie 2025 SGR Results 3/14/25 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Lightning Sprints 11th A Main 3/15/25 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Lightning Sprints 11th A Main 4/12/25 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprints 11th A Main This release was produced by Scott Daloisio. Contact (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com

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  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

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  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.

CLS - California Lightning Sprints Dirt Tracks

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  Bakersfield Speedway at Kern Raceway Race TrackBakersfield, California, USA
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  Lemoore Jet Bowl Race TrackLemoore, California, USA
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  Merced Speedway Race TrackMerced, California, USA
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  Plaza Park Raceway Race TrackVisalia, California, USA
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  Santa Maria Raceway Race TrackNipomo, California, USA
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  Ventura Raceway Race TrackVentura, California, USA