Bakersfield Speedway Race Track in Bakersfield, California, USA
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"The West's Fastest 1/3 Mile High Banked Clay Oval" -- Bakersfield Speedway races Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Sport Mod, Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks, American Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Dwarf Cars.
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Bakersfield Speedway Dirt Track Location
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5001 N Chester Ext
Bakersfield, California, 93308 USA - lat: 35.449646, lng: -119.027348
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- Surface: 1/3 mile high banked clay oval
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Bakersfield Speedway Dirt Track Contacts
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Bakersfield Speedway Dirt Track Racing Schedule
Schedules are known to change without warning, double check with race track before heading out.
Sat, Jun 3
- 2023-06-032023-06-03EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpgUSAC WEST COAST 360 SPRINT CARS, STOCK CARS, CA LIGHTNING SPRIMTS, MINI STOCKSDirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeBakersfield Speedway661-393-3373https://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/California/Bakersfield/Bakersfield Speedway/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpg$5001 N Chester Ext Bakersfield, California, 93308 USA
- CLS - California Lightning Sprintshttps://dirtFan.com/dirt-track-racing-organization/CLS/California Lightning Sprints/CLS - California Lightning Sprints Dirt Track Racing Organization - 2023-06-032023-06-03EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpgRacesDirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeBakersfield Speedway661-393-3373https://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/California/Bakersfield/Bakersfield Speedway/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpg$5001 N Chester Ext Bakersfield, California, 93308 USA
- USAC - United States Auto Clubhttps://dirtFan.com/dirt-track-racing-organization/USAC/United States Auto Club/USAC - United States Auto Club Dirt Track Racing Organization - Sprint Car - West Coast - 2023-06-032023-06-03EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpgRacesDirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeBakersfield Speedway661-393-3373https://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/California/Bakersfield/Bakersfield Speedway/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpg$5001 N Chester Ext Bakersfield, California, 93308 USA
Sat, Jun 10
- 2023-06-102023-06-10EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpgMODIFIEDS, SPORTMODS, HOBBY STOCKS, AMERICAN STOCKS, NMRADirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeBakersfield Speedway661-393-3373https://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/California/Bakersfield/Bakersfield Speedway/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpg$5001 N Chester Ext Bakersfield, California, 93308 USA
- NMRA - National Midget Racing Associationhttps://dirtFan.com/dirt-track-racing-organization/NMRA/National Midget Racing Association/NMRA - National Midget Racing Association Dirt Track Racing Organization - 2023-06-102023-06-10EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpgRacesDirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeBakersfield Speedway661-393-3373https://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/California/Bakersfield/Bakersfield Speedway/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpg$5001 N Chester Ext Bakersfield, California, 93308 USA
Sat, Jun 17
- 2023-06-172023-06-17EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpgOUTLAW KARTS, MINI DWARFS, FLAT KARTSDirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeBakersfield Speedway661-393-3373https://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/California/Bakersfield/Bakersfield Speedway/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpg$5001 N Chester Ext Bakersfield, California, 93308 USA
Sat, Jun 24
- 2023-06-242023-06-24EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpgFIREWORKS - USAC CRA 410 SPRINT CARS, MODIFIEDS, HOBBY STOCKSDirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeBakersfield Speedway661-393-3373https://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/California/Bakersfield/Bakersfield Speedway/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpg$5001 N Chester Ext Bakersfield, California, 93308 USA
- USAC - United States Auto Clubhttps://dirtFan.com/dirt-track-racing-organization/USAC/United States Auto Club/USAC - United States Auto Club Dirt Track Racing Organization - Sprint Car - CRA - 2023-06-242023-06-24EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpgRacesDirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeBakersfield Speedway661-393-3373https://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/California/Bakersfield/Bakersfield Speedway/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpg$5001 N Chester Ext Bakersfield, California, 93308 USA
Sat, Jul 15
- 2023-07-152023-07-15EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpgMODIFIEDS, SPORTMODS, HOBBY STOCKS, AMERICAN STOCKS, STOCK CARS, MOD LITESDirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeBakersfield Speedway661-393-3373https://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/California/Bakersfield/Bakersfield Speedway/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpg$5001 N Chester Ext Bakersfield, California, 93308 USA
Sat, Jul 22
- 2023-07-222023-07-22EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpgOUTLAW KARTS, MINI DWARFS, FLAT KARTSDirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeBakersfield Speedway661-393-3373https://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/California/Bakersfield/Bakersfield Speedway/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpg$5001 N Chester Ext Bakersfield, California, 93308 USA
Sat, Aug 5
- 2023-08-052023-08-05EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpgMODIFIEDS, SPORTMODS, HOBBY STOCKS, AMERICAN STOCKS, STOCK CARS, MOD LITESDirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeBakersfield Speedway661-393-3373https://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/California/Bakersfield/Bakersfield Speedway/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpg$5001 N Chester Ext Bakersfield, California, 93308 USA
Sat, Aug 19
- 2023-08-192023-08-19EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpgMODIFIEDS, SPORTMODS, HOBBY STOCKS, AMERICAN STOCKSDirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeBakersfield Speedway661-393-3373https://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/California/Bakersfield/Bakersfield Speedway/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpg$5001 N Chester Ext Bakersfield, California, 93308 USA
Sat, Sep 2
- 2023-09-022023-09-02EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpgWESTERN MIDGET RACING SERIES, OUTLAW KARTS, MINI DWARFSDirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeBakersfield Speedway661-393-3373https://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/California/Bakersfield/Bakersfield Speedway/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpg$5001 N Chester Ext Bakersfield, California, 93308 USA
Sat, Sep 9
- 2023-09-092023-09-09EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpgPRO STOCKS, DWARF CARS, CA LIGHTNING SPRINTS, HARD TOPS, MINI STOCKS, NMRADirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeBakersfield Speedway661-393-3373https://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/California/Bakersfield/Bakersfield Speedway/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpg$5001 N Chester Ext Bakersfield, California, 93308 USA
- CLS - California Lightning Sprintshttps://dirtFan.com/dirt-track-racing-organization/CLS/California Lightning Sprints/CLS - California Lightning Sprints Dirt Track Racing Organization - 2023-09-092023-09-09EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpgRacesDirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeBakersfield Speedway661-393-3373https://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/California/Bakersfield/Bakersfield Speedway/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpg$5001 N Chester Ext Bakersfield, California, 93308 USA
- NMRA - National Midget Racing Associationhttps://dirtFan.com/dirt-track-racing-organization/NMRA/National Midget Racing Association/NMRA - National Midget Racing Association Dirt Track Racing Organization - 2023-09-092023-09-09EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpgRacesDirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeBakersfield Speedway661-393-3373https://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/California/Bakersfield/Bakersfield Speedway/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpg$5001 N Chester Ext Bakersfield, California, 93308 USA
Sat, Sep 16
- 2023-09-162023-09-16EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpgMODIFIEDS, SPORTMODS, HOBBY STOCKS, AMERICAN STOCKS, STOCK CARS, MOD LITESDirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeBakersfield Speedway661-393-3373https://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/California/Bakersfield/Bakersfield Speedway/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpg$5001 N Chester Ext Bakersfield, California, 93308 USA
Sat, Sep 30
- 2023-09-302023-09-30EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpgOUTLAW KARTS, MINI DWARFS, FLAT KARTSDirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeBakersfield Speedway661-393-3373https://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/California/Bakersfield/Bakersfield Speedway/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpg$5001 N Chester Ext Bakersfield, California, 93308 USA
Fri, Oct 13
- 2023-10-132023-10-13EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpgBUDWEISER NATIONALSDirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeBakersfield Speedway661-393-3373https://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/California/Bakersfield/Bakersfield Speedway/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpg$5001 N Chester Ext Bakersfield, California, 93308 USA
Sat, Oct 14
- 2023-10-142023-10-14EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpgBUDWEISER NATIONALSDirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeBakersfield Speedway661-393-3373https://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/California/Bakersfield/Bakersfield Speedway/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpg$5001 N Chester Ext Bakersfield, California, 93308 USA
Tue, Nov 14
- 2023-11-142023-11-14EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpgNOVEMBER CLASSIC - USAC NATIONALS MIDGETS, CA LIGHTNING SPRINTSDirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeBakersfield Speedway661-393-3373https://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/California/Bakersfield/Bakersfield Speedway/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpg$5001 N Chester Ext Bakersfield, California, 93308 USA
- CLS - California Lightning Sprintshttps://dirtFan.com/dirt-track-racing-organization/CLS/California Lightning Sprints/CLS - California Lightning Sprints Dirt Track Racing Organization - 2023-11-142023-11-14EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpgRacesDirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeBakersfield Speedway661-393-3373https://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/California/Bakersfield/Bakersfield Speedway/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpg$5001 N Chester Ext Bakersfield, California, 93308 USA
- USAC - United States Auto Clubhttps://dirtFan.com/dirt-track-racing-organization/USAC/United States Auto Club/USAC - United States Auto Club Dirt Track Racing Organization - Midget - National - 2023-11-142023-11-14EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpgRacesDirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeBakersfield Speedway661-393-3373https://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/California/Bakersfield/Bakersfield Speedway/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1.jpg$5001 N Chester Ext Bakersfield, California, 93308 USA
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Bakersfield Speedway Dirt Track News
- BRODY ROA TAKES SECOND AT FARIA MEMORIAL - THIS WEEK HE TACKLES THE SALUTE TO INDY
(Cypress, CA, May 24, 2023) Brody Roa turned in another strong performance last Saturday night at the 30th Annual Chris & Brian Faria Memorial at the Thunder Bowl Raceway. The Garden Grove, California driver started third in the 30-lap main and came home in second. He now has top-five finishes, including five wins, in all nine USAC/CRA races in 2023. This Saturday night he will be back at Perris Auto Speedway to contest one of the longest-running sprint car races in the USA, the Annual Salute to Indy. PAS 4_15_23=17=0084-3 (c)#B2F5.jpg Brody Roa finished second at the Thunderbowl last Saturday. Doug Allen Photo. Roa's trek to last Saturday's race should have been the second of the year for him at the Central California 1/3 mile banked oval. However, a March 25th race at the track was canceled due to rain. Thus, the race was his first on the lightning-fast oval since 2021. A pleasant day greeted the USAC/CRA competitors at the famous Thunderbowl that was staging its last race until October. Sixteen USAC/CRA cars showed up for the event. Roa was the fourth fastest among them when he put the white Inland Rigging #17R through its paces in qualifying and turned in a lap of 15.851. That time placed him in the fifth starting spot for his 10-lap heat race. At the end of the first circuit, he had diced his way to third and was second one lap later. By the time he arrived in the runner-up position, the leader had established a good size advantage. Roa methodically closed in and before the end of lap five, he had secured the top spot. From that point on he simply waltzed away from the field and won the heat by over a half straightaway. Looking for his fourth win in a row in the USAC/CRA Series and his first ever at the Thunderbowl, Roa started the 30-lap main event on the inside of the second row. On a track that was not easy to pass on, he peeked at the inside when the field roared into turn one on the opening go-around. Coming off turn three the first time, he swung wide and drove around the second-place car. Roa tried to relieve the leader of the top spot every time there was a yellow flag. However, on this night the leader was equal to those threats and was the fastest car on the track forcing "The Pride of Garden Grove" to take second place for the fourth time this year. "He was really good there in the feature," a gracious Roa said of first-time winner Tommy Malcolm. "I knew the restarts were my only shot. Even then I figured he could get back by us. That was huge for those guys and it was a long time coming. They are going to win some more this year." "I have struggled here (the Thunderbowl) and it is one of the places mentally I cannot figure out," he continued. I will take second. We are happy with that. If we click off finishes like that, there is nothing to hang our head about. Thanks to all of you who came out." Despite seeing his three-race win streak come to an end, Roa increased his point lead. He added 17 more points to his advantage and will head into this Saturday's race at Perris Auto Speedway with a 137-point cushion over the second-place driver. Saturday's race at Perris is the annual Salute to Indy. The prestigious race dates back to 1948, and the winner's list is festooned with some of the greatest names in sprint car racing. Two years ago in 2021, Roa added his name to that illustrious roll. Last year he made the Salute to Indy podium by finishing third. He enters this Saturday as one of the pre-race favorites. Spectator gates at Perris will open at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and the first race will be at 7:00. Adult tickets are $30.00. Seniors 65 and over get in for $25.00. For kids 6 to 12 it is just $5.00 and children five and under are admitted free. The fairgrounds charge $10.00 for parking. The famous half-mile clay oval is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds at 18700 Lake Perris Drive in the City of Perris (92571). The track website is at the following link http://www.perrisautospeedway.com/ and the office phone number is (951) 940-0134. The brand new Roa/Dunkel Inland Rigging team merchandise, including shirts, is now available. You can see the shirt design in the photo below. The shirts will be available in the pits at Perris or online at the following link https://bit.ly/3IDLNEZ. 346796104_1206749826660886_1723353253831807847_n.jpg As always, Roa would be more than happy to jump in a race car on his weekends off from the #17R. His entire schedule is printed below. If anybody wishes to contact him about open dates, they can do so at 714-932-7994 or mailto:brodyroa91@gmail.com who is responsible for this team. The team wants to thank the following sponsors for making the 2023 season possible. Inland Rigging, Dunkel Farms, United Asset Sales, Osborne Speed & Machine, Sander Engineering, "Biker" Bruce Fischer, ALR Virtual Services, Burris Racing, Caltrol, Competition Suspension, K-1 Race Gear, Molecule, Rod End Supply, Driven Racing Oil, Baldwin Filters, and NGK Spark Plugs. Brody Roa's 2023 Schedule and Race Results January 27 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main January 28 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main February 25 Kern County Raceway Park USAC West Coast Sprint Cars Rained Out March 3 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 4 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp 17th A Main March 18 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 2nd A Main March 24 Kings Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 25 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 2nd A Main April 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 5th A Main April 22 Kings Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main April 29 Kern County Raceway Park USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main May 6 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main May 20 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 2nd A Main May 27 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 10 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 24 Bakersfield Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 1 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 12 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 19 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 26 TBA USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 9 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 23 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 14 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 20 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp October 21 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp November 3 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 4 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 11 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Tom Dunkel's 2023 Racing Results January 12 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals Prelim. Night 12th C Main March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp 16th A Main April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 9th B Main April 8 Ventura Raceway VRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main May 6 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 11th A Main May 13 Ventura Raceway USAC West Coast Sprint Cars 11th A Main @inlandrigging, @dunkelfarms @roygamityanauctioneer @burris_racing_usa @mikeburrisoc @csishocks @sander_engineering @sanderjenna @theoriginalloosebruce @alrvirtualservices @k1racegear @moleculesports @rodendsupply @baldwinfilters @ngkracing @originalngksparkplugs @usacnation @usac_cra @perrisautospeedway @b_roa91 @tai_xoxo_roa @zacboz35 @joegibb83, @caltrolinc @narc410 @drivenracingoil This release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- TOMMY MALCOLM RETURNS TO PERRIS FOR THE SALUTE TO INDY AFTER HIS FIRST SPRINT CAR WIN LAST SATURDAY AT TULARE
(Perris, CA, May 22, 2022) After several years of trying and numerous heartbreaking near misses, Tommy "Thunder" Malcolm scored the first sprint car win of his career last Saturday night at the Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, California. This Saturday, the now 30-year-old returns to where it all started for him, Perris Auto Speedway, when Heimark Distributors Anheuser Busch presents the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars in the prestigious "Salute to Indy." 348485036_219133337552386_9187311878713605917_n.jpg Tommy "Thunder" Malcolm, winner of his first sprint car main last Saturday, will be at Perris this Saturday. Lance Jennings photo. It was approximately 15 years ago that Malcolm began racing a PASSCAR Street Stock on the Riverside County half-mile clay oval. There he raced alongside his stepdad Dino Napier and his brother Johnny. It was also where he picked up the nickname "Thunder." His brother was dubbed "Lightning" so it was only appropriate that he was tagged with the "Thunder" moniker. At the time, Malcolm's age, diminutive size, and natural talent endured him to the fans. He followed his dad and brother into late model racing and quickly made a name for himself and was a threat wherever he raced. However, when the late model scene began to dry up in California, Malcolm had to find a new racing path and that path led him to sprint cars. He immediately proved to be as smooth in a sprint car as he was in a late model. With laps and experience came speed. Suddenly he became a contender and his first win was just around the corner. Then around another corner and another. Many times he was close to a win, only to have fate rob him of the victory. Perhaps the biggest disappointment for the fan-friendly racer came last year at the Bakersfield Speedway. Late in the main event he was leading and clearly had the fastest car. The victory was within his grasp but he suffered a flat tire during a yellow flag period. He pulled to the work area, his crew changed the tire and he had to restart at the back of the pack. He is such a popular driver that many of his fellow competitors lamented his misfortune with the flat tire. The same racers also lauded his victory on Saturday. The Bakersfield disappointment and the others accumulated along the way were all forgotten last Saturday night when Malcolm, who lives in Yucaipa, California, and who was making his 109th USAC/CRA start, began the race on the outside of the front row and led every inch of the way for his first sprint car victory. Appropriately, "Thunder's" first sprint car triumph came at the track named the Thunderbowl. "The track was hard to pass on last night and the advantage I had was being out front," Malcolm told host Dave Stall on Sunday's "Racer Radio Show." "I led all 30-laps. There had to have been six or seven cautions maybe. I was nervous on the restarts because I knew Brody (series point leader Brody Roa) was behind me. So every restart I did something a little bit different. I tried the top, I tried the bottom, I tried everything. We have been really close a bunch of times and finally to get that first win has been pretty nice." "The car is ready to go this weekend at Perris Auto Speedway. Believe it or not, we actually last night (Saturday at Tulare) tried a new set up for the first time ever. It worked great. We do a certain set up at every track we go to. It is just the fine changes after that. We are after that certain balance and I think it (the set up they used at Tulare) is going to work well for Perris. So, I am really excited." Malcolm's Win at Tulare makes him one of the favorites for Saturday's 70th running of the "Salute to Indy." The race started in 1948 when Dempsey Wilson won the first edition. Since that time some of the greatest drivers in sprint car racing history have won the event. The list includes National Sprint Car Hall of Famers Billy Wilkerson, Bob Hogle, Jimmy, Oskie, Colby Scroggin, Dean Thompson, Hal Minyard, Bubby Jones, Art Bisch, Brad Noffsinger, Rip Williams, Ron Shuman, Cory Kruseman, Richard "The Gasman" Griffin, and Lealand McSpadden. When Ascot closed at the end of the 1990 season, the "Salute to Indy" went into hibernation until Perris opened in 1996. Since then it has been held every year except for 2008 when it was rained out and 2020 when it was canceled due to Covid. Last year, Norco's Cody Williams became the third member of his family to win "The Salute to Indy." In 1983, his father Rip won his first of over 100 sprint car mains when he topped the "Salute to Indy" at Ascot. Cody's brother Austin leads the family with two wins in 2016 and 2018. Besides the Williams brothers, other past winners who will be competing on Saturday night are Matt Mitchell (2011 & 2013 winner) of Costa Mesa and Garden Grove's Brody Roa, who won the race in 2021. In addition to the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars, the POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprints, PAS Senior and Young Gun Sprints and the PASSCAR Street Stocks will also be in action. Spectator gates will open at 5:00 p.m. with racing starting at 7:00. Adult tickets for Saturday's race are $30.00. Seniors 65 and over get in for $25.00. Kids 6-12 get in for $5.00 and children 5 and under are free. The fairgrounds charge $10.00 for parking. For fans who wish to order advance tickets, they are available 24 hours a day online at the following website https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/pas/7 or by calling 1-800-595-4849. For fans who do not wish to buy tickets in advance, there will be plenty available for everyone at the ticket window on Saturday night. Perris Auto Speedway is conveniently located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds (home of the Southern California Fair), one-hour east of Los Angeles and one-hour North of San Diego. To get to the track, take the 215 freeway, exit on the Ramona Expressway, and go three miles east to the fairgrounds. For directions online, the address to enter is: 18700 Lake Perris Drive and the zip code is 92571. Fans can stay up to date on track and driver news on The PAS social media efforts at the links below. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Perris-Auto-Speedway/113876798686480?ref=hl Twitter: Perris Auto Speedway on Twitter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perrisautospeedway/ Website: http://perrisautospeedway.com/ Perris Auto Speedway wants to thank the following corporate partners. Ahern Equipment Rentals, Anderson Chevrolet, Battery Systems, Bud's Tire, Tire Choice Auto Service, Chris' Hauling, City of Perris, Communication Innovations, Daytona Boat & RV Storage, Ed Moore Bullet Proof Driveshaft, Flowdynamics, HD Industries, Heimark/Anheuser Busch, Hoosier Tires, Inland Rigging, Living Water's Hospice, LKQ Pick Your Part, Luke's Transmission, Moose Racing, Pepsi-Cola, Performance Online, Pole Position Raceway, PrintItNow.com, Rainbow Bolt & Supply, Rene's Bar & Grill, Rugged Radios, Shaver Specialties, Square H, Sunoco Race Fuels, Trench Shoring, Upland Rock, Varner Construction and Vista Paint. DVDs of all the PASSCAR/IMCA racing and Nights of Destruction at The PAS are available from Fourvideos. For more information call (714) 225-9500. mailto:perrisautospeedway1@gmail.com is the only authorized Internet address to issue official media news released from The Perris Auto Speedway or Oval Entertainment. PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY 2023 SCHEDULE May 27th Heimark Distributors/Anheuser Busch Presents the "SALUTE TO INDY" AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS Senior/Young Guns Sprint Cars, Southwest Lightning Sprints And PASSCAR Street Stocks Plus "Power Of Purple Night" Benefiting The American Cancer Society Relay For Life Riverside County East June 3rd LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION IV - Demo Cross, Figure 8's, Mini Stock Figure 8's, Mini Stocks And Insane Double Deckers June 10th Heimark Distributors/Anheuser Busch Presents the "BUBBY JONES / RAY SHEETZ MEMORIAL" AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS (40 Lap Main Event) And PAS Senior/Young Guns Sprint Cars Plus "Power Of Purple Night" Benefiting The American Cancer Society Relay For Life Riverside County East June 17th PASSCAR - Super Stocks, Street Stocks, American Factory Stocks IMCA Modifieds And IMCA Sport Compacts July 1st LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION V - Demo Cross, Figure 8's, Mini Stock Figure 8's, Mini Stocks And Insane Double Deckers Plus "Power Of Purple Night" Benefiting The American Cancer Society Relay For Life Riverside County East July 15th Heimark Distributors/Anheuser Busch Presents the AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/YOUNG GUNS Sprint Cars And PASSCAR Factory Stocks Plus "Power Of Purple Night" Benefiting The American Cancer Society Relay For Life Riverside County East July 22nd PASSCAR - Super Stocks, Street Stocks, American Factory Stocks IMCA Modifieds And IMCA Sport Compacts August 5th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION VI - Demo Cross, Figure 8's, Mini Stock Figure 8's, Mini Stocks And Insane Double Deckers August 12TH PASSCAR - Super Stocks, Street Stocks, American Factory Stocks IMCA Modifieds And IMCA Sport Compacts August 19th Heimark Distributors/Anheuser Busch Presents the AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS Senior/Young Guns Sprint Cars, Southwest Lightning Sprints And WRA Vintage Cars On Display Plus "Power Of Purple Night" Benefiting The American Cancer Society Relay For Life Riverside County East September 16TH LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION VII - DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, MINI STOCK FIGURE 8'S, MINI STOCKS AND INSANE DOUBLE DECKERS September 23rd Heimark Distributors/Anheuser Busch Presents the "GLENN HOWARD CLASSIC" AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS PAS Senior/Young Guns Sprint Cars, PASSCAR Super Stocks September 30th PASSCAR - Super Stocks, Street Stocks, American Factory Stocks IMCA Modifieds And IMCA Sport Compacts October 21st LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION VIII - Demo Cross, Figure 8's, Mini Stock Figure 8's, Mini Stocks And Insane Double Deckers October 28th PASSCAR - Super Stocks, Street Stocks, American Factory Stocks PAS Modifieds And IMCA Sport Compacts November 11th Heimark Distributors/Anheuser Busch Presents the AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS (40 LAPS), PAS Senior/Young Guns Sprint Cars And Southwest Lightning Sprint Cars THIS SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
- BRODY ROA LEADS USAC/CRA INTO TULARE - TOMMY DUNKEL'S VENTURA RESULTS
(Cypress, CA, May 19, 2023) Red hot driver Brody Roa will lead the USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series onto one of the West Coast's most popular racetracks, the stone Chevrolet, Buick, GMC Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, California for the "Chris and Brian Faria Memorial," on Saturday night. The race will be the first for the Garden Grove, California veteran at the Thunderbowl since 2021. Saturday's race will be the 9th of the year for USAC/CRA. To say Roa is the driver to beat is an understatement. After opening the year with a pair of back-to-back wins at Arizona's Cocopah Speedway, he then recorded a pair of seconds and a fifth before embarking on a three-race win streak, which he brings to the Central California track on Saturday. The popular Inland Rigging Motorsports driver's current run is comprised of victories at Kings Speedway in Hanford on April 22nd, the Dirt Track at Kern County Raceway Park on April 29th, and Arizona's Mohave Valley Raceway on May 6th. Roa's five wins, combined with not finishing out of the top five thus far this year, sees him bring a commanding 120-point lead in the standings into Saturday's race. After this weekend's event, Roa and the series will have back-to-back shows at Perris Auto Speedway on May 27th and June 10th. Last Saturday, Roa's teammate and car owner Tommy Dunkel hit the beach at the Ventura Raceway for his first USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series race of the year. A month earlier at a VRA Sprint Car race on the same 1/5 mile oval, Dunkel swept the show leading every single lap of his heat race and the main event. It was his first-ever sprint car feature win. Last Saturday he began the evening qualifying 13th in the 18-car field with a lap of 13.173. Driving his #17, he then fended off multiple challengers and led every inch of the way for the victory in his 10-lap heat race. It was his first-ever USAC win. Combined with his performance in the VRA race earlier in the year when he led both his heat and main event green to checkered, Dunkel had amazingly led 50 straight laps on the beach-side oval. "I started on the outside of the front row in the heat race," Dunkel said. "There were a few heavy hitters in the race for sure. I got a good jump on the initial start. I think we got two laps in and then a yellow came out. I got another good jump, but for about half the race, I had some good pressure. I did not walk away with it by any means. It was a super tight battle." For the main event, Dunkel started in the seventh spot. He moved forward and ran a lot of the race in sixth before trying the outside and it bit him. He slipped back to ninth before he could get back to the bottom. He was stuck there until a caution flag flew with five laps to go. "With five laps to go, there was a caution," Dunkel lamented. "On the restart, I just straight got ran over. Just got clobbered going into three and four. He put the right rear all the way in the car and knocked the GoPro off the seat. It bent the rear down tube. I was able to restart at the tail. At the time there were still 17 cars in the race. I drove it back to 11th." Dunkel's next on-track foray will be at Ventura for the "Wags Dash" on June 17th. This Saturday at the Thunderbowl, gates will open at 4:00 with qualifying at 6:00 and racing at 7:00. Adult tickets are $30.00 (grandstands) and $25.00 (bleachers). For seniors, tickets are priced at $28.00 and $23.00. Kids 6-12 are $15.00 and $13.00 and children 5 and under are free. The Thunderbowl is located on the corner of Bardsley and K Streets at 620 South K Street Tulare (93274). The website is http://www.thunderbowlraceway.com/ and the office phone is (559) 688-0909. Roa will be back on track when the USAC/CRA Series visits the famous Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare for the "Chris and Brian Faria Memorial" on May 20th. The veteran racer will arrive there with a 120-point lead in the championship standings. The brand new Roa and Dunkel Inland Rigging merchandise is now available at the following link https://brody-roa.myshopify.com/?fbclid=IwAR2KKYRylpYZ-v4HRq9l8UUD1y1sS8Ffh1cCrltofRMg0IuFjic7q6plWis. As always, Roa would be more than happy to jump in a race car on his weekends off from the #17R. His entire schedule is printed below. If anybody wishes to contact him about open dates, they can do so at 714-932-7994 or mailto:brodyroa91@gmail.com who is responsible for this team. The team wants to thank the following sponsors for making the 2023 season possible. Inland Rigging, Dunkel Farms, United Asset Sales, Osborne Speed & Machine, Sander Engineering, "Biker" Bruce Fischer, ALR Virtual Services, Burris Racing, Caltrol, Competition Suspension, K-1 Race Gear, Molecule, Rod End Supply, Driven Racing Oil, Baldwin Filters, and NGK Spark Plugs. Brody Roa's 2023 Schedule and Race Results January 27 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main January 28 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main February 25 Kern County Raceway Park USAC West Coast Sprint Cars Rained Out March 3 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 4 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp 17th A Main March 18 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 2nd A Main March 24 Kings Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 25 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 2nd A Main April 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 5th A Main April 22 Kings Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main April 29 Kern County Raceway Park USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main May 6 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main May 20 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 27 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 10 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 24 Bakersfield Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 1 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 12 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 19 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 26 TBA USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 9 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 23 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 14 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 20 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp October 21 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp November 3 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 4 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 11 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Tom Dunkel's 2023 Racing Results January 12 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals Prelim. Night 12th C Main March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp 16th A Main April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 9th B Main April 8 Ventura Raceway VRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main May 6 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 11th A Main May 13 Ventura Raceway USAC West Coast Sprint Cars 11th A Main @inlandrigging, @dunkelfarms @roygamityanauctioneer @burris_racing_usa @mikeburrisoc @csishocks @sander_engineering @sanderjenna @theoriginalloosebruce @alrvirtualservices @k1racegear @moleculesports @rodendsupply @baldwinfilters @ngkracing @originalngksparkplugs @usacnation @usac_cra @perrisautospeedway @b_roa91 @tai_xoxo_roa @zacboz35 @joegibb83, @caltrolinc @narc410 @drivenracingoil This release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- BRODY ROA TAKES THIRD STRAIGHT USAC/CRA WIN AT THE MOHAVE VALLEY RACEWAY
(Cypress, CA, May 9, 2023) Brody Roa's successful 2023 season continued to roll like a fine-tuned machine when he captured his third straight USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series main event last Saturday night at the Mohave Valley Raceway. In addition to Roa, car owner, and teammate Tommy Dunkel competed in his first USAC/CRA main event and placed 11th. 345465502_584784287081013_8619234823621874247_n.jpg Brody Roa and his Inland Rigging #17R. Lance Jennings photo, Roa, who lives in Garden Grove, California, had a little bit of an easier time than his previous two wins. Those victories came at Kings Speedway, and Kern County Raceway Park on April 22nd and 29th, Both of those were hard-fought battles. Last Saturday on the 1/3 mile banked Arizona oval, the veteran driver grabbed the lead on lap four and drove away for a convincing win. The Inland Rigging duo hit the track in qualifying and Roa recorded the fastest time of the night with a lap of 14.275. Dunkel, who lives in Menifee, California, and who was competing in his second-ever USAC/CRA race, was 14th fastest when he stopped the clocks at 16.865. After earning his first Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award of 2023, Roa nearly swept the show. Sandwiched in between qualifying and the main event, he appeared in the first 10-lap heat race of the night. Starting sixth, he quickly raced up to second. After a lap six yellow, he briefly led the race two times. At the finish, he came charging on the inside and nearly stole the top spot only to lose by less than a half car length. Moments after Roa's heat race, Dunkel rolled onto the track in his white 360-powered #17 for his second-ever USAC/CRA heat. The Menifee, California resident ended up in a battle for fifth and momentarily put his car into that position. In the end, he placed in the same position he started in. With a large crowd in attendance on the very pleasant Arizona spring evening, Roa started the 30-lap main event in sixth position and Dunkel began the race in 13th. Roa poked his nose into third at the end of the first circuit and took full control of the spot on lap two. On the next go-around, he commandeered second, and going into turn one on the fourth lap, he shot into the lead. From that point on, "The Pride of Garden Grove" controlled the remainder of the race. Roa stretched his lead to a ½ straightaway on lap nine. Two laps later, he was into the lapped traffic. Looking perfect through the lappers, he had a full straightaway lead on the 20th circuit and lapped the sixth-place car on lap 22. The only thing that stopped him from lapping cars in the top five was a yellow flag on the 24th go-around. His massive lead was gone for the restart, but once the green flag waved again, he simply walked away from the field to win his fifth main of the year by a half straightaway. Starting 13th, Dunkel had a lot of pack racing going on in front of him. As per usual, he steered clear of the chaos and moved forward from his initial starting spot. At the end of the 30th lap, he crossed the line 11th in the 16-car field. While he is running a limited USAC/CRA schedule and is not shooting for it, Dunkel is ranked fourth in the Rookie of the Year point standings. "When we pulled in after wheel packing, I kind of watched how they were prepping the track and I had an idea it was going to go slick," the happy winner told the appreciative crowd when asked if it was the track he expected. "It was slick, racy, dusty, that is how sprint car tracks should be." "I was probably getting a little timid there at the end. I was kind of keeping an eye on the top. It was not cleaning dust off so I know there was no one there trying it. At least (not) enough to make it work. So, I was like, don't miss the exit off four and get down to one so they cannot slide you down there and we will be good. This car is just incredible. So stoked on how our year has gone so far. It just seems like we make the right calls all night. This DRC chassis makes it easy. We don't even change anything all night. Just show up with the baseline and run it. Maybe put a little bit here and a little bit there and call it a day. It gets around the track so good." "A huge thank you to everyone that supports me," a grateful Roa said when interviewed. "My dad, he doesn't miss any of these. If it weren't for him, I don't know if I could do it alone tonight. He's been with me since day one obviously. I can count on one hand how many (races) he has missed. I am so thankful for my family and my sponsors and everyone that is a part of this deal. Thank you to all you fans that came out. It's an awesome crowd here so I hope we can come back a whole bunch next year." Roa gets this week off, but Dunkel will be back in action in the USAC West Coast Series at the Ventura Raceway this Saturday. It will be his first time back at the beachside 1/5 mile oval since April 8th when he led every single lap in both his 10-lap heat race and the 30-lap VRA main event. For fans who want to see if Dunkel can double down at Ventura on Saturday, spectator gates will open at 3:00 p.m. and the first race will be at 5:30. Adult tickets are $22.00. Seniors 60 and over, military and students with ID get in for $18.00. Children 12 and under are free when they are accompanied by a paid adult. The track is located on the Ventura County Fairgrounds at 10 W. Harbor Boulevard (93001). The website is http://venturaraceway.com/ and the office phone number is (805) 648-RACE. Roa will be back on the track when the USAC/CRA Series visits the famous Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare for the "Chris and Brian Faria Memorial" on May 20th. The veteran racer will arrive there with a 120-point lead in the championship standings. As always, Roa would be more than happy to jump in a race car on his weekends off from the #17R. His entire schedule is printed below. If anybody wishes to contact him about open dates, they can do so at 714-932-7994 or mailto:brodyroa91@gmail.com who is responsible for this team. The team wants to thank the following sponsors for making the 2023 season possible. Inland Rigging, Dunkel Farms, United Asset Sales, Osborne Speed & Machine, Sander Engineering, "Biker" Bruce Fischer, ALR Virtual Services, Burris Racing, Caltrol, Competition Suspension, K-1 Race Gear, Molecule, Rod End Supply, Driven Racing Oil, Baldwin Filters, and NGK Spark Plugs. Brody Roa's 2023 Schedule and Race Results January 27 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main January 28 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main February 25 Kern County Raceway Park USAC West Coast Sprint Cars Rained Out March 3 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 4 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp 17th A Main March 18 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 2nd A Main March 24 Kings Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 25 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 2nd A Main April 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 5th A Main April 22 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main April 29 Kern County Raceway Park USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main May 6 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main May 20 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 27 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 10 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 24 Bakersfield Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 1 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 12 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 19 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 26 TBA USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 9 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 23 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 14 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 20 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp October 21 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp November 3 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 4 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 11 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Tom Dunkel's 2023 Racing Results January 12 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals Prelim. Night 12th C Main March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp 16th A Main April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 9th B Main April 8 Ventura Raceway VRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main May 6 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 11th A Main @inlandrigging, @dunkelfarms @roygamityanauctioneer @burris_racing_usa @mikeburrisoc @csishocks @sander_engineering @sanderjenna @theoriginalloosebruce @alrvirtualservices @k1racegear @moleculesports @rodendsupply @baldwinfilters @ngkracing @originalngksparkplugs @usacnation @usac_cra @perrisautospeedway @b_roa91 @tai_xoxo_roa @zacboz35 @joegibb83, @caltrolinc @narc410 @drivenracingoil This release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- DYER MOTORSPORTS BEGINS BUSY MONTH OF MAY AT ARIZONA'S MOHAVE VALLEY RACEWAY
(Yucca Valley, CA, May 2, 2023) After two weekends off, Dyer Motorsports will begin a busy month when Jeff Dyer returns to USAC/CRA Sprint Car competition this Saturday night, May 6th, at the Mohave Valley Raceway. The team, which is composed of Dyer and his 16-year-old son Seth, will be in action every Saturday in May. The ambitious month of racing will see Jeff race two times in the USAC/CRA Series, two times with the California Lightning Sprints and once with the POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprints. Seth will compete with his dad in all three of the lightning races. Saturday's race will mark Jeff's fifth-ever start on the 1/3 mile banked Mohave oval. He first competed there with the POWRi Southwest Lightning Series in March of 2021. On the first night, contact with an infield tire damaged his front end and saddled him with an eighth-place finish. Twenty-four hours later with a repaired car, he placed second in the main event. Last year Dyer got in two races at the track that is located five miles from the Colorado River and only 20 minutes from Loughlin, Nevada. His first 2022 journey to the facility with USAC/CRA produced a 14th in the B main. Five months later the California Highway Patrol officer returned with the California Lightning Sprints. Seizing the lead at the end of the first circuit in the 20-lap main, Dyer moved away from the field and established a half-straightaway advantage. A certain victory was snatched by the powerful jaws of defeat when he broke a chain with six laps to go. Saturday's race will only be Dyer's second start with USAC/CRA in 2023. Three weeks ago, he started 19th and finished 16th in the 30-lap main event at Perris Auto Speedway. His only other 410 start this year came in March in the So. Cal Wingless Open Comp show at the Imperial Valley Raceway. Late in that main event, the veteran driver who lives in Yucca Valley, California, was challenging for fifth when he broke a rocker arm. That sent him to the pits with a 15th-place finish. For fans who wish to see Dyer and the rest of the drivers at the Mohave Valley Raceway on Saturday, the track is located at 2750 E. Laguna in Mohave, Valley Arizona. (86440). Spectator gates will open at 5:30 and racing will begin at 7:30. Adult tickets are $25.00. For seniors 60 and over and active military with proper id, it is $20.00. Kids 6-12 get in for $5.00 and children five and under are free. Parking is free. It is cash only for tickets (no ATMs on site). Concessions, souvenirs, and the beer garden take cash or cards. For more information, the track website is https://www.mohavevalleyraceway.com/ and the office phone is (928) 346-6000. Jeff is racing in memory of his grandparents, Glenn, and Beverly Sels, throughout the 2023 season. Jeff would like to thank the following for making the 2023 racing campaign possible in the #4 and 4Jr. Lightning Sprint Cars. Dependable Machine Inc., Haircuts By Susie, Jobu Racing, LBA Investigations, and Dyer Motorsports. For the USAC/CRA #39 sprint car, Straight Time Stirrups, Dependable Machines Inc., Hair Cuts By Susie, Jobu Racing, Justice Brothers, and Specialty Fasteners helped put him on the track. If you would like to be a part of Dyer Motorsports in 2023, call (760) 267-0298 or send an email to mailto:dyermotorsports4@gmail.com. Jeff Dyer 2023 Results 3-10-23 Imperial Valley Raceway Best of the West Lightning Sprints 10th A Main 3-11-23 Imperial Valley Raceway Best of the West Lightning Sprints 17th A Main 3-10-23 Imperial Valley Raceway Open Comp. Sprints 15th A Main 4-8-23 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprints 7th A Main 4-15-23 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 16th A Main Seth Dyer 2022 Lightning Sprint Results 3-10-23 Imperial Valley Raceway Best of the West Lightning Sprints 12th A Main 3-11-23 Imperial Valley Raceway Best of the West Lightning Sprints 10th A Main 4-8-23 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprints DNS Scott Daloisio produced this release. For more information, use the following: call (909) 226-7768 or E-mail mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com.
- BRODY ROA TAKES SECOND USAC/CRA WIN IN A ROW AT KERN COUNTY
(Cypress, CA, May 1, 2023) For the second week in a row, Garden Grove, California's Brody Roa took a hard-fought win in the USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series. The victory, which came at the Kern County Raceway Park In Bakersfield, California, gave Roa four wins in the first 7 series races of 2023. 337526840_1368763633945363_8312799839077374331_n.jpg Brody Roa has won four of the first seven USAC/CRA races this year. Doug Allen photo. The week before at his first race at Kings Speedway in Hanford since 2021, Roa took a hard-fought win in the 30-lap main event. Saturday's race was tougher and he had to come from behind to do it! Before he got to the main event, Roa had a good start in the city known as "California's Country Music Capital." He was the third-fastest qualifier in the 17-car field and won his 10-lap heat race after starting in sixth position. Like his heat race, Roa started sixth in the Inland Rigging #17R in the main event. Staying on the outside line, he advanced two positions up to fourth by the end of the second lap. He dropped to the bottom on lap four and slid into third. He went straight back to the top of the racetrack and five laps later, he charged into second place. At that point, all that was between Roa and the leader was a lot of real estate. Like a half straightaway worth! The "Pride of Garden Grove" began chipping away at the leader's advantage and by the time the 14th lap rolled around, he was only inches behind. However, as the leader and Roa approached the first bend another car slid to a stop in the middle of the corner. Both tried to take evasive action. Roa was able to steer to the inside and get past the stopped car. However, the same could not be said for the leader who tried to go around the outside and made contact. That meant Roa would be the leader when the race restarted. Roa quickly pulled away on the restart and built up a near two-second advantage by the end of lap 19. It seemed like the race was his, but another car spun coming off turn two. That brought out another yellow flag and the complexion of the race was about to change. When the green light flashed on again, Roa got a good restart and went back to the top. Unfortunately, that restart was not good enough. The second-place car manned the bottom and took the lead from Roa before they completed lap 19. If that was not enough, the third-place car also used the bottom to pass him coming off turn two. Suddenly with 10 laps to go, Roa had been relegated back to third, but he was not done yet. Not wanting to go to the bottom, Roa stayed true to the outside line and began to build up momentum. By the time the 23rd go-round had concluded, he had raced back to second. The 2019 USAC Southwest Sprint Car Series champion stalked the leader and he caught him on lap 25. He continued to run the top until coming off turn four at the end of the 25th circuit when he crossed back underneath his foe and reclaimed the lead. Seconds later, a bobble coming off turn two saw him momentarily fall from the top spot but he drove the bottom hard and found himself back out front in turn three. Roa built up a small lead and it appeared that the drama in this one was over. That was not the case. He started the final lap with a three-car advantage. He stayed wide but caught a small rut coming off turn four the final time. It momentarily upset the car. However, Roa gathered it in, stayed on the throttle, and ended up taking the win in a photo finish. His margin of victory was .026!!! "We are stoked," Roa said after climbing out of his car. "After the heat race, I didn't know if we really had it. As soon as we fired off (for the main) we were really good. Tommy (third-place finisher Tommy Malcolm) and Mitch (second-place finisher Mitchell Moles) got me on that restart. I kinda' had to regroup and grab some knobs and dial this thing back in a little bit. I don't know if it was that or me just getting my elbows back up." "Yeah, it was definitely wide," Roa responded when asked about the track prep. "I am not a fan of the bottom right now anyways and I really don't like rough. Neither line was good but I definitely wasn't going to go to the bottom. Tommy and Mitchell both got me on the bottom and I said I just cannot go down there and run, that is not for me. So let's try to keep working the top. I finally got it rolling again and was able to get them. The track definitely widened out. I am glad it was not follow the leader around the bottom. It was two lanes of racing and elbows up hang on for sure." Roa's performance at KCRP saw him leave the track with a bulging 110-point lead in the championship point standings. He is off to one of the best starts in the history of the USAC/CRA Series. In seven races, he has four wins, two second-place finishes, and a fifth. His main event finishing percentage is an amazing 1.85!!! This Saturday, May 6th, Roa heads to the 1/3 mile banked Mohave Valley Raceway in Arizona. He has two previous appearances at the track. The first came last October when he started 11th in the 30-lap main. On that night, the savvy racer drove through the field and scored a convincing win before a packed house. He made his second appearance there five weeks ago. On that occasion, he was the second-fastest qualifier, started sixth, and won his heat race. He started sixth in the 30-lap main event and came home second. It was one of only three times this season that the talented driver did not take home the USAC/CRA winner's trophy. Roa will have a teammate at Mohave Valley this Saturday. Inland Rigging team owner Tommy Dunkel will be back in the saddle for the race in the "Copper State." At the April 1st race, the Menifee, California driver placed ninth in the B main. One week later he led every inch of the way for his first-ever sprint car main event win in the VRA Series at the Ventura Raceway. It will be Dunkel's fourth sprint car start of the season. For fans who would like to see the Inland Rigging Team drivers in action on Saturday, Mohave Valley Raceway is located just minutes from the Colorado River and only 20 minutes from Laughlin, Nevada. The address is 2750 E. Laguna Road, Mohave Valley, AZ (86440). The office phone number is 928-336-4000 and the website is mohavevalleyraceway. Adult tickets are $25.00. For seniors 60 and over and military (with id), it is $20.00. Kids 6-12 are just $5.00 and children 5 and under are free. Tickets are cash only (no ATM on site). Concessions, the souvenir stand, and the beer garden are cash or card). Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. and racing will begin at 7:30. As always, Roa would be more than happy to jump in a race car on his weekends off from the #17R. His entire schedule is printed below. If anybody wishes to contact him about open dates, they can do so at 714-932-7994 or mailto:brodyroa91@gmail.com The team wants to thank the following sponsors for making the 2023 season possible. Inland Rigging, Dunkel Farms, United Asset Sales, Osborne Speed & Machine, Sander Engineering, "Biker" Bruce Fischer, ALR Virtual Services, Burris Racing, Caltrol, Competition Suspension, K-1 Race Gear, Molecule, Rod End Supply, Driven Racing Oil, Baldwin Filters, and NGK Spark Plugs. Brody Roa's 2023 Schedule and Race Results January 27 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main January 28 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main February 25 Kern County Raceway Park USAC West Coast Sprint Cars Rained Out March 3 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 4 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp 17th A Main March 18 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 2nd A Main March 24 Kings Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 25 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 2nd A Main April 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 5th A Main April 22 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main April 29 Kern County Raceway Park USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main May 6 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 20 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 27 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 10 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 24 Bakersfield Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 1 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 12 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 19 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 26 TBA USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 9 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 23 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 14 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 20 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp October 21 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp November 3 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 4 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 11 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Tom Dunkel's 2023 Racing Results January 12 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals Prelim. Night 12th C Main March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp 16th A Main April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 9th B Main April 8 Ventura Raceway VRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main @inlandrigging, @dunkelfarms @roygamityanauctioneer @burris_racing_usa @mikeburrisoc @csishocks @sander_engineering @sanderjenna @theoriginalloosebruce @alrvirtualservices @k1racegear @moleculesports @rodendsupply @baldwinfilters @ngkracing @originalngksparkplugs @usacnation @usac_cra @perrisautospeedway @b_roa91 @tai_xoxo_roa @zacboz35 @joegibb83, @caltrolinc @narc410 @drivenracingoil This release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- BRODY ROA TAKES HIS THIRD USAC/CRA WIN OF 2023 AT KINGS SPEEDWAY IN HANFORD
(Cypress, CA, April 25, 2023) Brody Roa turned in another stellar performance in the Inland Rigging #17R and won his third USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series main event in the Spanky Matthews Memorial last Saturday at the Kings Speedway in Hanford. Leading the last 25-laps, the hard fought victory allowed him to extend his advantage in the championship standings to 79-points heading into this Saturday's race at the Kern County Raceway Park in Bakersfield. PAS 3_18_23=17r=8975-3#5BC8.jpg Brody Roa in the Inland Rigging #17R. Doug Allen photo. Last Saturday's race was slated to be the second of the year on the 4/10 mile banked clay oval at the Kings County Fairgrounds. However, the first race there on March 24th was canceled due to rain. When Roa and the team arrived for last Saturday's race, the crew was a little slimmer than normal as some members had commitments that kept them from attending the event. Only Roa, his father Brett, and team owner Tommy Dunkel were wrenching on the car. After winning the first two races of the year at Cocopah Speedway near Yuma, Arizona on the last weekend in January, Roa had gone three races without finishing first. However, in the three series races between his Yuma and Hanford victories, he had second-place finishes at Perris and Mohave as well as a fifth at Perris one week before his latest triumph. Saturday started off with Roa steering the #17R to the third-fastest time in qualifying with a lap of 16.255. That proved to be the only time the Garden Grove, Californian finished anywhere but first on the night. For his 10-lap heat race, he started fifth but quickly weaved his way to the lead. Coming off turn four on the first lap, he steered the Inland Rigging Special into second and then commandeered the lead in turn one on the second lap. Once out front, he led the remainder of the way and scored the win by about four-car lengths. For the main, "The Pride of Garden Grove" began the race on the inside of row five. However, he was not there for long. With a spectacular start, he momentarily poked his nose into second in turn two on the very first circuit. He did drop back to third but make no mistake about it, the competition knew the heat was going to be on. A picture-perfect slider in turn two on the third lap shot Roa into second place. He then chased down the leader and in another sweet move, took over the top spot in turn four on lap five. By the end of the 10th circuit, Roa had established a half-straightaway lead and it looked like it was going to be a walk in the park. As things turned out after a lap 11 yellow, the veteran driver had to fight hard to maintain the top spot and score the win. Roa continued to set the pace when the green flag came out but he was under big-time fire. In fact, the second-place car poked his nose ahead of the point leader in turn four on lap 13. Roa managed to fight off that advance. Several times in the remaining laps the second-place car made concerted advances and a couple of times pulled alongside the leader. Each time Roa repelled the attempts. After fending off one last try to relieve him of the lead coming off four on the final lap, Roa won the main by three-car lengths. "When he (second place finisher Austin Williams) was trying to slide me, I knew he was probably running the top down here (turns one and two) and getting a run," the happy Roa said after the race. "I didn't want to change it up and be open for a slider down there. I was really kind of running defensive as soon as he showed me a nose. I knew we were faster than what we were. I just didn't want to open it up for him to get in there. Congratulations to those guys. I think they may have been a little bit better (than himself) than us. I don't know." "Kind of taking a year off (from USAC/CRA) last year and this year coming back and running for the championship again, we are off to a killer start with this new team," Roa continued. "Inland Rigging, Dunkel Farms, and the Dunkel family came on board this year to make this happen. In January I was not sure I was going to race past Cocopah. Thanks to them and all of my other supporters including my wife and family, and daughter." Roa gets right back at it this Saturday when the series makes its only 2023 stop at the Kern County Raceway Park in Bakersfield. His last series appearance at the track in March 2021 was a two-night affair. He led 44 of the 60 main event laps that weekend. On the first night, he had the yellow flag-plagued main event in the bag when he ran out of fuel with five laps remaining. After getting fuel he restarted at the back and drove all the way up to seventh at the finish. The following night he led the 1st 22 laps before getting tangled up with lap traffic and eventually placing second. Kern County Raceway Park, the site of this Saturday's race, is located at 13500 Raceway Boulevard, Interstate 5, and Enos Lane in Bakersfield. Spectator gates will open at 5:00 p.m. with cars on the track for wheel packing at 5:45 and racing at 7:00. Adult tickets are $25.00. For juniors 6-10 it is $10.00 and children 5 and under are free. There is free overnight camping at the facility. The track website is https://www.kernraceway.com/ and the office phone is 661-835-1264. As always, Roa would be more than happy to jump in a race car on his weekends off from the #17R. His entire schedule is printed below. If anybody wishes to contact him about open dates, they can do so at 714-932-7994 or mailto:brodyroa91@gmail.com The team wants to thank the following sponsors for making the 2023 season possible. Inland Rigging, Dunkel Farms, United Asset Sales, Osborne Speed & Machine, Sander Engineering, "Biker" Bruce Fischer, ALR Virtual Services, Burris Racing, Caltrol, Competition Suspension, K-1 Race Gear, Molecule, Rod End Supply, Driven Racing Oil, Baldwin Filters, and NGK Spark Plugs. Brody Roa's 2023 Schedule and Race Results January 27 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main January 28 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main February 25 Kern County Raceway Park USAC West Coast Sprint Cars Rained Out March 3 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 4 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp 17th A Main March 18 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 2nd A Main March 24 Kings Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 25 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 2nd A Main April 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 5th A Main April 22 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main April 29 Kern County Raceway Park USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 6 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 20 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 27 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 10 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 24 Bakersfield Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 1 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 12 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 19 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 26 TBA USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 9 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 23 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 14 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 20 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp October 21 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp November 3 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 4 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 11 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Tom Dunkel's 2023 Racing Results January 12 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals Prelim. Night 12th C Main March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp 16th A Main April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 9th B Main April 8 Ventura Raceway VRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main @inlandrigging, @dunkelfarms @roygamityanauctioneer @burris_racing_usa @mikeburrisoc @csishocks @sander_engineering @sanderjenna @theoriginalloosebruce @alrvirtualservices @k1racegear @moleculesports @rodendsupply @baldwinfilters @ngkracing @originalngksparkplugs @usacnation @usac_cra @perrisautospeedway @b_roa91 @tai_xoxo_roa @zacboz35 @joegibb83, @caltrolinc @narc410 @drivenracingoil This release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- AFTER A 5TH-PLACE PLACE FINISH AT PERRIS, ROA HEADS TO HANFORD WITH AN EXPANDED POINT LEAD
(Cypress, CA, April 20, 2023) Brody Roa steered the Inland Rigging #17R sprint car to a hard-fought fifth-place finish in last Saturday's USAC/CRA main event at Perris Auto Speedway. The finish allowed the Garden Grove, California veteran to expand his lead to 52 points heading into this Saturday's "Spanky Mathews Memorial" at Peter Murphy's Kings Speedway in Hanford, California. 336023080_661915405694220_9217967785054651004_n.jpg Brody Roa getting his bike on at Perris in March. Anthony Hernandez photo. Roa came into Saturday with two wins and two runnerup finishes in the first four races of 2023. The week prior, teammate Tommy Dunkel dominated at Ventura leading the entire distance of his heat race and the main event. Needless to say, the Inland Rigging team came into the night as the hottest sprint car team on the west coast. Roa started out hot like he has been all year long. In qualifying, he was the third fastest in the 20-car field with a lap of 16.614. Being third quickest met that the veteran driver would have to start in the sixth position, in the third 10-lap heat race. From there he rolled forward and came home with a second-place finish. Roa began the 30-lap main event on the inside of the third row in fifth. Over the first half of the race, he was one of the combatants in a great seesaw battle from third back to seventh. After the first red flag of the race with 13-laps to go, Roa found speed on the top of the racetrack and shot all the way up to third. At that point, he looked to perhaps be the fastest car on the track with plenty of time left. However, another red flag halted his progress. On that red, the crew chief in one of the cars running up front advised his driver of the progress Roa had been making on that line. When racing began again, that driver wisely moved up into the lane Roa had been running and slowed his progress and insuring himself of the win. A few laps later, the Steve Russell checkered flag ended the race and Roa placed fifth. While it was his worst USAC/CRA finish of the year, he has yet to finish out of the top five in the series in 2023. "Average," Roa said when asked to assess his performance. "It was one of those nights where I think the track kind of played out to nobody doing anything spectacular. I think we had a chance there in the middle of the race before that last red. I Heard Matt Mitchell (the winner of the race) during his post-race interview say that Tommy (Mitchell's crew chief Tommy Horne) told him I was running the top. I knew that second red was kind of going to ruin our chances. We made a good run around the top right before that. I knew Matt would move up and take the lane away." "We had a chance without that red," Roa continued. "Between the reds I kind of tuned on the shocks a little bit. I really committed to it (the top). After that first red everybody really committed to the bottom and did not float up in the middle like they were and they left the lane open." The next three weeks are quick turnovers for the Inland Rigging team. This week Roa and the 17R head to King's Speedway. A week from Saturday, April 29th, they head north again to The Dirt Track at Kern County Raceway Park. After that it will be time to head east for a May 6th date at Arizona's Mohave Valley Raceway where Roa has a win and a second-place finish in two appearances. Mohave Valley will also see the return of Roa's teammate Tommy Dunkel. "I would race every day if I could," Roa laughed when asked if he liked racing four weeks in a row. "It is what we love to do. I am happy to get back to Hanford. We have not been there in two years. I think the program we have now is going to be really good around that place. We have always run pretty good there. We have won in a 360 there but have not run a 410 there a lot. Hopefully, we can knock off a win there, too." Two years ago at Hanford, Roa had a third-place finish in the USAC/West Coast 360 sprint cars and a second in the King of Thunder Bandits. He also placed 22nd in one of the few winged races he has contested in his career. Fans who wish to journey to Kings Speedway to see Roa in action on Saturday can find the track at 801 S 10th Ave., in Hanford. Adult tickets are $20.00. Seniors 62+, Military with id and kids 7-17 are $15.00. Advance tickets are available at https://www.myracepass.com/tracks/1797/tickets/1325100. The track website is https://www.racekingsspeedway.com/. As always, Roa would be more than happy to jump in a race car on his weekends off from the #17R. His entire schedule is printed below. If anybody wishes to contact him about open dates, they can do so at 714-932-7994 or mailto:brodyroa91@gmail.com The team wants to thank the following sponsors for making the 2023 season possible. Inland Rigging, Dunkel Farms, United Asset Sales, Osborne Speed & Machine, Sander Engineering, "Biker" Bruce Fischer, ALR Virtual Services, Burris Racing, Caltrol, Competition Suspension, K-1 Race Gear, Molecule, Rod End Supply, Driven Racing Oil, Baldwin Filters, and NGK Spark Plugs. Brody Roa's 2023 Schedule and Race Results January 27 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main January 28 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main February 25 Kern County Raceway Park USAC West Coast Sprint Cars Rained Out March 3 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 4 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp 17th A Main March 18 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 2nd A Main March 24 Keller Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 25 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 2nd A Main April 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 5th A Main April 22 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 29 Kern County Raceway Park USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 6 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 20 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 27 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 10 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 24 Bakersfield Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 1 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 12 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 19 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 26 TBA USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 9 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 23 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 14 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 20 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp October 21 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp November 3 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 4 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 11 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Tom Dunkel's 2023 Racing Results January 12 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals Prelim. Night 12th C Main March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp 16th A Main April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 9th B Main April 8 Ventura Raceway VRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main @inlandrigging, @dunkelfarms @roygamityanauctioneer @burris_racing_usa @mikeburrisoc @csishocks @sander_engineering @sanderjenna @theoriginalloosebruce @alrvirtualservices @k1racegear @moleculesports @rodendsupply @baldwinfilters @ngkracing @originalngksparkplugs @usacnation @usac_cra @perrisautospeedway @b_roa91 @tai_xoxo_roa @zacboz35 @joegibb83, @caltrolinc @narc410 @drivenracingoil This release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- JEFF DYER RETURNS TO 410 SPRINT CAR BATTLES SATURDAY AT PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY
(Yucca Valley, CA, April 14, 2022) One week after a disastrous night at the Ventura Raceway, Jeff Dyer is stepping out of his lightning sprint and back into his 410 sprint car for Saturday's USAC/CRA race at Perris Auto Speedway. It will be the first time Dyer has steered the bright yellow #39 onto a track since the March 11th Open Comp. race at the Imperial Valley Raceway. 340397088_754556772716297_2381114566313735802_n.jpg The last time Dyer, 40, raced the 410 was the first time running the engine he purchased from Heidi and Cody Williams. He was running near the top five the entire time he was on the track. Unfortunately, mechanical woes knocked him out of the race late in the going. Fortunately, the problem was only a couple of broken rocker arms and a lifter. "It felt pretty good and to be honest with you, we were probably running on six or seven cylinders the whole weekend," Dyer stated. "We still did a lot better than I thought it would have. We were pretty happy with it." Dyer was happy with the first run of the new engine, but the same cannot be said for last week's California Lightning Sprint Car Series race at the Bakersfield Speedway. Things on the track billed as "The West's Fastest 1/3 Mile Banked Clay Oval," started off bright enough when Jeff was the fastest qualifier of the night. From that point on, things spiraled downhill in a hurry. In the first heat of the night, Jeff's 16-year-old son Seth blew an engine. If that was not enough, a water line let go in Jeff's car at the end of the second heat. As hard as it is to believe, things went downhill in a hurry again! Jeff started third in the main, but disaster was about to strike again, and believe it or not, again. He first broke a right front shock and then had a scary moment when a fuel line broke and he ran out of fuel. "I thought it was leaking from the return line, but it was leaking from the rail," Dyer lamented. "I was very surprised I did not catch on fire. And I was covered in fuel, too. I could have been the human torch." In addition to driving the 410 on Saturday, Jeff and Seth were both slated to drive in the POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car portion of the program. But with Seth's engine being blown and a new one not going to be here in time, they will sit out of lightning racing until early May. Fans can see Dyer's return to 410 sprint car racing in person on Saturday at Perris. The track is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds at 18700 Lake Perris Drive in Perris (92571). Adult tickets are $30.00. For fans aged 65 and over, it is $25.00. For kids 6 through 12 it is just $5.00, and children 5 and under are admitted free. The fairgrounds charges $10 for parking. There will be plenty of tickets available for everyone at the ticket window on Saturday, this event will not sell out. For those who wish to purchase advance tickets, they are available until noon on Saturday at https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/pas/7 or by calling 1-800-595-4849. Jeff is racing in memory of his grandparents, Glenn, and Beverly Sels, throughout the 2023 season. Jeff would like to thank the following for making the 2023 racing campaign possible in the #4 and 4Jr. Lightning Sprint Cars. Dependable Machine Inc., Haircuts By Susie, Jobu Racing, LBA Investigations, and Dyer Motorsports. For the USAC/CRA #39 sprint car, Straight Time Stirrups, Dependable Machines Inc., Hair Cuts By Susie, Jobu Racing, Justice Brothers, and Specialty Fasteners helped put him on the track. If you would like to be a part of Dyer Motorsports in 2023, call (760) 267-0298 or send an email to mailto:dyermotorsports4@gmail.com. Jeff Dyer 2023 Results 3-10-23 Imperial Valley Raceway Best of the West Lightning Sprints 10th A Main 3-11-23 Imperial Valley Raceway Best of the West Lightning Sprints 17th A Main 3-10-23 Imperial Valley Raceway Open Comp. Sprints 15th A Main 4-1-23 Mohave Valley Raceway Best of the West Lightning Sprints 3rd A Main Seth Dyer 2022 Lightning Sprint Results 3-10-23 Imperial Valley Raceway Best of the West Lightning Sprints 12th A Main 3-11-23 Imperial Valley Raceway Best of the West Lightning Sprints 10th A Main 4-1-23 Mohave Valley Raceway Best of the West Lightning Sprints 6th A Main Scott Daloisio produced this release. For more information, use the following: call (909) 226-7768 or E-mail mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com.
- TOMMY DUNKEL GETS FIRST SPRINT CAR WIN - BRODY ROA LEADS USAC/CRA INTO PERRIS SATURDAY
(Cypress, CA, April 13, 2023) The dream season for the Inland Rigging Racing team continued last Saturday night when Tommy Dunkel notched the first win of his career at the Ventura Raceway. The team will be back in action this Saturday when point leader Brody Roa leads the USAC/CRA series into Perris Auto Speedway. dunkel.jpg Winner Tommy Dunkel and his daughter Ava in victory circle at Ventura. Inland Rigging photo. For many sprint car drivers, the first win of their career can be something they stumbled into. That was not the case last week for Dunkel. The Murrieta, California-based driver not only led every single lap in his heat race, but he did so in the 30-lap main event as well on the track that is located a few hundred feet from the breaking waves of the Pacific Ocean. To put a bigger emphasis on how the victory could have been unlikely at the start of the night, the normal Inland Rigging crew that works the USAC/CRA races was absent. Dunkel began his domination of the show in his 10-lap heat race when he started on the outside of the front row. He got a great jump at the drop of the green flag and was never headed. The win set him up for a pole position start for the 30-lap, 14-car main event. Of Dunkel's 13 competitors in the race, seven had triumphed on the "Best Little Dirt Track in America" in the past. So, to say Dunkel was the favorite, would not have been accurate. However, once the green flag was waved to start the race, he hit all his marks like a seasoned pro. He was challenged by the second-place driver for the first third of the race. The foe put good pressure on him and would show him a wheel, but Dunkel never wavered. He survived those challenges and restarts due to yellow and red flags before impressively driving to victory circle where he collected the winner's trophy and first-place check after the race. "We got a good jump when we came around to the cone," the happy winner recollected Thursday on the phone. "It was nice that Jim Naylor (the promoter) allowed us to go 30-laps. I was kind of praying it would be 15 (when he jumped into the lead). The track was good. It started to go slick towards the end of the feature, but for the first half of the race, it was hooked up. There were two grooves and when I got into lapped traffic, I was able to rip the top to go around guys. It was pretty racy." "They all had Easter plans and they were out of town," Dunkel said about the crew not being there. "But everybody was extremely available all night long on the phone. Brody kept giving me great pointers and great setup advice. I was also on the phone with Joe Devin, the owner of DRC. Between what Brody was bouncing off of me, and what Joe was bouncing off of me, we were able to come up with a really dialed-in setup. It worked out really well having everybody in our corner even if it was just on the phone. I also had my son Aidan there. He has been really stepping up to help and it is really great having him there. Malyssa Perkins came out to the track to give me a hand as well. She is really good and knows her stuff. Big thanks to them for being there." While it was Dunkel's first-ever win, it should be no surprise that he won at Ventura. In his first sprint car race after several years off, he finished third at the track last year. He then closed the season in the sprint car portion of the Turkey Night Grand Prix. After fighting hard in the B main and earning one of the coveted starting spots in the A, he started 22nd and passed nine cars to finish 13th. "It is on the top of the list, at least for now," Dunkel replied when asked if Ventura was his favorite track. "I have had a lot of fun driving at other places. My heart is always in Perris. It's the home track I grew up watching the sprint cars at. But right now, yeah, absolutely Ventura is it. I have had most of my laps in a sprint car there and I cut my teeth in a sprint car at Ventura. To be able to get my first win and for it to be there is really special." Dunkel's next race will be the USAC/CRA show at Arizona's Mohave Valley Raceway on May 6th. While the humble winner was happy to talk about his victory, he wanted to shift the focus to teammate Roa and this week's race at Perris. In the first four rounds of the year in the 24-year-old series, Roa, in the #17R owned by Dunkel, has two wins and two second-place finishes. Thus, he will bring a 33-point lead into Saturday's race. "First and foremost it is Brody's experience that has him in first place," Dunkel happily explained. "Then you add in Brett (Brody's dad) and Zac's (longtime Roa crew chief Zac Bozanich) experience, that is huge. Then you throw into the mix the fresh equipment. It is fresh equipment every race. We are going to try whatever it takes to win. I think it affects the mindset. I think it is a moral boost, too. With the results we have been having this year, it has definitely made me very happy. I have high expectations and this is a very serious deal. Brody and the whole crew are delivering. They are exceeding my expectations for sure as a car owner." Fans can see Roa in the Inland Rigging # 17R in person on Saturday at Perris. The track is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds at 18700 Lake Perris Drive in Perris (92571). Adult tickets are $30.00. For fans aged 65 and over, it is $25.00. For kids 6 through 12 it is just $5.00, and children 5 and under are admitted free. The fairgrounds charges $10 for parking. There will be plenty of tickets available for everyone at the ticket window on Saturday, this event will not sell out. For those who wish to purchase advance tickets, they are available until noon on Saturday at https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/pas/7 or by calling 1-800-595-4849. Perris Auto Speedway is conveniently located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds (home of the Southern California Fair), one-hour east of Los Angeles and one-hour North of San Diego. To get to the track, take the 215 freeway, exit on the Ramona Expressway, and go three miles east to the fairgrounds. For directions online, the address to enter is: 18700 Lake Perris Drive and the zip code is 92571. As always, Roa would be more than happy to jump in a race car on his weekends off from the #17R. His entire schedule is printed below. If anybody wishes to contact him about open dates, they can do so at 714-932-7994 or mailto:brodyroa91@gmail.com The team wants to thank the following sponsors for making the 2023 season possible. Inland Rigging, Dunkel Farms, United Asset Sales, Osborne Speed & Machine, Sander Engineering, "Biker" Bruce Fischer, ALR Virtual Services, Burris Racing, Caltrol, Competition Suspension, K-1 Race Gear, Molecule, Rod End Supply, Driven Racing Oil, Baldwin Filters, and NGK Spark Plugs. Brody Roa's 2023 Schedule and Race Results January 27 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main January 28 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main February 25 Kern County Raceway Park USAC West Coast Sprint Cars Rained Out March 3 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 4 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp 17th A Main March 18 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 2nd A Main March 24 Keller Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 25 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 2nd A Main April 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 22 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 29 Kern County Raceway Park USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 6 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 20 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 27 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 10 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 24 Bakersfield Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 1 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 12 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 19 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 26 TBA USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 9 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 23 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 14 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 20 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp October 21 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp November 3 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 4 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 11 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Tom Dunkel's 2023 Racing Results January 12 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals Prelim. Night 12th C Main March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp 16th A Main April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 9th B Main April 8 Ventura Raceway VRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main @inlandrigging, @dunkelfarms @roygamityanauctioneer @burris_racing_usa @mikeburrisoc @csishocks @sander_engineering @sanderjenna @theoriginalloosebruce @alrvirtualservices @k1racegear @moleculesports @rodendsupply @baldwinfilters @ngkracing @originalngksparkplugs @usacnation @usac_cra @perrisautospeedway @b_roa91 @tai_xoxo_roa @zacboz35 @joegibb83, @caltrolinc @narc410 @drivenracingoil This release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- POWRi LIGHTNING SPRINTS RACE ON PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY HALF-MILE THIS SATURDAY
(Lakeside, CA, April 12, 2023) For only the second time in history, the POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Cars will race on the fast Perris Auto Speedway half-mile this Saturday, April 15th. Joining the SWLS on the all-open wheel program will be the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars and The PAS Senior & Young Gun Sprints. Spectator gates at the track that is located 70 miles east of Los Angeles will open at 5:00 p.m. with racing at 7:00. 307917176_8809332269084263_6232762060701209307_n.jpg Dalton Sexton, who finished fourth at last September's POWRi race at Perris, will ve be in action when the series returns there on Saturday. Bobby Kiumbrough photo. Fresh off a win at Arizona's Mohave Valley Raceway two weeks ago, ageless Brent Sexton of Lakeside, California, the defending SWLS champion, will head the list of entries for Saturday's race. The Tennessee-born driver has a 21-point lead in the championship standings over Bobby Michnowicz of Oak Hills. Palmdale's Eric Greco is third and is followed by Yucca Valley's Jeff Dyer and series-leading rookie Robbie Brockman of El Cajon who are fourth and fifth respectively. An interesting entry for Saturday's show on the lightning-fast Riverside County half-mile clay oval is San Diego's AJ Bender. The veteran driver drove a Sexton Gatlin Racing car to the season-opening victory at the Imperial Valley Raceway on March 10th. Last Saturday night, he took Mike Schweitzer's #41 to the California Lightning Sprint Car Series win at the Bakersfield Speedway. It was announced on Tuesday afternoon that he will be in Schweitzer's car again at Perris this weekend. In addition, he will also be competing in the USAC/CRA 410 sprint car portion of the show. Bender currently sits ninth in USAC/CRA points. The first-ever POWRi race at Perris Auto Speedway came last September 17th when the SWLS visited the track. Eighteen cars showed up that night and El Cajon's Braden Chiaramonte beat Yucca Valley's Jeff Dyer and Bender to the checkered flag. Advance tickets for Saturday's race at The PAS are available until noon on race day at https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/pas/7 or by calling 800-595-4849. There will be plenty of tickets available for walkup purchase on Saturday, this event will not sell out. Adult Tickets are $30. For seniors aged sixty-five and over, it is $25.00. For kids 6 to 12 it is just $5.00, and children 5 and under are admitted free. The fairgrounds charges $10 for parking. Perris Auto Speedway is conveniently located one-hour east of Los Angeles and one-hour North of San Diego on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds at 18700 Lake Perris Drive in Perris, California (92571). To get to the track, take the 215 freeway, exit at the Ramona Expressway, and go three miles east to the fairgrounds. After this weekend's event on the fast half-mile, the SWLS will be off until it makes the first of five 2023 appearances at the Barona Speedway on May 13th. The POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series would like to thank Sexton Fire Protection, RTL Traffic Control & Equipment, Victory Graphix, BK Wing, and A.M. Ortega Construction Inc. If you or your company would like to become part of the series in 2023, please contact Brent Sexton at (619) 454-6945 or mailto:sextonfire@cox.net POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series Point Standings 1. Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA, 451 2. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA, 437 3. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA, 430 4. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, 369 5. Robbie Brockman, El Cajon, CA, 355 6. Connor Speir, Fillmore, CA,345 7. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA, 344 8. Seth Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, 339 9. Pat Kelley, Chino, CA, 324 10. Cody Griggs, Lakeside, CA, 299 2023 Best of the West Standings 1. Bobby Michnowicz, Lomita, CA, CLS … 388 1. Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA, SWLS … 388 3. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA, CLS … 371 4. Robby Brockman, El Cajon, CA. SWLS … 280 4. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, CLS … 280 6. Connor Speir, Fillmore, CA, CLS … 271 7. Seth Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, CLS … 262 8. AJ Bender, San Diego, CA, SWLS … 261 9. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA, CLS … 254 10. Pat Kelley, Chino, CA, CLS … 240 2023 POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule and Results March 10 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged - AJ Bender March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged - Braden Chiaramonte April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway Winged - Brent Sexton April 15 Perris Auto Speedway Winged May 13 Barona Speedway Winged (TBD) May 20 Bakersfield Speedway Winged May 27 Perris Auto Speedway Winged (TBD) June 10 Colorado Nationals Winged (TBD) July 8 Barona Winged (TBD) Deming Speedway Clay Cup Winged (No Points) July 22 Ventura Raceway Winged August 5 Barona Speedway Wingless (TBD) August 19 Perris Auto Speedway Winged August 10-13 13th Minkota Nationals Winged (Non-Points) September 2 Barona Speedway Winged (TBD) September 23 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged October 14 Mohave Valley Raceway Winged October 20 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged October 21 Imperial Valley Raceway Wingless October 28 Barona Speedway Winged (TBA) November 11 Perris Auto Speedway Winged POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series Champions 2020 Chris Crowder 2021 Grant Sexton 2022 Brent Sexton This release was produced by Scott Daloisio (909) 226-7768 sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- AJ BENDER TRIUMPHS IN CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR RACE AT BAKERSFIELD
(Torrance, CA, April 11, 2023) When the competitors in the California Lightning Sprint Car Series heard the old saying "the band is getting back together again" last week, they initially paid no attention to it. However, when they found out it meant that star driver AJ Bender was again teaming up with long-time car owner Mike Schweitzer for last Saturday's race at the Bakersfield Speedway, it struck fear in their hearts. As it turned out, that was rightfully so as Bender smashed the competition to win his second CLS main of the 2023 season. thumbnail.jpg AJ Bender winner of Saturday's California Lightning Sprint Car race at Bakersfield. Lance Jennings Photo. The original 2023 CLS schedule had Saturday's date as the second for the club on "The West's Fastest 1/3 Mile High Banked Clay Oval." Unfortunately, due to heavy rains canceling the March 18th date, Saturday was the first time the club ventured to the track this year. Veteran driver Jeff Dyer of Yucca Valley set the fastest time in qualifying when he toured the track in 13.683. Bender, who was coming off a heat race win and an eighth-place main event finish in the USAC/CRA race the previous week at Arizona's Mohave Valley Raceway, timed in second at 13.807. The CLS "G.O.A.T," Bobby Michnowicz of Oak Hills, was third quick at 13.890. With 10 cars on hand, CLS officials got innovative for the heat races. Each heat featured all 10 cars. The Extreme Muffler Heat Race #1 was totally inverted by qualifying times. The second heat was totally straight up by the same qualifying times. The first eight lapper saw pole sitter "Rockstar" Jon Robertson of Torrance lead green to checkers for the win over Lakewood's Aiden Lange and Michnowicz. It was not quite as easy as that sounds though as Lange was nipping at his push bar all the way. They crossed the line well ahead of third-place finisher Cody Nigh of Camarillo. Michnowicz and Bender rounded out the top five. The cars did not stop or leave the track before the start of the second heat race. They just lined up with Jeff Dyer on the pole and Bender outside of him. Michnowicz and Lange were in the second row. However, before the drivers could take the green flag, drama intervened. Seth Dyer of Yucca Valley dropped out and pulled to the infield. Then Bender jumped the original start and was penalized one row. That moved Michnowicz to the outside of row one. Before the next attempt to get the race started, Nigh pulled to the infield. A few moments later, he rejoined the pack. With the broken car off the track, the offender penalized, and Nigh back after a break in the infield, the race finally commenced. The race was classic Michnowicz as he, like Robertson, led green to checkers. Jeff Dyer fought off Bender's early advances for second and had that spot in the bag until he pulled out at the white flag. That handed the runner-up spot to Bender. Greco, Lange, and Bakersfield local Leland Day rounded out the top five. Points were tallied from the two heats and the top six had a redraw. Bender, in the Mike Schweitzer-owned Abacas/BillMell.com Real Estate Services/Van's Logging/M&P Environmental/Oil Well Service/Yoshimura/2007 Henchcraft/2000 ZX12 #41B, drew the pole. That combo won two of their three starts at the "Okie Bowl" last season. They would be tough to beat normally, but off the pole, it would be nearly impossible to do. Greco was on the outside of the front row. Veteran Michnowicz was on the inside of two with youngster Day alongside. Row three featured Lange and Robertson and they were followed by Nigh and Jeff Dyer. Chino's Pat Kelley was alone in row five. One thing was different than normal by the time the CLS took to the track for its main event. Normally the surface has slickened off. This time the track was hooked up to the max and passing was going to be at a premium. Thus, when Bender jumped into the lead at the start, he was not only going to be tough to pass, but he was going to be hard to catch as well. Greco, Michnowicz, and Day were his early pursuers. Bender gapped Greco by four lengths at the end of the first circuit and things around the track remained status quo until the leader reached the first lapped car on lap eight. Greco had put some distance between himself and third-place Michnowicz. By lap 10, Greco was starting to inch closer to the race-long leader. He continued to gain ground and by the time they reached turn one on lap 14, Greco was only one car length behind. Lap 15 saw Bender face his only big threat in the race. Heading into turn number one, Greco peeked inside the leader. Up until that time Bender had gone unchallenged. To compound factors, they pulled up behind Day and he was having issues with his top wing that was slowing him down. Greco had another look on the inside going down the back chute, but San Diegan Bender fended him off and a couple of laps later, he had opened his advantage to a comfortable margin again. Greco seemed to have second place sewed up and that would have given him three top-four finishes in his first three races of 2023. However, going into turn three on the 21st lap, he slowed dramatically. Michnowicz closed on the race-long runner-up driver and drove by for second. Greco then pulled to the infield coming off turn four. By the time Michnowicz had taken second, Bender had enough of an advantage that nobody was going to catch him and he became the first CLS driver to win two main events in 2023. Michnowicz placed second for the second time this year and as of now, he has not finished worse than third. Lange, who was making his first appearance of the season, ended up third and Nigh, who was also racing for the first time this year was fourth. Robertson placed fifth. Nigh was the "Advance Racing Suspension Hard Charger" moving from seventh on the start to finish fourth. The CLS gets its longest break on the 2023 schedule and will not return to action until May 13th at Jim Naylor's Ventura Raceway. Going into that race, Michnowicz has a 59-point lead over Greco in the season-long championship point standings. Bender, Lakeside's Brent Sexton, and Jeff Dyer round out the top five. The following companies are marketing partners with the CLS in 2023. Hoosier Tires West, T-Shirts By Timeless, Extreme Mufflers, RacingJunk.com, and Advanced Racing Suspension. if you or your company would like to be a marketing partner with the CLS, please get in touch with Jon Robertson using the contact information at the top of this release. To keep up with the CLS online, please visit the website at http://racecls.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/californialightningsprints Bakersfield Speedway Qualifying: 1. Jeff Dyer, 13.683, 2. AJ Bender, 13.807, 3. Bobby Michnowicz, 13.890, 4. Aiden Lange, 13.961, 5. Eric Greco, 13.980, 6. Cody Nigh, 14.085, 7. Leland Day, 14.145, 8. Jon Robertson, 14.292, 9. Seth Dyer, 15.087, 10. Pat Kelley, 16.736 Extreme Muffler Heat #1 (8-Laps): 1. Robertson, 2. Lange, 3. Michnowicz, 4. Nigh, 5. Bender, 6. Seth Dyer, 7. Day, 8. Greco, 9. Jeff Dyer, 10. Kelley Heat #2 (8-Laps): 1. Michnowicz, 2. Bender, 3. Greco, 4. Lange, 5. Day, 6. Robertson, 7. Nigh, 8. Jeff Dyer, 9. Kelly Main Event (20-Laps) Includes Starting Position Time Behind 1. AJ Bender, San Diego, CA, (1st) 2. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA, (3rd) … 1.699 3. Aiden Lange, Lakewood., CA, (5th) … 2.218 4. Cody Nigh, Camarillo, CA, (7th) … 3.632 5. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA, (6th) … 11.508 6. Leland Day, Bakersfield, CA, (4th) … 2 Laps 7. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, (8th) … 3 Laps 8. Pat Kelley, Chino, CA, (9th) … 3 Laps 9. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA, (2nd) … 5 Laps DNS - Seth Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA 2023 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Point Standings and Best of the West Standings 1. Bobby Michnowicz, Lomita, CA … 522 2. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA … 463 3. AJ Bender, San Diego, CA … 399 4. Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA … 388 5. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA … 384 6. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA … 365 7. Pat Kelley, Chino, CA … 328 8. Seth Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA … 285 9. Robby Brockman, El Cajon, CA … 280 10. Connor Speier, Fillmore, CA … 271 2023 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Point Standings and Best of the West Standings 1. Bobby Michnowicz, Lomita, CA, CLS … 388 1. Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA, SWLS … 388 3. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA, CLS … 371 4. Robby Brockman, El Cajon, CA. SWLS … 280 4. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, CLS … 280 6. Connor Speir, Fillmore, CA, CLS … 271 7. Seth Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, CLS … 262 8. AJ Bender, San Diego, CA, SWLS … 261 9. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA, CLS … 254 10. Pat Kelley, Chino, CA, CLS … 240 2023 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule March 10 Imperial Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #1 AJ Bender March 11 Imperial Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #2 Braden Chiaramonte March 18 Bakersfield Speedway CLS With USAC Western Midgets Rained Out April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #3 Brent Sexton April 8 Bakersfield Speedway CLS AJ Bender May 13 Ventura Raceway CLS With USAC 360 Sprint Cars May 20 Bakersfield Speedway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #4 June 3 Bakersfield Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series Round" #1 With USAC 360 Sprint Cars June 17 Ventura Raceway CLS With USAC 360 Sprint Cars Wagsdash July 8 Ventura Raceway CLS July 22 Ventura Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #5 August 19 Ocean Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series" Round #2, Johnny Key Classic September 9 Bakersfield Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series" Round #3 September 23 Ventura Raceway CLS October 7 Merced Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series" Round #4, Wayne Albright Memorial Non Wing October 14 Mohave Valley Speedway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #6 With USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 28 Ventura Raceway CLS November 14 Bakersfield Speedway CLS With USAC National Midgets November 16 Placerville Speedway "Hangtown 100" No Points Non Wing November 17 Placerville Speedway "Hangtown 100" No Points Non Wing November 18 Placerville Speedway "Hangtown 100" No Points Non Wing 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 This press release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- BRODY ROA CONTINUES TO ROLL WITH A SECOND-PLACE USAC/CRA FINISH AT THE MOHAVE VALLEY RACEWAY
(Cypress, CA, April 6, 2023) USAC/CRA point leader Brody Roa continued his impressive season in the Inland Rigging #17R when he raced to a second-place finish last Saturday at the Mohave Valley Raceway. The finish allowed the Garden Grove, California driver to extend his lead to 34 points after the first four races of the year. 337419773_889477388982387_8264439381609066114_n.jpg Brody Roa has two wins and two second-places finishes in the Inland Rigging #17R in USAC/CRA racing in 2023. Doug Allen photo. An impressive field of 30 cars showed up to entertain the packed grandstands at the track that is located just minutes from the Colorado River. After a delay due to repairs on the corner signal lights, the cars went qualifying. Roa, who came into the night with two wins and a second-place finish in the first three races of the year, turned in the second-fastest time of the night with a lap of 13.966. Teammate Tommy Dunkel of Murrieta posted a 15.513 on his first-ever visit to the track. Roa, the 2016 USAC West Coast, and 2019 USAC Southwest Sprint Car champion, started sixth in the second heat race. By the end of the first lap, the veteran driver had steered his way up to second and he shot into the lead in turn one on lap two. However, in a traffic jam coming in turn four on the second go around, he got clobbered from behind and slid back to third. Not one to rest on his laurels, Roa ran the top in one and two and the bottom in three and four. By the end of the third lap, he was back up to second and he flew back into the lead on lap six. He led the remainder of the way in the 10-lapper and scored the victory by eight car lengths. One race later it was Dunkel's shot in the heat races. Starting in the seventh spot, he initially moved up to sixth in his first-ever race at the track. After a good battle for the position, he slipped back and finished in seventh. Dunkel was right back on the track for the 12-lap B main. Starting in 11th, he got caught in someone else's mess in turn two on the opening lap and came to a stop. He restarted at the back and worked his way up to ninth, but a spin sent him to the back again. With just three laps remaining, he quickly worked his way back to ninth. However, he ran out of time as he had to get back to sixth to garner one of the transfer spots to the A main. The show wrapped up with the 30-lap main event that had Roa starting in sixth. The first five laps featured a tumultuous amount of yellow flags. Roa stayed clear of the high-powered chaos and moved up to fourth. The "Pride of Garden Grove" was docked in that spot until the end of the 19th circuit when he advanced to third. At that point, he was still not done. He chased down and passed the second-place car with two laps to go. However, by that time the leader was long gone and the only hopes Roa had were for an intervening yellow flag. Neither of those scenarios played out and he had to be satisfied with a hard-fought-for and well-deserved second-place finish. "Thank you all for staying around and watching that," Roa told the crowd when interviewed by Ronnie Everhart after the race. "I was hoping for a caution there at the end because I think we were pretty good. At least make him (winner Chase Johnson) work for it instead of him out there cruising by himself. All jokes aside, congratulations to those guys." "It was a tough track to pass on," Roa continued. It was, don't miss the bottom but don't hit the water. Another second, on the year, we will take it. Thanks to all my guys. My dad, my wife, my daughter, Zac (crew chief Zac Bozanich), Tom & Christy (car owners Tom and Christy Dunkel), and their whole group." Roa is taking the Easter weekend off, but teammate Dunkel will be racing his powerful Shaver 360 in Saturday's VRA Sprint Car race at Jim Naylor's Ventura Raceway. It will be his first race at the track since last November's Turkey Night Grand Prix. On that night Dunkel transferred from the B to the A main where he started 22nd. He moved forward throughout the 30-lap race and came home with an impressive 13th-place finish. One month earlier on the popular 1/5 mile oval, he finished third in the VRA main event. If you want to see Dunkel live on one of the country's most popular racetracks this Saturday, spectator gates will open at 3:00 p.m. and the first race will be at 5:30. Adult tickets are $18.00. For seniors 60 and over, and military & students with id, it is $15.00. Kids 12 and under are free when they are accompanied by an adult. The track is located on the Ventura County Fairgrounds at 10 W. Harbor Boulevard (93001). The website is http://venturaraceway.com/ and the office phone number is (805) 648-RACE. As always, Roa would be more than happy to jump in a race car on his weekends off from the #17R. His entire schedule is printed below. If anybody wishes to contact him about open dates, they can do so at 714-932-7994 or mailto:brodyroa91@gmail.com The team wants to thank the following sponsors for making the 2023 season possible. Inland Rigging, Dunkel Farms, United Asset Sales, Osborne Speed & Machine, Sander Engineering, "Biker" Bruce Fischer, ALR Virtual Services, Burris Racing, Caltrol, Competition Suspension, K-1 Race Gear, Molecule, Rod End Supply, Driven Racing Oil, Baldwin Filters, and NGK Spark Plugs. Brody Roa's 2023 Schedule and Race Results January 27 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main January 28 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main February 25 Kern County Raceway Park USAC West Coast Sprint Cars Rained Out March 3 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 4 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp 17th A Main March 18 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 2nd A Main March 24 Keller Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 25 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 2nd A Main April 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 22 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 29 Kern County Raceway Park USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 6 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 20 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 27 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 10 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 24 Bakersfield Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 1 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 12 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 19 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 26 TBA USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 9 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 23 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 14 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 20 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp October 21 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp November 3 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 4 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 11 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Tom Dunkel's 2023 Racing Results January 12 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals Prelim. Night 12th C Main March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp 16th A Main April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA 9th B Main @inlandrigging, @dunkelfarms @roygamityanauctioneer @burris_racing_usa @mikeburrisoc @csishocks @sander_engineering @sanderjenna @theoriginalloosebruce @alrvirtualservices @k1racegear @moleculesports @rodendsupply @baldwinfilters @ngkracing @originalngksparkplugs @usacnation @usac_cra @perrisautospeedway @b_roa91 @tai_xoxo_roa @zacboz35 @joegibb83, @caltrolinc @narc410 @drivenracingoil This release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- SWLS DRIVERS GET THIRD "BEST OF THE WEST" SERIES WIN AT THE MOHAVE VALLEY RACEWAY
(Lakeside, CA, April 5, 2023) Defending POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series champion Brent Sexton stomped the competition in round #3 of the "Best of the West" series last Saturday at the Mohave Valley Raceway. The show brought the SWLS together with the California Lightning Sprint Car Series for the third time in 2023. Thus far, an SWLS car has emerged victorious every time. 338876195_1001599587496491_107097747877117602_n.jpg The top three at Mojave. Third-place Jeff Dyer (left), winner Brent Sexton (middle) and second-place Bobby Michnowicz (right). CLS photo. Things started looking bleak for the rest of the competition as soon as they found out Sexton would be starting outside of row number one for the 20-lap finale. Earlier in the night, he started on the front row in his eight-lap heat race and scored the victory by nearly a full straightaway. Starting alongside the 50-year-old Tennessee native was Yucca Valley veteran Jeff Dyer. Row two was made up of SWLS leading Rookie Robby Brockman of El Cajon and CLS regular Eric Greco of Palmdale. Row three featured five-time CLS champion Bobby Michnowicz, who lives in Oak Hills, and "Rockstar" Jon Robertson of Torrance. Just like he did in the heat race, Sexton steered his pretty Keys Brothers, East County Electric Works, Maxima Oil, Automated Interiors, Sexton Fire Protection, BK Wings, Troy Dirt, Victory Graphix, and Swift Powdercoat #44, into the lead at the start. CHP officer Dyer immediately began chasing Sexton. He was followed by Greco and Brockman. It became apparent immediately that Sexton was no slower in the main than he was in the beatdown he laid on the competition in the heat race. In fact, he looked faster. He had a five-car length advantage over Dyer at the end of the first lap and by the time the race reached the quarter mark, he had extended that to a half straightaway. Sexton hit lapped traffic on the seventh circuit, but it did not deter the wily veteran. He maintained a comfortable lead and hit his marks at every corner. While the top two did not change, Michnowicz had worked his way up to the third position by the time the starter displayed the crossed flags signifying the halfway mark in the race. Greco and Brockman were fourth and fifth at the midway point. Michnowicz forward momentum continued as he was starting to gain on second-place Dyer. The only yellow flag of the race on lap 13 allowed him to close to Dyer's rear push bar for the restart. The yellow flag was necessitated when Cody Griggs' eye-catching #56 rolled to a stop in turn two. Griggs, who placed second in SWLS points last year and was named "Rookie of the Year," lost his clutch while running sixth. During the yellow flag period, Brockman also called it a night. Once the green restarted the race, Michnowicz was putting the heat on Sexton for the lead. Likewise, Dyer was pressing Michnowicz to get the second-place spot back. Going into turn one on the 14th lap, Dyer hit the corner perfectly. He was inching his way by Michnowicz when near disaster struck. He hit a wet spot on the inside of turn two and immediately slid up the track towards Michnowicz. Michnowicz got it wooed down enough to let Dyer slide by and he reclaimed second. However, that near disaster was all Sexton needed to sew up his first win of the year. It allowed him to pull away and barring another yellow or red, he had the race in the bag. Much to Sexton's delight, the green stayed on for the duration and he scored his initial win of the year with room to spare. Michnowicz placed second and Dyer took third. The always-consistent Greco finished fourth. Robertson achieved his best result of the year crossing the line in fifth. Dyer's 16-year-old son, Seth, notched his best-ever lightning sprint car finish in sixth. The teen was also the race "Hard Charger" after starting 10th. The only thing Sexton did not dominate on the night was qualifying. Michnowicz was the fastest qualifier with a time of 14.372. Greco turned in the second quickest lap at 14.589. Sexton was third fast at 14.674. Michnowicz and Brockman finished second and third behind Sexton in the first 10-lap heat. The second heat was captured by Dyer over Greco and Griggs. After three of the six rounds in the "Best of the West" series, Sexton and Michnowicz are deadlocked at the top. Greco is third and is only 17 points behind the leaders. Dyer and Brockman are in a fourth-place tie. Round four of the series will be at the Bakersfield Speedway on May 20th. The SWLS takes this Saturday off before making its first of four appearances on the famous Perris Auto Speedway half-mile on April 15th. The POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series would like to thank Sexton Fire Protection, RTL Traffic Control & Equipment, Victory Graphix, BK Wing, and A.M. Ortega Construction Inc. If you or your company would like to become part of the series in 2023, please contact Brent Sexton at (619) 454-6945 or mailto:sextonfire@cox.net Mohave Valley Raceway Qualifying: 1. Bobby Michnowicz, 14.372, 2. Eric Greco, 14.589, 3. Brent Sexton, 14.674, 4. A J Bender, 14.680, 5. Robby Brockman, 14.764, 6. Jeff Dyer, 14.859 7. Connor Speir, 14.872, 8. Seth Dyer, 15.064. 9. Dalton Sexton, 15.083, 10. Harlee Aguilera, 15.122, 11. Jon Robertson, 15.140, 12. Cody Griggs, 15.443, 13. Pat Kelley, 17.008. Heat #1 (8-Laps): 1. Brent Sexton, 2. Michnowicz, 3. Brockman, 4. Robertson, 5. Kelley, 6. Dalton Sexton, 7. Speir Heat #2 (8-Laps): 1. Jeff Dyer, 2. Greco, 3. Griggs, 4. Bender, 5. Aguilera, 6. Seth Dyer Main Event (20-Laps) Includes Starting Position Time Behind 1. Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA, (2nd), 2. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA, (5th) … 1.093 3. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, (1st) … 2.117 4. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA, (4th) … 4.683 5. Jon Robertson, Temecula, CA, (6th) … 10.998 6. Seth Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, (10th) … 1 Lap 7. Pat Kelley, Chino, CA, (7th) … 1 Lap 8. Robby Brockman, El Cajon, CA, (3rd) 8 Laps 9. Cody Griggs, Lakeside, CA, (8th) … 8 Laps 10. Connor Speir, Fillmore, CA, (9th) … 20 Laps DNS - Dalton Sexton, Lakeside, CA DNS - AJ Bender, San Diego, CA DNS - Harlee Aguilera, Galt, CA 2023 Best of the West Standings 1. Bobby Michnowicz, Lomita, CA, CLS … 388 1. Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA, SWLS … 388 3. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA, CLS … 371 4. Robby Brockman, El Cajon, CA. SWLS … 280 4. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, CLS … 280 6. Connor Speir, Fillmore, CA, CLS … 271 7. Seth Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, CLS … 262 8. AJ Bender, San Diego, CA, SWLS … 261 9. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA, CLS … 254 10. Pat Kelley, Chino, CA, CLS … 240 2023 POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule and Results March 10 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged - AJ Bender March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged - Braden Chiaramonte April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway Winged - Brent Sexton April 15 Perris Auto Speedway Winged May 13 Barona Speedway Winged (TBD) May 20 Bakersfield Speedway Winged May 27 Perris Auto Speedway Winged (TBD) June 10 Colorado Nationals Winged (TBD) July 8 Barona Winged (TBD) Deming Speedway Clay Cup Winged (No Points) July 22 Ventura Raceway Winged August 5 Barona Speedway Wingless (TBD) August 19 Perris Auto Speedway Winged August 10-13 13th Minkota Nationals Winged (Non-Points) September 2 Barona Speedway Winged (TBD) September 23 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged October 14 Mohave Valley Raceway Winged October 20 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged October 21 Imperial Valley Raceway Wingless October 28 Barona Speedway Winged (TBA) November 11 Perris Auto Speedway Winged POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series Champions 2020 Chris Crowder 2021 Grant Sexton 2022 Brent Sexton This release was produced by Scott Daloisio (909) 226-7768 sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- GOOD NIGHT FOR JEFF AND SETH DYER AT THE MOHAVE VALLEY RACEWAY
(Yucca Valley, CA, April 5, 2022) Jeff Dyer and his 16-year-old son Seth, each had their best night of racing in the 2023 season when the California Lightning Sprint Cars and POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprints combined forces for round #3 of the "Best of the West" series last Saturday at the Mohave Valley Raceway. Jeff placed third in the 20-lap main and Seth had his best-ever lightning sprint finish when he came home sixth. 295235292_10166538481860201_7697353283095147821_n.jpg Father Jeff Dyer (sitting on the tire) and his son Seth last year at the Ventura Raceway. CLS photo. The two drivers started their night with qualifying. Jeff turned in the sixth quickest time of the evening at 14.859. Seth was just a tick behind in eighth at 15.064. The second heat race included the family duo in the lineup. In fact, they were starting on the front row together. Seth was on the pole with his dad alongside. Seth got the jump on the start but seemed to catch a wet patch in turn two. He slid up the track, and made some contact with his father. Jeff survived the bump from his offspring and continued on. However, Seth's car was damaged and had to be towed back to the pits. When the heat went green again, Jeff held the lead the remainder of the way for the victory. Jeff was on the pole for the start of the 20-lap main event and immediately settled into second place. The race stayed green through the first 12 laps and Jeff was second for the first 11 circuits. After a yellow intervened, the race resumed and he got a great inside run going into turn one on lap 14. Jeff was on the verge of moving back into second when he caught the same wet spot Seth hit in the heat race. Just like Seth, Jeff slid up the racetrack and was relegated back to third. He remained there for his first podium result in 2023. Seth started the main event in 10th place. The teen drove a strong race and hit his marks throughout. When the checkers came down, he had a career-best sixth-place lightning finish. He also earned the race "Hard Charger Award." Once the Mohave race ended, father and son made the three-hour journey back to their Yucca Valley, California home. Arriving at 3:00 in the morning, Jeff only slept until 8:00 a.m. He got up, cleaned, and prepped his car for this Saturday's race at the Bakersfield Speedway. Soon thereafter, he got on the road and made the 500-mile drive to Sacramento for a week of training for his California Highway Patrol officer's job. He will be back just in time for Saturday's race. In 2022, Jeff made five starts at Bakersfield and never finished worse than fourth. He had one runner-up finish and placed third and fourth two times each. In his initial season of racing lightning sprints, Seth competed three times at Bakersfield last year. He placed 12th, 15th, and 18th in those early career runs. Spectator gates for this Saturday's race at Bakersfield will open at 4:00 p.m. with racing at 6:00. Joining the CLS will be the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars, and Mini Stocks. Adult tickets are $25.00. Seniors 65 and over and military with a proper id get in for $23.00. Kids 6-12 are $15.00 and children 5 and under are free. Parking is free. The track is located at 5001 North Chester Ext. Ave., Bakersfield (93308). The track website is http://www.bakersfieldspeedway.com/ and the office phone number is (661) 393-3373. Jeff is racing in memory of his grandparents, Glenn, and Beverly Sels, throughout the 2023 season. Jeff would like to thank the following for making the 2023 racing campaign possible in the #4 and 4Jr. Lightning Sprint Cars. Dependable Machine Inc., Haircuts By Susie, Jobu Racing, LBA Investigations, and Dyer Motorsports. For the USAC/CRA #39 sprint car, Straight Time Stirrups, Dependable Machines Inc., Hair Cuts By Susie, Jobu Racing, Justice Brothers, and Specialty Fasteners helped put him on the track. If you would like to be a part of Dyer Motorsports in 2023, call (760) 267-0298 or send an email to mailto:dyermotorsports4@gmail.com. Jeff Dyer 2023 Results 3-10-23 Imperial Valley Raceway Best of the West Lightning Sprints 10th A Main 3-11-23 Imperial Valley Raceway Best of the West Lightning Sprints 17th A Main 3-10-23 Imperial Valley Raceway Open Comp. Sprints 15th A Main 4-1-23 Mohave Valley Raceway Best of the West Lightning Sprints 3rd A Main Seth Dyer 2022 Lightning Sprint Results 3-10-23 Imperial Valley Raceway Best of the West Lightning Sprints 12th A Main 3-11-23 Imperial Valley Raceway Best of the West Lightning Sprints 10th A Main 4-1-23 Mohave Valley Raceway Best of the West Lightning Sprints 6th A Main Scott Daloisio produced this release. For more information, use the following: call (909) 226-7768 or E-mail mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com.
- SEXTON BEATS MICHNOWICZ IN CLS MAIN AT MOHAVE - BAKERSFIELD THIS WEEK
(Torrance, CA, April 3, 2023) The statement "Youth Must Be Served" proved to be an April Fool's joke when the California Lightning Sprint Cars and the POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Cars co-sanctioned round #3 on Saturday night at the Mohave Valley Raceway. Geezers Brent Sexton, Bobby Michnowicz, and Jeff Dyer, who have a combined age of 149 years, claimed the top three spots in the 20-lap main event on the 1/3 mile banked clay oval. 338774599_914723216305571_731285793926451414_n.jpg Brent Sexton won his heat and the main event at the Mohave Valley Raceway. CLS Photo. With a packed house looking on, 59-year-old Michnowicz, the five-time CLS champion who lives in Oak Hills, out-qualified the 13-car field with a time of 14.372. Palmdale's Eric Greco was second-quick at 14.680. Dyer was third fastest at 14.859. Fifty-year-old Sexton was on the pole for the first heat race. That was bad news for the competition as the defending SWLS champion drove away from the field and won the eight-lapper by over a half straightaway. His one-time arch-rival Michnowicz was second with Sexton's teammate, Brockman, third. The second heat race was captured by Dyer when he beat Palmdale's Eric Greco and Lakeside's Cody Griggs to the checkers. Dyer, who just celebrated his 40th birthday, was on the pole for the main event. Sexton was on the outside of the front row. Row two was made up of Brockman and Greco. Michnowicz and "Rockstar" Jon Robertson of Torrance started in row three. The story of the race was essentially written at the drop of the green flag. Sexton roared into the lead over Dyer, Greco, and Brockman. By the end of the first circuit, the two-time CLS champion had stretched his advantage to five car lengths. Michnowicz, who is off to a good start in 2023, moved into fourth and began to pester Greco for third on lap two. A couple of laps later, the wily veteran had taken over second. Out front, Sexton, in the eye-catching Keys Brothers, East County Electric Works, Maxima Oil, Automated Interiors, Sexton Fire Protection, BK Wings, Troy Dirt, Victory Graphix, and Swift Powdercoat #44, was pulling away from his pursuers and had a near half straight lead by the end of the fifth circuit. Dyer, a highway patrol officer off the track, momentarily began to chase down Sexton on lap seven. One go around later Sexton hit the lapped traffic but it did not faze him. He once again pulled away and established a comfortable lead. At the halfway point, he had a commanding lead with Dyer, Michnowicz, Greco, and Brockman rounding out the top five. Michnowicz began closing in on second-place Dyer on the 11th circuit. His progress was slowed on lap 12 when the only yellow flag of the race slowed the action when Lakeside's Cody Griggs rolled to a stop in turn two with clutch issues. At the same time impressive rookie Brockman pulled off the track. By the time that yellow waved, Sexton was over a full straightaway in front of the field. That big advantage was suddenly crushed like it was an empty soda can. For the restart, it was Sexton where he had been the entire race. Michnowicz was up to second with Dyer third. Greco was in fourth place with Robertson, who had been as far back as 10th, up to fifth. Michnowicz stuck close to the race-long leader on the restart. Likewise, Dyer was hanging close to Michnowicz. In fact, he got a great run on the bottom going into turn one on lap 14. He was edging ahead of Michnowicz when he hit some water on the bottom and slid all the way across the track. The ever-alert Michnowicz got on the brakes, averted what could have been a major disaster, and ducked underneath Dyer who nearly slid all the way to Prescott before getting back on the throttle. The Dyer/Michnowicz turn-two escapade essentially ended the fight for first as it allowed Sexton to once again pull away and lead the final six laps. To say the least, it was a very impressive wire-to-wire win. Michnowicz was second and was followed by Dyer, Greco, and Robertson. Dyer's 16-year-old son, Seth, scored his best-ever finish with a sixth and was also the main event "Advanced Racing Suspension Hard Charger." Coming out of the race, one-time nemeses Sexton and Michnowicz are tied for first in both the CLS and "Best of the West" series standings. Greco is third with Dyer fourth and Robertson fifth. This Saturday, April 8th, the CLS will head to the Bakersfield Speedway for its first appearance at the popular track in 2023. Last month's race at the venue was canceled due to wet conditions. In 2022, the CLS appeared at the Scott Schweitzer promoted track six times. AJ Bender, who will be back in the Mike Schweitzer #41 on Saturday, and two-time series champion David Gasper, each won two times. Michnowicz and 2021 SWLS champion Grant Sexton had one victory each. Spectator gates at Bakersfield will open at 4:00 p.m. with racing at 6:00. Joining the CLS will be the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars, and Mini Stocks. Adult tickets are $25.00. Seniors 65 and over and military with proper id get in for $23.00. Kids 6-12 are $15.00 and children 5 and under are free. Parking is free. The track is located at 5001 North Chester Ext. Ave., Bakersfield (93308). The track website is http://www.bakersfieldspeedway.com/ and the office phone number is (661) 393-3373. The following companies are marketing partners with the CLS in 2023. Hoosier Tires West, T-Shirts By Timeless, Extreme Mufflers, RacingJunk.com, and Advanced Racing Suspension. if you or your company would like to be a marketing partner with the CLS, please get in touch with Jon Robertson using the contact information at the top of this release. To keep up with the CLS online, please visit the website at http://racecls.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/californialightningsprints Mohave Valley Raceway Qualifying: 1. Bobby Michnowicz, 14.372, 2. Eric Greco, 14.589, 3. Brent Sexton, 14.674, 4. A J Bender, 14.680, 5. Robby Brockman, 14.764, 6. Jeff Dyer, 14.859 7. Connor Speir, 14.872, 8. Seth Dyer, 15.064. 9. Dalton Sexton, 15.083, 10. Harlee Aguilera, 15.122, 11. Jon Robertson, 15.140, 12. Cody Griggs, 15.443, 13. Pat Kelley, 17.008.Heat #1 (8-Laps): 1. Brent Sexton, 2. Michnowicz, 3. Brockman, 4. Robertson, 5. Kelley, 6. Dalton Sexton, 7. Speir Heat #2 (8-Laps): 1. Jeff Dyer, 2. Greco, 3. Griggs, 4. Bender, 5. Aguilera, 6. Seth Dyer Main Event (20-Laps) Includes Starting Position Time Behind 1. Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA, (2nd), 2. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA, (5th) … 1.093 3. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, (1st) … 2.117 4. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA, (4th) … 4.683 5. Jon Robertson, Temecula, CA, (6th) … 10.998 6. Seth Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, (10th) … 1 Lap 7. Pat Kelley, Chino, CA, (7th) … 1 Lap 8. Robby Brockman, El Cajon, CA, (3rd) 8 Laps 9. Cody Griggs, Lakeside, CA, (8th) … 8 Laps 10. Connor Speir, Fillmore, CA, (9th) … 20 Laps DNS - Dalton Sexton, Lakeside, CA DNS - AJ Bender, San Diego, CA DNS - Harlee Aguilera, Galt, CA 2023 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Point Standings and Best of the West Standings 1. Bobby Michnowicz, Lomita, CA, CLS … 288 1. Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA, SWLS … 288 3. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA, CLS … 371 4. Robby Brockman, El Cajon, CA. SWLS … 280 4. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, CLS … 280 6. Connor Speir, Fillmore, CA, CLS … 271 7. Seth Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, CLS … 262 8. AJ Bender, San Diego, CA, SWLS … 261 9. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA, CLS … 254 10. Pat Kelley, Chino, CA, CLS … 240 2023 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule March 10 Imperial Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #1 AJ Bender March 11 Imperial Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #2 Braden Chiaramonte March 18 Bakersfield Speedway CLS With USAC Western Midgets Rained Out April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #3 Brent Sexton April 8 Bakersfield Speedway CLS With USAC 360 Sprint Cars May 13 Ventura Raceway CLS With USAC 360 Sprint Cars May 20 Bakersfield Speedway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #4 June 3 Bakersfield Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series Round" #1 With USAC 360 Sprint Cars June 17 Ventura Raceway CLS With USAC 360 Sprint Cars Wagsdash July 8 Ventura Raceway CLS July 22 Ventura Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #5 August 19 Ocean Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series" Round #2, Johnny Key Classic September 9 Bakersfield Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series" Round #3 September 23 Ventura Raceway CLS October 7 Merced Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series" Round #4, Wayne Albright Memorial Non Wing October 14 Mohave Valley Speedway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #6 With USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 28 Ventura Raceway CLS November 14 Bakersfield Speedway CLS With USAC National Midgets November 16 Placerville Speedway "Hangtown 100" No Points Non Wing November 17 Placerville Speedway "Hangtown 100" No Points Non Wing November 18 Placerville Speedway "Hangtown 100" No Points Non Wing 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 This press release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- TOMMY DUNKEL JOINS USAC/CRA POINT LEADER BRODY ROA SATURDAY AT MOHAVE VALLEY RACEWAY
(Cypress, CA, March 28, 2023) There will be a bunch of firsts happening for the Inland Rigging Racing Team when it rolls into Arizona's Mohave Valley Raceway this Saturday, April 1st. For Brody Roa, it will be the initial time he has been first in USAC/CRA points when competing at the track and the first time he has driven a DRC chassis there. For teammate Tommy Dunkel it will not only be his initial time on the banked 1/3 mile oval but also his first-ever USAC/CRA start. Anthony Hernandez 3-18 PAS #2.jpg Brody Roa while leading the March 18 USAC/CRA main at Perris Auto Speedway. Anthony Hernandez photo. Garden Grove, California's Roa is off to a flying start in the USAC/CRA Series in 2023. In late January he drove to victory in both season-opening races at Arizona's Cocopah Speedway. A few weeks later, the 2016 USAC West Coast and 2019 USAC Southwest Sprint Car champion placed second when Perris Auto Speedway opened the doors for its 27th season. The veteran racer's early season prowess sees him carrying a 22-point lead into the Mohave race. He also has an amazing 1.33 main event finishing average through the first three races. This weekend's race will only mark Roa's second time racing at Mohave. Last October he dazzled the Arizona crowd by winning the main after starting the 30-lapper deep in the field in 11th. It was his third USAC/CRA win of 2023. "I thought it was a lot of fun," Roa said of his first visit to the track. "One and two, there is one fast lane around it. Three and four developed nice where it is right on the lip on the top. The bottom is really difficult to hit. I felt like I had to drive it really hard to make speed down there. It was pretty cool the way the track developed and I had fun. It was kind of technical and fitted my style." With last week's rainouts at Kings Speedway in Hanford and the Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Roa has not competed in two weeks. He is starting with the car the way he has all year long. So far with two wins, a second and the point lead after three races, things have worked out well. "I am showing up exactly the same way I started at Perris," Roa said. "That is what our game plan has been with it (the new DRC) from Cocopah, to Perris in the races we ran with it. Both those tracks I feel are significantly different and both drove really well. My plan this year is to not over think car set up. I am really good at sitting there and thinking about what I can change to fix things that are not broken. I am trying to show up the same and let the car drive the same every week. It obviously goes pretty fast so I am not trying to over think it." Dunkel was in the top 10 at the Imperial Valley Raceway's So Cal Non-Wing Open Comp. show last month when a steering issue parked him in the waning laps. He is anxiously waiting for his first shot at "Arizona's Baddest Bullring." Judd Neves March Imperial.jpg Tom Dunkel at Imperial in early March. Judd Neves photo. "I have never laid eyes on it," Dunkel said of the Arizona track. "It looks fast and it looks racy. Going into this deal with Brody Roa, saying I am going in blind would be a false statement. With all of their knowledge and experience and Brody winning the last time there in October, that gives me some confidence going in. With those guys I know I am going in with top-notch equipment, top-notch setup, and crew guys. Everything else is there, the final piece of the puzzle is just getting me up to speed." "Oh, big time, yeah," Dunkel laughed when queried about being nervous racing in the USAC/CRA Series. "Going to run against all of the names you grew up watching and rooting for all these years. You see how fast these guys really are. The nerves are high. But at the green flag, the jitters pretty much go away for me, thankfully. I am nervous leading up and nervous in staging. As soon as the car fires off I am pretty good and when the green drops, there is no time to think about anything but going forward." Roa will be in his DRC with a Shaver 410, at Mohave. Dunkel will be in another DRC with a Shaver 360. "We kind of made that decision at the last minute," Dunkel related. "Honestly, with my caliber of driving and my experience, a 360 is plenty for me right now. 360s have done pretty well there in the past. I think I am going to be okay running it. It is a big power 360, it is no slouch. I think if I start running some CRA stuff at Perris later in the year, we are definitely going to throw the 410 in it. Until we get to that point, we will keep on running the 360." To see the point leader and his new teammate in action on Saturday, the Mohave Valley Raceway is located at 2750 E. Laguna Rd. in Mohave Valley, Arizona (86440). Gates at the popular track which is located just minutes away from the Colorado River and less than a half hour from downtown Laughlin, will open at 5:00 p.m. The first green flag of the night will wave at 7:00. Adult tickets are $25.00. For seniors 60 and over and active military with proper id, it is $20.00. Kids 6-12 get in for just $5.00 and children five and under are free. It is cash only for tickets (no ATMs on site). Concessions, souvenirs, and the beer garden take cash or cards. For more information, the track website is https://www.mohavevalleyraceway.com/ and the office phone is (928) 346-6000. As always, Roa would be more than happy to jump in a race car on his weekends off from the #17R. His entire schedule is printed below. If anybody wishes to contact him about open dates, they can do so at 714-932-7994 or mailto:brodyroa91@gmail.com The team wants to thank the following sponsors for making the 2023 season possible. Inland Rigging, Dunkel Farms, United Asset Sales, Osborne Speed & Machine, Sander Engineering, "Biker" Bruce Fischer, ALR Virtual Services, Burris Racing, Caltrol, Competition Suspension, K-1 Race Gear, Molecule, Rod End Supply, Driven Racing Oil, Baldwin Filters, and NGK Spark Plugs. Brody Roa's 2023 Schedule and Race Results January 27 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main January 28 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main February 25 Kern County Raceway Park USAC West Coast Sprint Cars Rained Out March 3 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 4 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp 17th A Main March 18 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 2nd A Main March 24 Keller Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 25 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 22 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 29 Kern County Raceway Park USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 6 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 20 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 27 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 10 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 24 Bakersfield Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 1 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 12 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 19 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 26 TBA USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 9 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 23 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 14 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 20 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp October 21 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp November 3 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 4 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 11 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Tom Dunkel's 2023 Racing Results January 12 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals 12th C Main March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp 16th A Main April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA @inlandrigging, @dunkelfarms @roygamityanauctioneer @burris_racing_usa @mikeburrisoc @csishocks @sander_engineering @sanderjenna @theoriginalloosebruce @alrvirtualservices @k1racegear @moleculesports @rodendsupply @baldwinfilters @ngkracing @originalngksparkplugs @usacnation @usac_cra @perrisautospeedway @b_roa91 @tai_xoxo_roa @zacboz35 @joegibb83, @caltrolinc @narc410 @drivenracingoil This release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- ROUND #3 OF THE POWRi SOUTHWEST LIGHTNING SERIES IS THIS SATURDAY AT THE MOHAVE VALLEY RACEWAY
(Lakeside, CA, March 28, 2023) The POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series returns to action this Saturday night, April 1st, when it teams with the California Lightning Sprint Cars for round #3 of the "Best of the West" series at Arizona's Mohave Valley Raceway. In addition to the lightning sprints, the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars and Dwarf Cars will also be in action. Spectator gates at the track that is located minutes from the Colorado River will open at 5:00 p.m. and racing will commence at 7:00. 333026586_768077894452027_4364373828331009117_n.jpg Brent Sexton comes into Saturday's race at Mohave Valley Raceway as SWLS point leader. Kim Arringdale-Unipan photo. The SWLS opened its season three weeks ago with two rounds of racing at the Imperial Valley Raceway. SWLS cars from Sexton Gatlin Racing won both races. San Diego's AJ Bender, a USAC/CRA regular who competes in both the SWLS and CLS, won the Friday night opener. El Cajon's Braden Chiaramonte, who began his open-wheel career with the SWLS two years ago, won the finale 24 hours later. Coming into this week's race, defending SWLS champion Brent Sexton of Lakeside once again finds himself leading the championship standings. The 50-year-old parlayed second and fourth-place finishes on opening weekend into a five-point lead over Palmdale driver Eric Greco. Oak Hills veteran Bobby Michnowicz, a five-time CLS champion, is currently third in the championship chase. Connor Speir of Fillmore and Bender make up the remainder of the top five. Robby Brockman, who lives in El Cajon, is currently sixth in points and is the leader of the rookie standings. Going into Saturday at Mohave, the top five in the "Best of the West" standings are completely shuffled from those in the SWLS. In that six-race series, Michnowicz leads Sexton by four points. Greco is third with Bender fourth and Speir fifth. That series will wind up at Mohave Valley on October 14th. In 2022, the SWLS teamed up with the CLS for a race at Mohave Valley on October 8th. It turned out to be one of the best-ever lightning sprint car mains on the west coast with Sexton winning a war over Bender, Dalton Sexton (Brent's oldest son), and CLS star David Gasper. The SWLS made its debut at the "Copper State" track with a pair of races in 2021. Indio's James Turnbull, now a rookie in the USAC/CRA 410 Series, won the inaugural event. Twenty-four hours later, ageless veteran Brent Sexton captured the other. After Saturday's race, the SWLS gets a week off before hitting the fastest lightning track in the west, the half-mile at Perris Auto Speedway. It will be the club's first of four appearances at the famous track in 2024. It will then be off until a May 13th date at the Barona Speedway For fans who wish to take in this week's race at the Mohave Valley Raceway, the track is located at 2750 E. Laguna in Mohave, Valley Arizona. (86440) It is just minutes away from the Colorado River and 20 minutes from Laughlin, Nevada. Adult tickets are $25.00. For seniors 60 and over and active military with proper id, it is $20.00. Kids 6-12 get in for $5.00 and children five and under are free. It is cash only for tickets (no ATMs on site). Concessions, souvenirs, and the beer garden take cash or cards. For more information, the track website is https://www.mohavevalleyraceway.com/ and the office phone is (928) 346-6000. The POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series would like to thank Sexton Fire Protection, RTL Traffic Control & Equipment, Victory Graphix, BK Wing, and A.M. Ortega Construction Inc. If you or your company would like to become part of the series in 2023, please contact Brent Sexton at (619) 454-6945 or mailto:sextonfire@cox.net 2023 POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series Point Standings 1. Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA … 292 2. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA … 287 3. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA … 283 4. Connor Speir, Fillmore, CA … 238 5. AJ Bender, San Diego, CA … 237 6. Robby Brockman, El Cajon, CA … 231 7. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA … 219 8. Kevin Bates, San Diego, CA … 218 9. Seth Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA … 214 10. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA … 210 2023 Best of the West Standings 1. Bobby Michnowicz, Lomita, CA, CLS … 253 2. Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA, SWLS … 249 3. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA, CLS … 248 4. AJ Bender, San Diego, CA, … 227 5. Connor Speir, Fillmore, CA, CLS … 188 6. Robby Brockman, El Cajon, CA, SWLS … 161 7. Kevin Bates, San Diego, CA, SWLS … 158 7. Seth Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, CLS … 158 9. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, CLS … 154 10. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA, CLS … 147 2023 POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule and Results March 10 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged - AJ Bender March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged - Braden Chiaramonte April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway Winged April 15 Perris Auto Speedway Winged May 13 Barona Speedway Winged (TBD) May 20 Bakersfield Speedway Winged May 27 Perris Auto Speedway Winged (TBD) June 10 Colorado Nationals Winged (TBD) July 8 Barona Winged (TBD) Deming Speedway Clay Cup Winged (No Points) July 22 Ventura Raceway Winged August 5 Barona Speedway Wingless (TBD) August 19 Perris Auto Speedway Winged August 10-13 13th Minkota Nationals Winged (Non-Points) September 2 Barona Speedway Winged (TBD) September 23 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged October 14 Mohave Valley Raceway Winged October 20 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged October 21 Imperial Valley Raceway Wingless October 28 Barona Speedway Winged (TBA) November 11 Perris Auto Speedway Winged POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series Champions 2020 Chris Crowder 2021 Grant Sexton 2022 Brent Sexton This release was produced by Scott Daloisio (909) 226-7768 sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- THE OLD GUARD LEADS THE CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT CARS INTO MOHAVE VALLEY RACEWAY THIS SATURDAY
(Torrance, CA, March 27, 2023) Shaking off the disappointment of a rainout at the Bakersfield Speedway two weeks ago, the California Lightning Sprint Car Series continues its 29th season this Saturday night, April 1st, at Arizona's Mohave Valley Raceway. The race will be round #3 of the "Best of the West" series that is co-sanctioned by the CLS and the POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Cars. Spectator gates at the track that is located just across the Colorado River from Needles, California, will open at 5 PM and the first race will be at 7:00. 336172657_935459524136350_3681086238930720976_n (1).jpg First in points Bobby Michnowicz (left) annd 2nd in points Brent Sexton (right) surround March 11 winner Braden Chiarmonte at Imperial. CLS Photo. Going into the race, a pair of longtime drivers who are both over a half-century old, Bobby Michnowicz of Oak Hills and Lakeside's Brent Sexton, are ranked first and second in the championship standings. Michnowicz, the five-time CLS champion, leads Sexton, a two-time CLS champ and the defending SWLS top dawg, by a mere four points going into this weekend's show. They are also ranked first and second in the "Best of the West" points. In the season-opening doubleheader three weeks ago at the Imperial Valley Raceway, Michnowicz, 59, got the best of Sexton, 50, on the first night when he placed second. Sexton was two spots behind in fourth. Twenty-four hours later they flip-flopped their positions when Sexton placed second and Michnowicz came home third. While the two longtime veterans are ranked first and second, third in the standings is young Eric Greco. The Palmdale-based driver started on the front row and led both races at Imperial. He finished the first race in the third spot and was fourth the following night. He enters this week's bash at the "Copper State" track just one point behind Sexton and four behind leader Michnowicz. USAC/CRA 410 sprint car star AJ Bender of San Diego is currently fourth in the standings. 2022 CLS "Rookie of the Year" Connor Speir of Fillmore rounds out the top five. Bender won the first main event of the year at Imperial on March 10th. The next night, his SGR teammate, Braden Chiaramonte, took home the main event gold. El Cajon's Robby Brockman, who contested his first ever lightning sprint car races at Imperial, is sixth in the championship standings. In addition, he is the current leader in the 2023 CLS "Rookie of the Year" chase. Last year the CLS and SWLS co-sanctioned a race at Mohave Valley on October 8th. In one of the best races in the 29-year history of the CLS, Sexton beat Bender and Dalton Sexton (Brent's oldest son) to the checkers in a late race barn burner. CLS drivers and fans will be getting their first look at the newly revamped Mohave Valley Raceway track surface. Over the offseason, track officials recut the track and applied banking on each end. The track is much faster than when the club last appeared there and three and four-abreast action will see a dramatic increase. In addition to the lightning sprints, the powerful USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series will be making its first of three 2023 appearances at Mohave Valley. Dwarf Cars will also be in action. After Saturday, the CLS will get right back at it one week later at the Bakersfield Speedway. For fans who wish to take in this week's race at the Mohave Valley Raceway, the track is located at 2750 E. Laguna in Mohave Valley, Arizona. (86440) It is just minutes away from the Colorado River and only 20 minutes from Laughlin, Nevada. Adult tickets are $25.00. For seniors 60 and over it is $20.00. For active military with proper id it is $20.00. Kids 6-12 get in for $5.00 and children five and under are free. Parking is free. It is cash only for tickets (no ATMs on site). Concessions, souvenirs, and the beer garden take cash or cards. For more information, the track website is https://www.mohavevalleyraceway.com/ and the office phone is (928) 346-6000. The following companies are marketing partners with the CLS in 2023. Hoosier Tires West, T-Shirts By Timeless, Extreme Mufflers, and RacingJunk.com. if you or your company would like to be a marketing partner with the CLS, please get in touch with Jon Robertson using the contact information at the top of this release. To keep up with the CLS online, please visit the website at http://racecls.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/californialightningsprints 2023 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Point Standings and Best of the West Standings 1. Bobby Michnowicz, Lomita, CA, CLS … 253 2. Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA, SWLS … 249 3. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA, CLS … 248 4. AJ Bender, San Diego, CA, SWLS … 227 5. Connor Speir, Fillmore, CA, CLS … 188 6. Robby Brockman, El Cajon, CA, SWLS … 161 7. Kevin Bates, San Diego, CA, SWLS … 158 7. Seth Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, CLS … 158 9. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, CLS … 154 10. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA, CLS … 147 2023 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule March 10 Imperial Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #1 AJ Bender March 11 Imperial Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #2 Braden Chiaramonte March 18 Bakersfield Speedway CLS With USAC Western Midgets Rained Out April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #3 April 8 Bakersfield Speedway CLS With USAC 360 Sprint Cars May 13 Ventura Raceway CLS With USAC 360 Sprint Cars May 20 Bakersfield Speedway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #4 June 3 Bakersfield Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series Round" #1 With USAC 360 Sprint Cars June 17 Ventura Raceway CLS With USAC 360 Sprint Cars Wagsdash July 8 Ventura Raceway CLS July 22 Ventura Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #5 August 19 Ocean Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series" Round #2, Johnny Key Classic September 9 Bakersfield Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series" Round #3 September 23 Ventura Raceway CLS October 7 Merced Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series" Round #4, Wayne Albright Memorial Non Wing October 14 Mohave Valley Speedway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #6 With USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 28 Ventura Raceway CLS November 14 Bakersfield Speedway CLS With USAC National Midgets November 16 Placerville Speedway "Hangtown 100" No Points Non Wing November 17 Placerville Speedway "Hangtown 100" No Points Non Wing November 18 Placerville Speedway "Hangtown 100" No Points Non Wing 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 This press release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- BRODY ROA TAKES SECOND AT SOKOLA SHOOTOUT AND INCREASES HIS USAC/CRA POINT LEAD
(Cypress, CA, March 22, 2023) Veteran Southern California sprint car racer Brody Roa steered the Inland Rigging #17R to a second-place finish in last Saturday night's 20th annual "Sokola Shootout" at Perris Auto Speedway. The result allowed him to increase his lead to 22 points in the series standings and gives him two wins and a second-place finish in the first three races of the 2023 season. 336023080_661915405694220_9217967785054651004_n.jpg Up on two wheels, this was the pass that put Brody Roa temporarily in the lead on Saturday. Anthony Hernandez photo. Twenty-five top-notch cars showed up for the race on the West Coast's premiere dirt track. Driving a DRC Chassis for the third time, Roa qualified fourth fastest with a lap of 16.449. That put the Garden Grove, California racer in a good position for the remainder of the night as all he had to do was place in the top four of his heat race to be assured of starting in the first three rows of the main event. The skilled driver did just that when he started fifth and placed third in the first 10-lapper of the night. That finish by Roa secured a spot on the inside of the second row for the 30-lapper. Roa quickly advanced his way to second and began to chase leader Justin Grant, the 2022 USAC National Sprint Car champion, who started on the outside of the front row. After chasing the pace setter for 16 laps, Roa flew into the lead on the 17th circuit. The 2019 USAC Southwest Sprint Car Series champion maintained the top spot until lap 21 when he lost the lead on a restart. He continued to chase Grant till the end but had to settle for a second-place finish. "I knew we had a chance," Roa responded when asked if he thought he could beat Grant after starting behind him. "Obviously I knew he wasn't going to be easy to beat. This new car (DRC) has brought a lot of confidence back into us. It does not take a whole lot of changes to make it fast throughout the night. Just little bits and it keeps the car on the ground making grip, but still turning. That is a pretty odd feeling for me but it is a really comfortable car. We probably could have gotten a little more aggressive with it, but it is still a bit of a learning curve. It was the first time at Perris with it. We did not want to get ourselves too far out of the box. If we were a little bit better, we probably could have had a slider fest as we did three or four years ago" Roa's second-place finish marked the first time he had not won in the three USAC/CRA races this year. After the race, his finishing average for the year is an outstanding 1.33. "It was a pretty smooth night," Roa said. "We had one little leak in the heat race. We got that cleaned up. Other than that, no issues, concerns, or worries." While Roa has two USAC/CRA wins in 2023, there is a bigger winner. That is the rain. Three weeks ago, the two-night show at the Central Arizona Speedway was canceled due to wet conditions. This week's races at Kings Speedway and the Tulare Thunderbowl also fell victim to the weather. That leaves this season's score at Mother Nature 4, USAC/CRA 3. "I am a little bummed that we are rained out again," Roa mused. "I was especially looking forward to going to Hanford. We haven't been there in like four years when the non-wing cars (USAC/CRA) have been there. 2018 maybe. It has been a long time. I have always liked Hanford. It is a fun, fast racetrack." "I might go down and keep cleaning out the old shop. Moving and storing stuff into my garage. It is not an easy task with all the stuff we have collected over the last 12 years. There is a lot of work to be done and there is a ton of stuff still down there. A lot of stuff we held onto just in case we needed it and a lot of it is for sale. My dad has been taking and posting a lot of pictures during his lunch break or after work. The old shop is around the corner from his office." Weather permitting, and so far the forecast looks good, the Inland Rigging Racing Team will return to action at Arizona's Mohave Valley Raceway on April 1st. It will be the first of three races for USAC/CRA at the track that is located just 20 minutes away from Laughlin, Nevada. On October 8th of last year, Roa made his lone appearance at the track and turned it into a memorable night. Starting 11th in the 30-lap main, he sliced and diced his way through the field until taking the lead and subsequently winning the race by over a half straightaway. Despite not running the full series schedule last year, it was his third victory. In addition to Roa being in action at Mohave Valley, teammate Tom Dunkel will make his first-ever start in USAC/CRA. It will not be the Murrieta, California racer's first USAC start as he placed 13th in the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series at last November's Turkey Night Grand Prix in Ventura. Two weeks ago he was running ninth with three laps to go in the So Cal Non-Wing Open Comp. show at the Imperial Valley Raceway. Unfortunately, his steering gear let go knocking him out of the race with a 16th-place finish. As always, Roa would be more than happy to jump in a race car on his weekends off from the #17R. His entire schedule is printed below. If anybody wishes to contact him about open dates, they can do so at 714-932-7994 or mailto:brodyroa91@gmail.com The team wants to thank the following sponsors for making the 2023 season possible. Inland Rigging, Dunkel Farms, United Asset Sales, Osborne Speed & Machine, Sander Engineering, "Biker" Bruce Fischer, ALR Virtual Services, Burris Racing, Caltrol, Competition Suspension, K-1 Race Gear, Molecule, Rod End Supply, Driven Racing Oil, Baldwin Filters, and NGK Spark Plugs. Brody Roa's 2023 Schedule and Race Results January 27 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main January 28 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main February 25 Kern County Raceway Park USAC West Coast Sprint Cars Rained Out March 3 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 4 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp 17th A Main March 18 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 2nd A Main March 24 Keller Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 25 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 22 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 29 Kern County Raceway Park USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 6 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 20 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 27 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 10 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 24 Bakersfield Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 1 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 12 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 19 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 26 TBA USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 9 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 23 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 14 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 20 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp October 21 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp November 3 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 4 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 11 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Tom Dunkel's 2023 Racing Results January 12 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals 12th C Main March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp 16th A Main April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA @inlandrigging, @dunkelfarms @roygamityanauctioneer @burris_racing_usa @mikeburrisoc @csishocks @sander_engineering @sanderjenna @theoriginalloosebruce @alrvirtualservices @k1racegear @moleculesports @rodendsupply @baldwinfilters @ngkracing @originalngksparkplugs @usacnation @usac_cra @perrisautospeedway @b_roa91 @tai_xoxo_roa @zacboz35 @joegibb83, @caltrolinc @narc410 @drivenracingoil This release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- SUBSTITUTE DRIVER BRADEN CHIARAMONTE WINS POWRi SOUTHWEST LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR MAIN EVENT AT IMPERIAL
(Lakeside, CA, March 20, 2023) In 2022, Braden Chiaramonte made three appearances in the POWRi Southwest Lightning Series at the Imperial Valley Raceway. In the three, the then 15-year-old scored a win, had a second-place finish, and an eighth. So, when Sexton Gatlin Racing was looking for a driver to shoe one of their cars on March 11, it was only natural that they would turn to the talented teen. The move proved to be genius as the young driver scored an impressive win in round #2 of the "Best of the West" series that matches the POWRi group against the California Lightning Sprint Car Series. 336160130_150507451254130_1167514726626687800_n.jpg Braden Chiaramonte after winning the SWLS main event at Imperial. Judd Neves photo. Not only did Chiaramonte win the main event, but he nearly swept the show. He was the fastest of the 18 drivers who turned in laps in qualifying and narrowly missed winning his heat race by one car length. Chiaramonte was the only car in the 11-second bracket in qualifying when he stopped the clocks at 11.819. That was nearly a half-second quicker than the number 2 qualifier Eric Greco of Palmdale who had a best lap of 12.251. Five-time California Lightning Sprint Car series champion Bobby Michnowicz of Oak Hills was the third fastest qualifier at 12.311. SWLS newcomer Robby Brockman of El Cajon surprised everyone with the fourth-best time of 12.324. San Diego's AJ Bender, who won the main event the previous night, rounded out the top five at 12.496. USAC/CRA 410 racer Bender spoiled Chiaramonte's perfect night when he narrowly edged the teen in the first heat race. The third spot went to San Diego's Brent Horn. The second heat saw another USAC/CRA driver capture the win. That time it was Yucca Valley's Jeff Dyer, a California Highway Patrol officer, taking the victory over defending SWLS champion Brent Sexton and San Diegan Ryan Dumas. SWLS regular Dumas was in the coveted pole position for the 25-lap main event and had Greco alongside. Row two featured the top two from the second heat race, Sexton, and Dyer. Chiaramonte started on the inside of the third row and had teammate Bender starting to his right. Brent Horn of Alpine and Michnowicz made up the row three pairing. Like 24 hours earlier, Greco was the initial leader at the start with Dumas and Dyer right behind. Chiaramonte did not get a great start and was running seventh at the end of the first circuit. Dyer, in his familiar #4, elevated his position by one spot going into second before the first lap had concluded. Chiaramonte began to slice and dice his way through the pack on lap three. In a sensational move, he built up momentum going wide into turn three. By the time he exited four, he had blown by lightning sprint legends Michnowicz and Sexton and had moved up to fifth. A lap and a half later he dove to the bottom and slipped by Bender for fourth. It was quite apparent that he was the fastest car on the track, but he still had work to do. The leaders got into lapped traffic on lap five. About the same time, Chiaramonte picked up another spot when he got past pole-sitter Dumas for third. Soon thereafter, Dumas slowed and brought out the first yellow of the night. Just before that caution, Dyer had replaced Greco at the head of the pack. When racing resumed, Chiaramonte came calling on the lead duo and he meant business. The 16-year-old quickly deposited both and was into the lead. Dyer's impressive run ended up a few laps later when he retired to the pit area. A couple more yellows slowed the action but they did not slow Chiaramonte for long. When the green lights flashed back on he would simply run away from the competition and had a comfortable lead over Sexton when the checkered came out on lap 25. Michnowicz placed third and was followed over the line by Greco and very impressive SWLS rookie Brockman. Chino's Pat Kelly was the main event "Hard Charger" finishing 12th after starting 18th. The SWLS is off this Saturday but will be back in action on April 1st when it again teams with the CLS for round #3 of the "Best of the West" series at the Mohave Valley Raceway. Two weeks later the club will head to its first of four 2023 races at the largest track on the schedule, the half-mile at Perris Auto Speedway. The April 22nd race at Imperial has been canceled as the track will begin construction on a new front straightaway wall and a new catch fence. SWLS officials are looking at other tracks and dates for a replacement race. The POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series would like to thank Sexton Fire Protection, RTL Traffic Control & Equipment, Victory Graphix, BK Wing, and A.M. Ortega Construction Inc. If you or your company would like to become part of the series in 2023, please contact Brent Sexton at (619) 454-6945 or mailto:sextonfire@cox.net March 11, 2023 POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprints/California Lightning Sprint Car Results From The Imperial Valley Raceway Qualifying: 1. Braden Chiaramonte, 11.819, 2. Eric Greco, 12.251, 3. Bobby Michnowicz, 12.311, 4. Robby Brockman, 12.324, 5. AJ Bender, 12.496, six. Brent Sexton, 12.537, 7. Conner Speir, 12.566, 8. Ryan Dumas, 12.568, 9. Brent Horn, 12.739, 10. Jeff Dyer, 12.901, 11. Cody Griggs, 12.913, 12. Seth Dyer, 13.213, 13. Deejay Dumas, 13.268, 14. Parker Dumas, 13.751, 15. Jon Robertson, 13.985, 16. Kevin Bates, 14.166, 17. Pat Kelley, 14.490, 18. Landon Dalton, 14.742, 19. Mike Kotlinski, 14.809, George Wolf, No Time Heat 1: 1. AJ Bender, 2. Braden Chiaramonte, 3. Brent Horn, 4. Bobby Michnowicz, 5. Cody Griggs, 6. Connor Speir, 7. Jon Robertson, 8.Dejay Dumas, 9. Mike Kotlinski, 10. Pet Kelley Heat 2: 1. Jeff Dyer, 2. Brent Sexton, 3. Ryan Dumas, 4. Eric Greco, 5. Robbie Brockman, 6. Seth Dyer, 7. Parker Dumas, 8. Kevin Bates, 9. George Wolfe Main Event Laps (with starting positions) 1. Braden Chiaramonte, El Cajon, CA … 5th 2. Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA … 3rd 3. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA … 8th 4. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA … 2nd 5. Robbie Brockman, El Cajon, CA … 9th 6. Brent Horn, Alpine, CA … 7th 7. AJ Bender, San Diego, CA …6th 8. Connor Speier, Fillmore, CA … 12th 9. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA ,,, 11th 10. Seth Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA … 14th 11. Dejay Dumas, El Cajon, CA … 16th 12. Pat Kelley, Chino, CA … 18th 13. Cody Griggs, Lakeside, CA … 10th 14. Kevin Bates, San Diego, CA … 15th 15. George Wolf, Santee, CA … 19th 16. Mike Kotlinski, Nuevo, CA … 17th 17. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA … 4th 18. Ryan Dumas, San Diego, CA … 1st 19. Parker Dumas, San Diego, CA …13th 2023 POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series Point Standings 1. Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA … 292 2. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA … 287 3. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA … 283 4. Connor Speir, Fillmore, CA … 238 5. AJ Bender, San Diego, CA … 237 6. Robby Brockman, El Cajon, CA … 231 7. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA … 219 8. Kevin Bates, San Diego, CA … 218 9. Seth Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA … 214 10. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA … 210 2023 POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule and Results March 10 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged - AJ Bender March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged - Braden Chiaramonte April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway Winged April 15 Perris Auto Speedway Winged May 13 Barona Speedway Winged (TBD) May 20 Bakersfield Speedway Winged May 27 Perris Auto Speedway Winged (TBD) June 10 Colorado Nationals Winged (TBD) July 8 Barona Winged (TBD) Deming Speedway Clay Cup Winged (No Points) July 22 Ventura Raceway Winged August 5 Barona Speedway Wingless (TBD) August 19 Perris Auto Speedway Winged August 10-13 13th Minkota Nationals Winged (Non-Points) September 2 Barona Speedway Winged (TBD) September 23 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged October 14 Mohave Valley Raceway Winged October 20 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged October 21 Imperial Valley Raceway Wingless October 28 Barona Speedway Winged (TBA) November 11 Perris Auto Speedway Winged POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series Champions 2020 Chris Crowder 2021 Grant Sexton 2022 Brent Sexton This release was produced by Scott Daloisio (909) 226-7768 sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- BRADEN CHIARAMONTE GETS AN UNEXPECTED RIDE AND WINS BEST OF THE WEST SERIES RACE AT IMPERIAL
(Torrance, CA, March 18, 2023) Sixteen year old racer Braden Chiaramonte went to the Imperial Valley Raceway with plans to race his 360 sprint car in the Southern California Open Competition Non Wing Sprint Car race. After getting there, the rising star was offered a chance to drive one of Sexton Gatlin Racing's potent cars in the lightning sprint car portion of the show and he parlayed the opportunity into his first win of the 2023 season. 336181845_967476951296897_2351395383758508128_n.jpg Braden Chiaramonte after his lightning sprint win at Imperial Valley. The race, which was round #2 of the "Best of the West" series, was co-sanctioned by the POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Cars and the California Lightning Sprints. Scheduled to be the final race of the night, some competitors were hoping the El Cajon, California-based driver would be worn out from wheeling his 360 sprinter to a second place finish in the B main and a ninth in the 30-lap open comp main before starting the lightning finale. Chiaramonte quickly noticed that he was anything but tired. With an appreciative crowd looking on, the lightning sprints pulled onto the track for the final open wheel race at the annual California Mid-Winter Fair. For the second night in a row, young CLS star Eric Greco of Palmdale was on the outside of the front row. On the inside of the first pair was Ryan Dumas of San Diego. Row two featured the defending POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car champion Brent Sexton of Lakeside and long time CLS star Jeff Dyer of Yucca Valley. Chiaramonte was on the inside of row three with his teammate and Friday night main event victor AJ Bender of San Diego on the outside. Fellow San Diegan Brent Horn was on the inside of row four alongside five times CLS champion Bobby Michnowicz of Oak Hills. Like the first night, Greco steered his number 8G into the lead at the beginning. Dumas and Dyer were second and third. Before the opening lap concluded, Dyer, a California Highway Patrol officer by trade, had taken over the runner up spot. Chiaramonte raised the eyebrows of fans with a sensational outside move going into turn three on the third circuit. Running sixth at the time, he blew around Michnowicz and Dyer. By the time he rocketed off turn four, he was up to fourth. One lap later, the talented teen changed lines and went to the inside of the racetrack to pass Bender for third. By lap five the leaders had gotten into lapped traffic. The back markers proved to be no problem for the leaders. Not long thereafter, Dumas stopped on the track causing the first of three yellow flags in the main. For the restart, Dyer, who had just taken the lead, was at the point with Greco second, Chiaramonte third, Bender fourth and Sexton fifth. Chiaramonte did not stay in second for long. He got by Greco and Dyer and assumed the lead. Dyer's night came to a premature end when mechanical gremlins hit on lap 13. A couple more yellows slowed the action before the final restart. Sexton and Michnowicz took Greco for second and third on the last green flag of the race. However, by that time, Chiaramonte was pulling away. Chiaramonte took the checkered flag for his first win of 2023 with room to spare in a finish that saw the top five all spread out. Sexton placed second with Michnowicz third. Greco and impressive newcomer Robby Brockman of El Cajon rounded out the top five. Pat Kelley of Chino was the race "Hard Charger." The second generation driver started 18th and passed six cars on his way to a 12th place finish. Chiaramonte was the fastest of the 19 cars to time trial with a lap of 11.819. Greco turned in the second best time of the night at 12.251 with Michnowicz third at 12.311. Brockman, on only his second night of racing a lightning, was fourth at 12.324. Bender won the opening heat race of the night when he held off a late race charge by Chiaramonte. San Diego's Brent Horn was third. In the second heat, Dyer took the win over Sexton and Dumas. Next on the CLS schedule will be on April 1st at Arizona's Mohave Valley Raceway. On that night, the club will once again team with the POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Cars for round #3 of "The Best of the West Series." In addition, the USAC/CRA 410 Sprint Cars will also be in action. The following companies are marketing partners with the CLS in 2023. Hoosier Tires West, T-Shirts By Timeless, Extreme Mufflers, and RacingJunk.com. if you or your company would like to be a marketing partner with the CLS, please get in touch with Jon Robertson using the contact information at the top of this release. To keep up with the CLS online, please visit the website at http://racecls.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/californialightningsprints March 11, 2023 California Lightning Sprint Cars/POWRi Lightning Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series "Best of the West" Round 2 Results Qualifying: 1. Braden Chiaramonte, 11.819, 2. Eric Greco, 12.251, 3. Bobby Michnowicz, 12.311, 4. Robby Brockman, 12.324, 5. AJ Bender, 12.496, six. Brent Sexton, 12.537, 7. Conner Speir, 12.566, 8. Ryan Dumas, 12.568, 9. Brent Horn, 12.739, 10. Jeff Dyer, 12.901, 11. Cody Griggs, 12.913, 12. Seth Dyer, 13.213, 13. Deejay Dumas, 13.268, 14. Parker Dumas, 13.751, 15. Jon Robertson, 13.985, 16. Kevin Bates, 14.166, 17. Pat Kelley, 14.490, 18. Landon Dalton, 14.742, 19. Mike Kotlinski, 14.809, George Wolf, No Time Heat 1: 1. AJ Bender, 2. Braden Chiaramonte, 3. Brent Horn, 4. Bobby Michnowicz, 5. Cody Griggs, 6. Connor Speir, 7. Jon Robertson, 8.Dejay Dumas, 9. Mike Kotlinski, 10. Pet Kelley Heat 2: 1. Jeff Dyer, 2. Brent Sexton, 3. Ryan Dumas, 4. Eric Greco, 5. Robbie Brockman, 6. Seth Dyer, 7. Parker Dumas, 8. Kevin Bates, 9. George Wolfe Main Event Laps (with starting positions) 1. Braden Chiaramonte, El Cajon, CA … 5th 2. Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA … 3rd 3. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA … 8th 4. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA … 2nd 5. Robbie Brockman, El Cajon, CA … 9th 6. Brent Horn, Alpine, CA … 7th 7. AJ Bender, San Diego, CA …6th 8. Connor Speier, Fillmore, CA … 12th 9. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA ,,, 11th 10. Seth Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA … 14th 11. Dejay Dumas, El Cajon, CA … 16th 12. Pat Kelley, Chino, CA … 18th 13. Cody Griggs, Lakeside, CA … 10th 14. Kevin Bates, San Diego, CA … 15th 15. George Wolf, Santee, CA … 19th 16. Mike Kotlinski, Nuevo, CA … 17th 17. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA … 4th 18. Ryan Dumas, San Diego, CA … 1st 19. Parker Dumas, San Diego, CA …13th 2023 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Point Standings and Best of the West Standings 1. Bobby Michnowicz, Lomita, CA, CLS … 253 2. Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA, SWLS … 249 3. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA, CLS … 248 4. AJ Bender, San Diego, CA, … 227 5. Connor Speir, Fillmore, CA, CLS … 188 6. Robby Brockman, El Cajon, CA, SWLS … 161 7. Kevin Bates, San Diego, CA, SWLS … 158 7. Seth Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, CLS … 158 9. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, CLS … 154 10. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA, CLS … 147 2023 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule March 10 Imperial Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #1 AJ Bender March 11 Imperial Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #2 Braden Chiaramonte March 18 Bakersfield Speedway CLS With USAC Western Midgets Rained Out April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #3 With USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 8 Bakersfield Speedway CLS With USAC 360 Sprint Cars May 13 Ventura Raceway CLS With USAC 360 Sprint Cars May 20 Bakersfield Speedway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #4 June 3 Bakersfield Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series Round" #1 With USAC 360 Sprint Cars June 17 Ventura Raceway CLS With USAC 360 Sprint Cars Wagsdash July 8 Ventura Raceway CLS July 22 Ventura Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #5 August 19 Ocean Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series" Round #2, Johnny Key Classic September 9 Bakersfield Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series" Round #3 September 23 Ventura Raceway CLS October 7 Merced Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series" Round #4, Wayne Albright Memorial Non Wing October 14 Mohave Valley Speedway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #6 With USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 28 Ventura Raceway CLS November 14 Bakersfield Speedway CLS With USAC National Midgets November 16 Placerville Speedway "Hangtown 100" No Points Non Wing November 17 Placerville Speedway "Hangtown 100" No Points Non Wing November 18 Placerville Speedway "Hangtown 100" No Points Non Wing 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 This press release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- BRODY ROA READIES FOR SATURDAY'S SOKOLA SHOOTOUT AT PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY
(Cypress, CA, March 16, 2023) One week after racing with teammate Tommy Dunkel at the Imperial Valley Raceway, Brody Roa is preparing for one of the longest-running sprint car races in Southern California, the 20th annual "Sokola Shootout" at Perris Auto Speedway. The race is this Saturday night, March 18th, and Roa comes into it as the point leader in the 2023 USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series championship standings. In his first two times driving an Inland Rigging-owned car, Roa scored the wins in the first two races of the 2023 USAC/CRA schedule at Brad Whitfield's Cocopah Speedway in January. He carries a 14-point lead in the championship standings heading into Saturday's race on the famous Riverside County half-mile clay oval that is located 77 miles east of Los Angeles. In addition to winning both of the Cocopah mains, he also captured one of his two heat races on the weekend in his new DRC chassis. At last year's "Sokola Shootout" Roa scored a dominating win in his 10-lap heat race. For the 30-lap main event, he started seventh and finished sixth. Last week's races at Imperial, which were run during the California Mid-Winter Fair, drew a strong field of cars and fine crowds. The successful event was a rebirth of what used to be an annual tradition that carried on for decades when the original CRA raced during the fair. For Roa, it was his first race at The PAS. Dunkel, who lives in Murrieta, appeared on the fairgrounds track and finished seventh there last October. The race was an open comp show. Meaning there were both 360s and 410s competing together. Dunkel was in his brand new DRC and Roa was driving a Maxim. Both were powered by Shaver 360s. "It was the first time out in the new DRC chassis," Dunkel said of his car at Imperial. "Between the new chassis and Brett & Brody Roa helping with setup and driving advice, it helped tremendously. We were able to post some decent times and hold our own out there. I ended up getting into it with a slower car (during Friday practice) and ended up getting upside down. The car did not get hurt too bad. Just some radius rods, a nerf bar, wheel, and tire. I got banged up a little bit and had some sore ribs." The big night at Imperial was Saturday. In front of an enthusiastic crowd, the sprint cars were competing for the winner's $5000.00 paycheck. The first order of business on the night was heat races. The top five finishers from each heat moved straight into the main event. As luck would have it, Dunkel and Roa were matched up in the same heat. Dunkel managed to hold off the sixth-place driver to earn the final transfer spot into the A main. The driver he held off was Roa. While Dunkel was locked into the A main, Roa had to go to the B to earn his ticket for a shot at the winner's loot. He performed flawlessly in the B and won the race. For the main, Roa had to start 16th, on the outside of row #8. That was directly behind new teammate Dunkel who was coming from 14th. Despite the fact that he was competing against some stout 410s, Roa was on a mission. The 2019 USAC Southwest Sprint Car Series champion was weaving his way through the field. With 10 laps remaining, the Garden Grove, California veteran was all the way up to fifth and was pressing the drivers in third and fourth. However, disaster struck when one of the cars ahead of Roa and a lapper got together. Roa could not avoid the tangle and ended up done for the night with a junked racecar. He ended up 17th. After Roa's incident, Dunkel was left to fly the Inland Rigging flag by himself. He had advanced all the way to ninth when trouble set in and he ended up 16th. "I was in the ninth spot with three to go and I had a steering gear failure," Dunkel lamented. "Both of our nights ended kind of poorly. For myself, I was really happy with the weekend. We tore some stuff up but in the end, I am really happy with the DRC. I had a blast out there racing with those guys. They are going to have another show there in October and we'll come back. We will come out swinging and hopefully, we will have some better results to show." Roa returns to action at Perris Auto Speedway on Saturday and will be at Kings Speedway in Hanford next Friday. He will then journey to Arizona's Mohave Valley on April 1st. That night it will be a two-car effort for Inland Rigging as Dunkel will make his USAC/CRA debut. Spectator gates at Perris Auto Speedway will open at 5 PM on Saturday and the first race will be at 7:00. The track is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds at 18700 Lake Perris Drive in the city of Perris (92571). Advance tickets are available 24 hours a day at https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/pas/7. The track website is www.perrisautospeedway.com and the office phone number is (951) 940-0134. As always, Roa would be more than happy to jump in a race car on his weekends off from the #17R. His entire schedule is printed below. If anybody wishes to contact him about open dates, they can do so at 714-932-7994 or mailto:brodyroa91@gmail.com The team wants to thank the following sponsors for making the 2023 season possible. Inland Rigging, Dunkel Farms, United Asset Sales, Osborne Speed & Machine, Sander Engineering, "Biker" Bruce Fischer, ALR Virtual Services, Burris Racing, Caltrol, Competition Suspension, K-1 Race Gear, Molecule, Rod End Supply, Driven Racing Oil, Baldwin Filters, and NGK Spark Plugs. Brody Roa's 2023 Schedule and Race Results January 27 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main January 28 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main February 25 ern County Raceway Park USAC West Coast Sprint Cars Rained Out March 3 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 4 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp 17th A Main March 18 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars March 24 Keller Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars March 25 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 22 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 29 Kern County Raceway Park USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 6 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 20 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 27 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 10 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 24 Bakersfield Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 1 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 12 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 19 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 26 TBA USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 9 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 23 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 14 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 20 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp October 21 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp November 3 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 4 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 11 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Tom Dunkel's 2023 Racing Results January 12 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals 12th C Main March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp 16th A Main April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA @inlandrigging, @dunkelfarms @roygamityanauctioneer @burris_racing_usa @mikeburrisoc @csishocks @sander_engineering @sanderjenna @theoriginalloosebruce @alrvirtualservices @k1racegear @moleculesports @rodendsupply @baldwinfilters @ngkracing @originalngksparkplugs @usacnation @usac_cra @perrisautospeedway @b_roa91 @tai_xoxo_roa @zacboz35 @joegibb83, @caltrolinc @narc410 @drivenracingoil This release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- MATT McCARTHY AND LOGAN WILLIAMS MAKE THEIR SEASON DEBUTS SATURDAY AT PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY
(Ontario, CA, March 16, 2023) The familiar faces of Matt McCarthy and Logan Williams will make their 2023 season debut this Saturday, March 18th, at Perris Auto Speedway in the 20th annual "Sokola Shootout" for the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars. Spectator gates will open at 5:00 p.m. with racing at 7:00. PAS 3-26-22=28m 5w=1085-3.jpg Matt McCarthy #28 and Logan Williams #5 will make their 2023 debuts Saturday at Perris. Doug Allen Photo. Competing at the track that is located closest to the team's Ontario, California race shop, McCarthy and Williams have hundreds of laps on the famous Riverside, County half-mile clay oval. Last season McCarthy, who lives in nearby Riverside, California, started five main events at Perris. He had two top-10 finishes including a season-best 7th on March 26th. Yorba Linda, California's Williams started four main events on the track that is located at the base of the Lake Perris Dam. He had two top-10 finishes with a season-best fifth-place result on June 26th. Away from Perris, Williams's best finish of the season in the series was a fourth and he accomplished that twice. The first took place at the Bakersfield Speedway on May 14th. The second occurred at the grand re-opening of the Santa Maria Raceway on August 6th. For McCarthy, the seventh-place finish at The PAS in March was also his best result of the year in the series. After the season openers at Cocopah, the series was supposed to be in action two weeks ago at the Central Arizona Speedway. However, that race was wiped out by heavy rain. Thus, McCarthy and Williams will have only missed two races and will be able to climb in the series point standings. Last year Williams ended up ninth in the championship standings and McCarthy was one spot behind him in 10th. The son of National Sprint Car Hall of Famer Rip Williams, 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of Williams' championship in the inaugural Perris Auto Speedway Young Gun Sprint Car Series. One year later he was named USAC/CRA "Rookie of the Year." Three years after that, McCarthy was the club's "Rookie of the Year" in 2017." Each driver will be using a DRC chassis with FK Shocks in 2023. McCarthy will be using a Kistler engine and Williams will be running a Shaver power plant. Despite the fact that the Perris track was pounded by heavy rains overnight on Tuesday, racing will still take place this Saturday. When officials first looked at the drenched facility on Wednesday morning, they questioned if they could get the track in shape and be ready to go. However, on Thursday morning promoter Don Kazarian announced that the facility will be ready for action. For those who wish to see McCarthy and Williams in action this week, advance tickets are available at the following link https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/pas/7or by calling 1-800-595-4849. If you do not wish to buy tickets in advance, there will be plenty available for everyone at the ticket window on race night. Perris Auto Speedway is located on the freeway close Lake Perris Fairgrounds at 18700 lake Perris Drive in the city of Perris. The track website is www.perrisautospeedway.com and the office phone number is (951) 940-0134. Be sure to visit the pits and meet both friendly Flowdynamics drivers after the races this weekend and pick up one of their fine-looking team shirts. If you or your company would like to be a part of one of the West Coast's most prominent sprint car teams for the upcoming season, please contact John McCarthy at 909 930-5522 or mailto:john@flodyinc.com McCarthy and Williams would like to thank the following sponsors for making the 2023 season possible. Flowdynamics Inc., PurgePlugs.com, , Cal Therm Mechanical Insulators, JFK Design Build, So Cal Racing Fuel and Full Throttle Lift. Matt McCarthy 2022 Results 1/27/22 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA 22nd A Main 1/28/22 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA 15th A Main 1/29/22 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA 14th A Main 3/26/22 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA 7th A Main 4/1/22 Keller Auto Speedway USAC/CRA 15th A Main 4/2/22 Tulare Thunderbowl USAC/CRA 18th A Main 4/23/22 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA 10th A Main 4/30/22 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA DNS 5/14/22 Bakersfield Speedway USAC/CRA 16th A Main 5/28/22 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA 15th A Main 6/11/22 Ventura Raceway USAC/CRA 16th A Main 6/25/22 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA 8th A Main 8/6/22 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA 18th A Main 8-20-22 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA 13th A Main 9-17-22 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA 12th A Main 10-8-22 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA 10th A Main 10-28-22 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA & National 14th B Main 10-29-22 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA & National 21st B Main Logan Williams 2022 Results 1/27/22 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA 6th A Main 1/28/22 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA 7th A Main 1/29/22 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA 7th A Main 3/26/22 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA 11th A Main 4/1/22 Keller Auto Speedway USAC/CRA 11th A Main 4/2/22 Tulare Thunderbowl USAC/CRA 12th A Main 4/23/22 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA 22nd A Main 4/30/22 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA 11th A Main 5/14/22 Bakersfield Speedway USAC/CRA 4th A Main 5/28/22 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA 6th A Main 6/11/22 Ventura Raceway USAC/CRA 10th A Main 6/25/22 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA 5th A Main 8/6/22 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA 4th A Main 8-20-22 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA DNS 9-17-22 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA DNS 10-8-22 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA 16th A Main 10-28-22 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA & National 21st A Main 10-29-22 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA & National 23rd A Main This release was produced by Scott Daloisio. Contact is available at (909) 226-7768 or via email at mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com.
- SATURDAY'S CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR RACE AT THE BAKERSFIELD CANCELED DUE TO SATURATED CONDITIONS
(Torrance, CA, March 16, 2023) Due to saturated conditions from recent storms, this Saturday's California Lightning Sprint Car Series race at the Bakersfield Speedway has been canceled. The CLS race will not be rescheduled. "Keeping fans, teams, and the safety of everyone in mind, we are forced to cancel this Saturday night's event on March 18th," Bakersfield Speedway management said in a release on Wednesday afternoon. "For the second week in a row, the tremendous amount of rain we have received has created extremely saturated conditions on the track, in the entire pit area, and the walkways in the spectator areas. With a lot of race teams traveling long distances to the Speedway for this event, we felt it was appropriate to make this decision now." 335124469_599503151738495_7419254512788102107_n.jpg335397844_159770990264614_5005873997477355241_n.jpg The Bakersfield Speedway posted these pictures of the track on Facebook on Wednesday. "I've, looked at the schedule and we don't really have a place to add a makeup show," CLS President Jon Robertson said on Thursday morning. "We'll just have to write it off as a lost event." The cancelation means the next event on the CLS schedule will be on April 1st at Arizona's Mohave Valley Raceway. On that night, the CLS will once again team with the POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Cars for round #3 of "The Best of the West Series." In addition, the USAC/CRA 410 Sprint Cars will also be in action. The following companies are marketing partners with the CLS in 2023. Hoosier Tires West, T-Shirts By Timeless, Extreme Mufflers, and RacingJunk.com. if you or your company would like to be a marketing partner with the CLS, please get in touch with Jon Robertson using the contact information at the top of this release. To keep up with the CLS online, please visit the website at http://racecls.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/californialightningsprints 2023 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Point Standings 1. Bobby Michnowicz, Lomita, CA … 253 2. Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA … 249 3. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA … 248 4. AJ Bender, San Diego, CA … 227 5. Connor Speir, Fillmore, CA … 188 6. Robby Brockman, El Cajon, CA … 161 7. Kevin Bates, San Diego, CA … 158 7. Seth Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA … 158 9. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA … 154 10. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA … 147 2023 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule March 10 Imperial Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #1 AJ Bender March 11 Imperial Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #2 Braden Chiaramonte March 18 Bakersfield Speedway CLS With USAC Western Midgets Rained Out April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #3 With USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 8 Bakersfield Speedway CLS With USAC 360 Sprint Cars May 13 Ventura Raceway CLS With USAC 360 Sprint Cars May 20 Bakersfield Speedway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #4 June 3 Bakersfield Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series Round" #1 With USAC 360 Sprint Cars June 17 Ventura Raceway CLS With USAC 360 Sprint Cars Wagsdash July 8 Ventura Raceway CLS July 22 Ventura Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #5 August 19 Ocean Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series" Round #2, Johnny Key Classic September 9 Bakersfield Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series" Round #3 September 23 Ventura Raceway CLS October 7 Merced Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series" Round #4, Wayne Albright Memorial Non Wing October 14 Mohave Valley Speedway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #6 With USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 28 Ventura Raceway CLS November 14 Bakersfield Speedway CLS With USAC National Midgets November 16 Placerville Speedway "Hangtown 100" No Points Non Wing November 17 Placerville Speedway "Hangtown 100" No Points Non Wing November 18 Placerville Speedway "Hangtown 100" No Points Non Wing 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 This press release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- AJ BENDER WINS CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR SERIES 2023 OPENER
(Torrance, CA, March 13, 2023) Make no mistake about it, the hottest driver in the California Lightning Sprint Car Series coming into last weekend was AJ Bender. In the final three CLS races of 2022, the San Diego driver scored two wins and had one second-place finish. Last Friday night at the Imperial Valley Raceway, he extended his hot streak by winning the first round of the six-race "Best of the West Series" that is co-sanctioned by the CLS and the POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Cars. When the 25-lap main event rolled onto the track, not many in the crowd would have given Bender a shot at winning the race. After all, he was starting on the outside of row six and had some very heavy hitters from each of the sanctioning clubs starting in front of him. Palmdale's Eric Greco was on the pole with San Diego's Kevin Bates alongside. Row two featured "Rockstar" Jon Robertson of Torrance and defending SWLS champion Brent Sexton of Lakeside. The third row was made up of Sexton's oldest son Dalton and Jeff Dyer of Yucca Valley. Dyer's 16-year-old son, Seth, and fast qualifier Dexter Dvergsten of Greenbush, Minnesota started in row four. Greco, who ended up second in CLS points in 2022, shot into the lead at the drop of the green flag with Bates and Robertson in hot pursuit. The first of three red flags halted the action on lap four when contact with another car saw Robertson rollover. The veteran driver walked away from the scene of the crash but his car needed some TLC and he was done for the night. Greco was at the point when the race restarted. Bates was still in second with Dyer, and Brent Sexton third, and fourth respectively. Bender had already moved up seven spots and was up to fifth. Dyer quickly elevated his position to second on the restart when he passed Bates. Simultaneously, Bender relegated his Sexton Gatlin Racing teammate Brent Sexton back to fifth. Bender then continued his rampage to the front when he dogged and passed Bates for third. Once again, the race festivities were brought to a stop by a red flag on lap seven. El Cajon's Robby Brackman, who was contesting his first lightning race, Seth Dyer, and San Diego's DJ Dumas got together in turn two. Brockman and Dyer flipped. Fortunately, all three were able to walk away but their cars were done for the night. At the same time as that tangle, Jeff Dyer, who was still in second, spun in turn four and had to go to the back for the restart. The next restart still had Greco at the point with Bender up to second, and Bates in third. Five-time CLS champion Bobby Michnowicz of Oak Hills was up to fourth after starting 15th. Brent Sexton was fifth. Bender, who is a rising star in the USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series, got a great restart and stole the lead from Greco going into turn one. At about the same time, Michnowicz continued with his impressive run when he took third from Bates. Like Michnowicz, San Diego's Ryan Dumas was coming through the pack. He started 16th and was up to fourth on lap 10. The top five positions remained the same until lap 14 when Ramona's Landon Dalton got upside down coming out of two forcing the starter to throw what turned out to be the final red flag of the race. Dalton was not injured and his car was not heavily damaged. He rejoined the field at the back of the pack. The race restarted for the final time with 12 laps to go. Bender was at the point. Greco was second with Michnowicz, Ryan Dumas, and Brent Sexton third, fourth, and fifth. While Bender got off to a good restart, Greco did not and was immediately passed by Michnowicz and Sexton. Michnowicz, who was second in CLS wins in 2022 with five, quickly caught Bender, who was third in wins with four. Bender and Michnowicz pulled away from the rest of the pack and it looked like it was going to be a showdown between the two stars until Bender began to inch away. He turned those inches to nearly a full straightaway lead at the finish. Michnowicz finished with a hard-earned second. Greco was third with Brent Sexton fourth and Ryan fifth. Michnowicz' advancement from 15th to second made him the CLS Hard Charger for the race. Prior to The main event, Brent Sexton and Jeff Dyer won the two heat races. Bates and Greco chased Sexton home in the first one with "Rockstar" Jon Robertson and Dalton Sexton finishing second and third to Dyer in heat race two. The following companies are marketing partners with the CLS in 2023. Hoosier Tires West, T-Shirts By Timeless, Extreme Mufflers, and RacingJunk.com. if you or your company would like to be a marketing partner with the CLS, please get in touch with Jon Robertson using the contact information at the top of this release. To keep up with the CLS online, please visit the website at http://racecls.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/californialightningsprints' March 10, 2023 POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprints/California Lightning Sprint Car Results From The Imperial Valley Raceway Qualifying: 1. Dexter Dvergsten, 12.286; 2. Bobby Michnowicz, 12.442; 3. Eric Greco, 12.485; 4. Jeff Dyer, 12.769; 5. Aiden Lange, 12.870; 6. Seth Dyer, 12.834; 7. Landon Dalton, 13.191; 8. Brent Sexton, 13.195; 9. Jon Robertson, 13.256; 10. Kevin Bates, 13.375; 11. Cody Griggs, 13.417; 12. A.J. Bender, 13.675; 13. C.J. Marin, 13.675; 14. Connor Speir, 14,009; 15. Pat Kelley, 14.494; 16. Robby Brockman, 14.699; 17. Mike Kotlinski, 14.716, 18. George Wolf, 19.985; Dalton Sexton, No Time Heat #1: 1. Brent Sexton, 2. Kevin Bates, 3. Eric Greco, 4. Dexter Dvergsten, 5. Seth Dyer, 6. Connor Speir, 7. Robby Brockman, 8. AJ Bender, 9. George Wolf Heat #2: 1. Jeff Dyer, 2. Jon Robertson, 3. Dalton Sexton, 4. Landon Dalton, 5. C.J. Marin, 6. Pat Kelley, 7. Mike Kotlinski, 8. Cody Griggs, 9. Bobby Michnowicz Imperial Valley Raceway Main Event (with starting positions) 1. A.J. Bender, San Diego, CA - 12th 2. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA - 15th 3. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA - 1st 4. Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA - 4th 5. Ryan Dumas, San Diego - 16th 6. Dexter Dvergsten, Greebush, MN - 8th 7. Connor Speir, Fillmore, CA - 11th 8. Kevin Bates, San Diego, CA - 2nd 9. Landon Dalton, Ramona, CA - 14th 10. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA - 6th 11. Pat Kelley, Chino, CA - 9th 12. Seth Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA - 7th 13. Robby Brockman, El Cajon, CA - 17th 14. Dalton Sexton, Lakeside, CA - 5th 15. Deejay Dumas, El Cajon, CA - 18th 16. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA - 3rd 17. C.J. Marin, Imperial Beach, CA - 10th 18. Parker Dumas, San Diego, CA - 19th 19. Cody Griggs, Lakeside, CA - 13th DNS Mike Kotlinski, Nuevo, CA DNS George Wolf - Santee, CA 2023 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule March 10 Imperial Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #1 AJ Bender March 11 Imperial Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #2 Braden Chiaramonte March 18 Bakersfield Speedway CLS With USAC Western Midgets April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #3 With USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 8 Bakersfield Speedway CLS With USAC 360 Sprint Cars May 13 Ventura Raceway CLS With USAC 360 Sprint Cars May 20 Bakersfield Speedway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #4 June 3 Bakersfield Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series Round" #1 With USAC 360 Sprint Cars June 17 Ventura Raceway CLS With USAC 360 Sprint Cars Wagsdash July 8 Ventura Raceway CLS July 22 Ventura Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #5 August 19 Ocean Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series" Round #2, Johnny Key Classic September 9 Bakersfield Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series" Round #3 September 23 Ventura Raceway CLS October 7 Merced Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series" Round #4, Wayne Albright Memorial Non Wing October 14 Mohave Valley Speedway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #6 With USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 28 Ventura Raceway CLS November 14 Bakersfield Speedway CLS With USAC National Midgets November 16 Placerville Speedway "Hangtown 100" No Points Non Wing November 17 Placerville Speedway "Hangtown 100" No Points Non Wing November 18 Placerville Speedway "Hangtown 100" No Points Non Wing 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 This press release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- AJ BENDER WINS POWRi SOUTHWEST LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR SEASON OPENER AT IMPERIAL
(Lakeside, CA, March 13, 2023) Rising USAC/CRA Sprint Car star AJ Bender kicked off the fourth season of the POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series with a hard-fought win in the main event last Friday night at the Imperial Valley Raceway. The race was round #1 of the six-race "Best of the West Series" and was co-sanctioned by the California Lightning Sprint Cars. 333084168_1044213086543745_4472624565541891086_n.jpg Winner AJ Bender, center, with 2nd place finisher Bobby Michnowicz on the right and 3rd place finisher Eric Greco on the left. Kim Arringdale-Unipan photo. The co-sanctioned event pulled in a strong field of 19 cars during the California Mid-Winter Fair. Escaping the harsh winter weather of the upper Midwest for an 80-degree day suited Dexter Dvergsten as the Greenbush, Minnesota racer turned the quickest lap of the 19 cars in qualifying when he stopped the clocks at 12.286. The second fastest driver was legendary Bobby Michnowicz of Oak Hills, California. The five-time California Lightning Sprint Car Series champion clocked in with a time of 12.442. Palmdale's Eric Greco had a time of 12.485, which was the third-best of the session. A pair of heat races proceeded the first main event of the 2023 campaign. Lakeside veteran Brent Sexton, the defending POWRi Southwest Series champion captured the first heat by beating San Diego's Kevin Bates and Greco to the checkers. A few moments later, Yucca Valley's Jeff Dyer, who was also competing in the Southern California Non-Wing Sprint Car Open Competition side of the show, won the second heat. "Rockstar" Jon Robertson of Torrance ended up second. Brent Sexton's oldest son, Dalton Sexton, who finished second to his father in the SWLS championship standings last year, finished third. When the main event rolled onto the racetrack, Greco was on the inside of the front row with Bates alongside. Row two was made up of Robertson and Brent Sexton. The third row featured Dalton Sexton and Dyer. Sixteen-year-old Seth Dyer, who is running for the SWLS Rookie of the Year award in 2023, and MinKota Series regular Dvergsten were in row four. Bender began the main in the second half of the starting field in sixth. When the green flag signaled the start of the first main event of the year, Greco, driving the beautiful #8G, burst into the lead. Bates and Robertson gave the initial chase. Going into turn number one on the opener, Brent Sexton bubbled and went wide. A great save by the wily veteran only saw him lose one spot. The first of three red flags in the 25 Lapper flew when contact with another car saw Robertson turn over coming off the fourth corner on the fourth circuit. The veteran racer climbed out of his number 42 car uninjured, but the car was done for the night. When the race restarted, Greco was in the lead and was followed by Bates, Jeff Dyer, Brent Sexton, and Bender. Moments after the restart, Dyer relegated Bates back to third on the back straightaway. At the same time, Bender shot by Brent Sexton for fourth. By the seventh lap, Dyer was inching closer to Greco while Bender was launching an all-out assault on Bates for the third position. However, the proceedings came to a screeching halt again on lap eight. With a car that was "way too tight," Jeff Dyer spun coming out of turn four. At the same time on the other end of the track, a three-car tangle saw Seth Dyer, and the El Cajon duo of Dejay Dumas and Robby Brockman mix it up. Dyer and Brockman got upside down. Fortunately, all three walked away but like Robertson earlier, they were done for the night. The lineup for the restart had race-long leader Greco still out front with Bender second. Bates was third with Michnowicz, who was forced to start 15th after getting clobbered in his heat race, fourth. Brent Sexton rounded out the top five. This time when the green light flashed back on, things changed. Bender dove to the inside in turn one and took the top spot away. Soon thereafter, Michnowicz continued his forward progress when he flew by Bates for third. Another driver, San Diego's Ryan Dumas, was making an impressive charge from 16th and was up to fifth. The race was finally able to string some laps together before another red on lap 14 for a Landon Dalton flip on the back chute stopped the proceedings again. Like the others before him, the Ramona, California driver escaped unscathed. However, unlike the others, his car was able to continue and he rejoined at the back of the pack. The final restart of the night had Bender in the top spot with early leader Greco second. Michnowicz was in third with Dumas, the only newcomer to the top five in fourth. Brent Sexton was fifth. When the action restarted, Bender streaked away. Greco did not get a good restart and was passed by Michnowicz and Brent Sexton. Michnowicz quickly reeled in Bender and they pulled away from a third-place war that was heating up between Sexton and Greco. Michnowicz remained close to Bender until the waning laps when the leader pulled away for a season-starting full straightaway win. Michnowicz stayed in second with Greco crossing the line in third. Brent Sexton and Ryan Dumas rounded out the top five. Ryan Dumas was the SWLS Hard Charger. The POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series would like to thank Sexton Fire Protection, RTL Traffic Control & Equipment, Victory Graphix, BK Wing, and A.M. Ortega Construction Inc. If you or your company would like to become part of the series in 2023, please contact Brent Sexton at (619) 454-6945 or mailto:sextonfire@cox.net March 10, 2023 POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprints/California Lightning Sprint Car Results From The Imperial Valley Raceway Qualifying: 1. Dexter Dvergsten, 12.286; 2. Bobby Michnowicz, 12.442; 3. Eric Greco, 12.485; 4. Jeff Dyer, 12.769; 5. Aiden Lange, 12.870; 6. Seth Dyer, 12.834; 7. Landon Dalton, 13.191; 8. Brent Sexton, 13.195; 9. Jon Robertson, 13.256; 10. Kevin Bates, 13.375; 11. Cody Griggs, 13.417; 12. A.J. Bender, 13.675; 13. C.J. Marin, 13.675; 14. Connor Speir, 14,009; 15. Pat Kelley, 14.494; 16. Robby Brockman, 14.699; 17. Mike Kotlinski, 14.716, 18. George Wolf, 19.985; Dalton Sexton, No Time Heat #1: 1. Brent Sexton, 2. Kevin Bates, 3. Eric Greco, 4. Dexter Dvergsten, 5. Seth Dyer, 6. Connor Speir, 7. Robby Brockman, 8. AJ Bender, 9. George Wolf Heat #2: 1. Jeff Dyer, 2. Jon Robertson, 3. Dalton Sexton, 4. Landon Dalton, 5. C.J. Marin, 6. Pat Kelley, 7. Mike Kotlinski, 8. Cody Griggs, 9. Bobby Michnowicz Imperial Valley Raceway Main Event (with starting positions) 1. A.J. Bender, San Diego, CA - 12th 2. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA - 15th 3. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA - 1st 4. Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA - 4th 5. Ryan Dumas, San Diego - 16th 6. Dexter Dvergsten, Greenbush, MN - 8th 7. Connor Speir, Fillmore, CA - 11th 8. Kevin Bates, San Diego, CA - 2nd 9. Landon Dalton, Ramona, CA - 14th 10. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA - 6th 11. Pat Kelley, Chino, CA - 9th 12. Seth Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA - 7th 13. Robby Brockman, El Cajon, CA - 17th 14. Dalton Sexton, Lakeside, CA - 5th 15. Deejay Dumas, El Cajon, CA - 18th 16. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA - 3rd 17. C.J. Marin, Imperial Beach, CA - 10th 18. Parker Dumas, San Diego, CA - 19th 19. Cody Griggs, Lakeside, CA - 13th DNS Mike Kotlinski, Nuevo, CA DNS George Wolf - Santee, CA 2023 POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule and Results March 10 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged - AJ Bender March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged - Braden Chiaramonte April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway Winged April 15 Perris Auto Speedway Winged April 22 Imperial Valley Raceway Wingless May 13 Barona Speedway Winged (TBD) May 20 Bakersfield Speedway Winged May 27 Perris Auto Speedway Winged (TBD) June 10 Colorado Nationals Winged (TBD) July 8 Barona Winged (TBD) Deming Speedway Clay Cup Winged (No Points) July 22 Ventura Raceway Winged August 5 Barona Speedway Wingless (TBD) August 19 Perris Auto Speedway Winged August 10-13 13th Minkota Nationals Winged (Non-Points) September 2 Barona Speedway Winged (TBD) September 23 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged October 14 Mohave Valley Raceway Winged October 20 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged October 21 Imperial Valley Raceway Wingless October 28 Barona Speedway Winged (TBA) November 11 Perris Auto Speedway Winged POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series Champions 2020 Chris Crowder 2021 Grant Sexton 2022 Brent Sexton This release was produced by Scott Daloisio (909) 226-7768 sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- BAKERSFIELD USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET EVENT IS RAINED OUT
Constant rains, wet grounds, and more showers in the forecast at Bakersfield Speedway have forced officials to cancel Saturday's USAC Western States Midget "season opener."
- USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGETS BATTLE AT BAKERSFIELD SATURDAY
The USAC Western States "Mighty Midgets" will open their season this Saturday, March 18th at Bakersfield Speedway. Promoted by Scott Schweitzer, the only series visit at the historic 1/3-mile oval will also feature Hobby Stocks, American Stocks, California Lightning Sprints, and Mod Lites.
- DYER MOTORSPORTS PLANS ON BEING EXTRA BUSY THROUGHOUT 2023
(Yucca Valley, CA, March 10, 2023) Holding down a full-time job as a California Highway Patrol officer and maintaining a racecar occupies a lot of Jeff Dyer's time. So, what is he doing for 2023? He will continue to patrol the highways and protect citizens from speeders and drunk drivers, but instead of one race car, he will be maintaining three this season. For Dyer, who lives in Yucca Valley, California, extra racecars have been a way of life the last few years. After launching his career with the California Lightning Sprint Car Series over a decade ago, Dyer also started competing in 410 sprint cars on a part-time basis. He added to that load when his son Seth started competing in speedway sprints. Last year the now 16-year-old moved up full-time to join his dad in lightning sprints. Dyer got a break from the extra work on racecars in a sort of bad way last year. He lost two engines in the 410 early in the season and parked that car for the remainder of the campaign. That left him with just the lightning sprints to take care of over the second half of 2022. That has changed again and being a glutton for punishment, he has another engine for the 410 so it is back to three cars. To add to the chaos, father and son will be competing in three different racing series and may on some occasions be racing at two different tracks on the same night. This weekend Jeff was racing the 410 in the Southern California Non Wing Open Comp races at the Imperial Valley Raceway, and the first two rounds of the "CLS/SWLS Best of the West" lightning sprint six race series. Seth, who was joining Jeff in the lightning sprints this week, will focus on the Rookie of the Year award in the POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Series where Jeff will join him when the opportunity arises. They will also compete in as many California Lightning Sprint Car Series races as the schedule allows. "I am not quite sure how I am going to handle it yet," Dyer laughed last Tuesday when asked about maintaining three cars. "The main focus is going to be on Seth this year. I am going to try to step back a little bit. My plan is to race the "King of the West Series" that the Southwest and CLS have going on. I am probably going to run a couple of lightning sprint races at Perris, and maybe some sporadic races at Ventura and Bakersfield. We will run the 410 sprint car mostly at Perris and will travel a little bit with it." "I am hoping that he qualifies a little bit better," Dyer said when discussing what he hoped for Seth. "I also want him to have more consistent finishes and kind of run more upfront. He definitely has the equipment to do it and I think the talent. He just has to be more confident in himself to get it done." Dyer was off to a good start in the 410 in 2022 before he lost the two engines. The season started off rough in 2023 when he damaged one in practice, but he recently purchased an engine from fellow USAC/CRA competitor Cody Williams. That means he will eventually have three engines at his disposal. "We got our engine back from the engine builder and we went out to Perris to shake the car down along with my lightning sprint," Dyer lamented. "The sprint car engine went three laps and then we had a motor problem. It broke a valve; We were kind of screwed but then we had a sponsor step up and we bought an engine from Cody Williams. So, it kind of all worked out. The engine is an All Pro 410." "We had a really good car there last year and we have always been pretty fast there," Dyer said about the Imperial Valley track. "Last year we won with the wing on pretty convincingly. We have a fresh engine in the lightning sprint and it is probably the best engine we have had." "After Saturday, we will be off until April 1st when we take all three cars to Mohave," he continued. "It is the third race for that six-race series they (CLS and SWLS), have going on. It will also be my debut in the USAC/CRA Series for this year. I will not be at Perris on March 18th as it is my 40th birthday and my wife is taking me to the Atlanta NASCAR race." Jeff will race in memory of his grandparents, Glenn and Beverly Sels, throughout the 2023 season. Jeff would like to thank the following for making the 2023 racing campaign possible in the #4 Lightning Sprint Car. Dependable Machine Inc., Haircuts By Susie, Jobu Racing, LBA Investigations, and Dyer Motorsports. For the USAC/CRA #39 sprint car, Straight Time Stirrups, Dependable Machines Inc., Hair Cuts By Susie, Jobu Racing, Justice Brothers, and Specialty Fasteners helped put him on the track. If you would like to be a part of Dyer Motorsports in 2023, call (760) 267-0298 or send an email to mailto:dyermotorsports4@gmail.com. Jeff Dyer 2022 Results 3-5 Imperial Valley Raceway POWRi Southwest 13th A Main 3-25 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprints 4th A Main 3-26 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA 13th A Main 4-1 Keller Auto Speedway USAC/CRA 14th A Main 4-2 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA 23rd A Main 4-16 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprints 3rd A Main 4-23 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 14th B Main 4-30 Ventura Raceway California Lightning Sprints 2nd A Main 1 4-30 Ventura Raceway California Lightning Sprints 2nd A Main 2 5-14 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprints 2nd A Main 5-14 Bakersfield Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 14th A Main 5-21 Ventura Raceway California Lightning Sprints 2nd A Main 5-28 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars DNS 6-11 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprints 4th A Main 6-25 Ventura Raceway California Lightning Sprints 11th A Main 7-16 Ventura Raceway California Lightning Sprints 3rd A Main 7-23 Ventura Raceway California Lightning Sprints 2nd A Main 8-6 Santa Maria Raceway California Lightning Sprints 13th A Main* 8-25 Silver Dollar Speedway California Lightning Sprints 16th A Main 8-26 Placerville Speedway California Lightning Sprints 17th A Main 9-10 Lemoore Raceway California Lightning Sprints 11th A Main 9-17 Perris Auto Speedway POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprints 2nd A Main 9-24 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprints 3rd A Main 10-1 Barona Speedway POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprints 13th A Main 10-8 Mohave Valley Raceway California Lightning/POWRi Southwest 11th A Main 10-22 Imperial Valley Raceway POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprints 1st A Main 10-23 Imperial Valley Raceway POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprints 5th A Main 11-15 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprints 15th A Main 11-17 Placerville Speedway California Lightning Sprints 9th A Main 11-18 Placerville Speedway California Lightning Sprints 17th A Main 11-19 Placerville Speedway California Lightning Sprints 7th A Main Seth Dyer 2022 Lightning Sprint Results 6-11 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprints 12th A Main 6-25 Ventura Raceway California Lightning Sprints 15th A Main 7-16 Ventura Raceway California Lightning Sprints 10th A Main 7-23 Ventura Raceway California Lightning Sprints 10th A Main 8-6 Santa Maria Raceway California Lightning Sprints 14th A Main 8-25 Silver Dollar Speedway California Lightning Sprints DNS 9-10 Lemoore Raceway California Lightning Sprints 14th A Main 9-17 Perris Auto Speedway POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprints 16th A Main 9-24 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprints 18th A Main 10-20 Imperial Valley Raceway POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprints 11th A Main 10-29 Ventura Raceway California Lightning Sprints 13th A Main 10-22 Imperial Valley Raceway POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprints 11th A Main 11-15 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprints 11th A Main Cal Smith 2022 Lightning Sprint Results 10-23 Imperial Valley Raceway POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprints 12th A Main 11-17 Placerville Speedway California Lightning Sprints 11th A Main 11-18 Placerville Speedway California Lightning Sprints 9th A Main 11-19 Placerville Speedway California Lightning Sprints 9th A Main Scott Daloisio produced this release. For more information, use the following: call (909) 226-7768 or E-mail mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com.
- INLAND RIGGING DRIVERS TOMMY DUNKEL AND BRODY ROA WILL RACE AT IMPERIAL VALLEY RACEWAY THIS WEEK
(Cypress, CA, March 9, 2023) Tommy Dunkel and Brody Roa will make their first joint team appearance this Friday and Saturday, March 10th and 11th, in the Southern California Open Class Non-Wing Sprint Cars at the Imperial Valley Raceway. The race will be the second event for each of the drivers in 2022. Dunkel previously competed in January's Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Roa swept the weekend winning both USAC/CRA main events at the Cocopah Speedway at the end of the same month. thumbnail (1).jpg The Inland Rigging cars are ready for action at Imperial. Dunkel photo. Neither of the two team drivers is experienced at the Imperial track which is located less than 30 minutes north of the USA/Mexico border. Dunkel has appeared there one time and placed seventh last October. For Roa, the current point leader in the USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series, it will be his first race at the longtime racing facility. While it will be his initial outing at the track, the Garden Grove, California-based driver enters the event as one of the pre-race favorites. While it will only be his second appearance at Imperial, Dunkel realizes the value of having Roa, and his longtime crew as part of the Inland Rigging team. "It was pretty racy," Dunkel said when talking about the track that is located on the Imperial Valley Fairgrounds. "It kind of had some dark spots and no walls. So, it is one of those scary tracks but you go back for more. I am hoping they fix the dark spots. Other than that, we really enjoyed it. We went third quick the last time and locked ourselves in the dash. It is going to be huge really with my limited experience. Really nice equipment has been getting me by, but now we have a lot of experience on the team, too. I think it is going to be a game changer for my driving and a huge help for us." "That was actually one of the huge deciding factors in teaming up with Brody," Dunkel continued when talking about the new setup. "Not only are we coming to the table with what it takes to go racing financially, but they have the rest of the package. Just looking at their experience, it was really a no-brainer to hook up with them. The experience that Brett has (Brody's father Brett) and Zac (past USAC/CRA Crew Chief of the Year Zac Bozanich) and Brody as a driver as well." This week's event comes after two straight cancelations for the Inland Rigging team. Two weeks ago both of the drivers were scheduled to compete in the USAC/CRA West Coast Series event at the Dirt Track at the Kern County Raceway. However, Mother Nature had other ideas and rained the event out. Last weekend Roa was slated to drive in the two-night USAC/CRA program at the Central Arizona Raceway. Mother Nature remained staunch again and rained out that event, too. Fortunately, the heavy rains that are slated for California this Friday and Saturday are far north of Imperial. For Roa, the weekend is kind of an unknown as he has never raced at Imperial and does not really think he can compare it to a track he has been to before. "You know, I was talking to Justin Grau and he kind of came up with the same thing," Roa said via phone on Thursday. "Kind of from the videos I have seen, I can't compare it to anything. Maybe Ventura because of how small it is. I don't know." "You don't," Roa continued with a laugh when asked how he sets the car up for a situation like that. "The car is ready. I went out to Tom and Christy's (Tom Dunkel and his wife, Christy) Saturday. Let the girls play some and worked on the cars. Basically got them ready other than set up and gear. So I have to put a gear in it when I get there and block it. I will do the set up when I see the track. I could do it now, but would probably change my mind when I see it. So, might as well do it then." Dunkel will be driving one of the team's new DRCs while Roa will be in a Maxim. Both will be powered by 360s in the open class show. Roa is not too worried about running the smaller engine. "I saw the entry list and was really surprised and excited for them (the promoters) to get those good cars there," Roa said. "I may not be so much (excited) with a 360 now but I don't know. I think with a 360 we can get it done. We have beat 410s with a 360 before. Tom and Christy, they have nice stuff. It is a little tiny track and if it slicks off, I am not worried about the 360 versus 410 thing there." Roa, Dunkel, and the other Open comp sprint car drivers on hand will practice and have a 25-lap main event on Friday night. On Saturday they will contest heat races, a B main if necessary, and the $5,000.00 to win 30-lap main event. This weekend's racing, which will be held in conjunction with the California Mid-Winter Fair, will begin at 6:00 p.m. each night. Fair gates will open at 5:00 p.m. on Friday and noon on Saturday. Kids 18 and under get into the races for free with their ticket to the fair. Admission for those 19 and over will require an extra ticket. The fairgrounds is located at 200 East 2nd Street in Imperial, California. Roa will be very busy with USAC/CRA races after this weekend's Imperial show. On Saturday, March 18th, he will be at Perris Auto Speedway for the Sokola Shootout. He will head to Central California for a race at Peter Murphy's King's Speedway in Hanford on the 24th and the famous Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare on the 25th. The 2019 USAC/Southwest champion will then take on "Arizona's Baddest Bullring," the Mohave Valley Raceway, on April 1st. Due to a heavy workload, Dunkel is not sure of the exact date of his next race after this weekend. As always, Roa would be more than happy to jump in a race car on his weekends off from the #17R. His entire schedule is printed below. If anybody wishes to contact him about open dates, they can do so at 714-932-7994 or mailto:brodyroa91@gmail.com The team wants to thank the following sponsors for making the 2023 season possible. Inland Rigging, Dunkel Farms, United Asset Sales, Osborne Speed & Machine, Sander Engineering, "Biker" Bruce Fischer, ALR Virtual Services, Burris Racing, Caltrol, Competition Suspension, K-1 Race Gear, Molecule, Rod End Supply, Driven Racing Oil, Baldwin Filters, and NGK Spark Plugs. Brody Roa's 2023 Schedule and Race Results January 27 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main January 28 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main February 25 Kern County Raceway Park USAC West Coast Sprint Cars Rained Out March 3 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 4 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Rained Out March 10 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp Non Wing Sprint Cars March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp Non Wing Sprint Cars March 18 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars March 24 Keller Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars March 25 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 22 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 29 Kern County Raceway Park USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 6 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 20 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 27 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 10 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 24 Bakersfield Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 1 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 12 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 19 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 26 TBA USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 9 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 23 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 14 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 20 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp Non Wing Sprint Cars October 21 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp Non Wing Sprint Cars November 3 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 4 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 11 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Tom Dunkel's 2023 Racing Results January 12 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals 12th C Main @inlandrigging, @dunkelfarms @roygamityanauctioneer @burris_racing_usa @mikeburrisoc @csishocks @sander_engineering @sanderjenna @theoriginalloosebruce @alrvirtualservices @k1racegear @moleculesports @rodendsupply @baldwinfilters @ngkracing @originalngksparkplugs @usacnation @usac_cra @perrisautospeedway @b_roa91 @tai_xoxo_roa @zacboz35 @joegibb83, @caltrolinc @narc410 @drivenracingoil This release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT CARS SERIES KICKS OFF ITS 29th SEASON THIS WEEKEND AT IMPERIAL
(Torrance, CA, March 8, 2023) The California Lightning Sprint Car Series returns to action to begin its 29th season this Friday and Saturday, March 10th, and 11th, during the California Mid-Winter Fair at the Imperial Valley Raceway. The two races will be the first of a 21-race campaign that will take the club to seven different venues in 2023. The weekend's races will be co-sanctioned with the POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series and will be the first two rounds of the six-race "CLS/SWLS Best of the West Series." The doubleheader at Imperial is expected to draw a large field of lightning sprint cars. Heading the list of entries is five-time CLS champion Bobby Michnowicz of Oak Hills and defending SWLS champion Brent Sexton of Lakeside. Among the top stars expected to join the over 50-year-old pair of multi-time champions this weekend are Palmdale's Eric Greco, 2022 CLS Rookie of the Year Connor Speir of Fillmore, Yucca Valley's Jeff Dyer, Lakeside's Dalton Sexton, SWLS Rookie of the Year Cody Griggs of Lakeside, Gardena's Dominic Del Monte, USAC/CRA Sprint Car Star A.J. Bender of San Diego, "Rockstar" Jon Robertson of Torrance, and C.J. Marin of Imperial Beach The fight for the CLS championship will be wide open in 2023. Santa Barbara teenager David Gasper, who was Rookie of the Year in 2021 and who won both the CLS and "Civil War Series" titles in 2021 and 2022, is stepping aside to concentrate on racing in the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series. Among the drivers who finished in the top 10 who will be vying for the 2023 title will be Michnowicz, Speir, Greco, Robertson, Gardena's Dominic Del Monte, and Pat Kelley of Chino. Many consider Michnowicz to be the favorite for the 2023 title. A veteran who has raced for over 50 years, he got off to a slow start in 2022 due to mechanical gremlins at the start of the year. He caught fire in late August and won four of six series races through the middle of November. Those triumphs propelled the popular 59-year-old to the fourth spot in the final championship standings. In 22 CLS races in 2022, seven different drivers won main events. Gasper led the way with seven victories. Michnowicz triumphed five times. San Diego's A.J. Bender, who will be driving for Sexton Gatlin Racing at Imperial, was the first to the checkered flag on four occasions. The father and son combo of Brent and Grant Sexton had two wins each. Greco and Speir recorded one victory apiece. For this weekend's races, the following companies have donated bonuses totaling $675.00 ($1,350.00 total) to the purse each night. T Shirts By Timeless, Min-Kota Lightning Sprints, Little Mrs. Coors Light, Dyer Motorsports, Savage Racing Design, Olson Underground Inc., Premier Roofing Inc., SRK Racing, Sexton Fire Protection, CLS Officials The Cosseys, AG Sand Cars/Triple XXX Race Cars, Cakes By Kim/Betty Crocker Pit Stop, and DroneDude on Instagram. The lightning sprints will not be the only open-wheel cars in action on Friday and Saturday. The Southern California Open Class Non-Wing Sprint Cars will also be competing on the same card. Racing will begin at 6:00 p.m. each night. Fair spectator gates will open at 5:00 p.m. on Friday and noon on Saturday. Kids 18 and under get into the races for free with their ticket to the fair. Admission to those 19 and over will require an extra ticket. The fairgrounds is located at 200 East 2nd Street in Imperial, California. The drivers and cars of the CLS will have little time to rest on their laurels before returning to action at the Bakersfield Speedway for round #3 of the 2023 campaign on March 18th. The following companies are marketing partners with the CLS in 2023. Hoosier Tires West, T-Shirts By Timeless, Extreme Mufflers, and RacingJunk.com. if you or your company would like to be a marketing partner with the CLS, please get in touch with Jon Robertson using the contact information at the top of this release. To keep up with the CLS online, please visit the website at http://racecls.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/californialightningsprints 2023 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule March 10 Imperial Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #1 March 11 Imperial Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #2 March 18 Bakersfield Speedway CLS With USAC Western Midgets April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #3 With USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 8 Bakersfield Speedway CLS With USAC 360 Sprint Cars May 13 Ventura Raceway CLS With USAC 360 Sprint Cars May 20 Bakersfield Speedway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #4 June 3 Bakersfield Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series Round" #1 With USAC 360 Sprint Cars June 17 Ventura Raceway CLS With USAC 360 Sprint Cars Wagsdash July 8 Ventura Raceway CLS July 22 Ventura Raceway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #5 August 19 Ocean Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series" Round #2, Johnny Key Classic September 9 Bakersfield Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series" Round #3 September 23 Ventura Raceway CLS October 7 Merced Speedway CLS/BCRA "Civil War Series" Round #4, Wayne Albright Memorial Non Wing October 14 Mohave Valley Speedway CLS/SWLS "Best of the West" Round #6 With USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 28 Ventura Raceway CLS November 14 Bakersfield Speedway CLS With USAC National Midgets November 16 Placerville Speedway "Hangtown 100" No Points Non Wing November 17 Placerville Speedway "Hangtown 100" No Points Non Wing November 18 Placerville Speedway "Hangtown 100" No Points Non Wing 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 This press release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- LUCAS OIL POWRi SOUTHWEST LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR SERIES OPENS ITS 2023 SCHEDULE AT IMPERIAL THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
(Lakeside, CA, March 7, 2023) The POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series opens its fourth season this Friday and Saturday nights, March 10th, and 11th, at the Imperial Valley Raceway during the California Mid-Winter Fair. The races will be co-sanctioned by the California Lightning Sprint Car Series and will be the first two rounds of the six-round "CLS/SWLS Best of the West Series." The combination of the two groups should produce a nice field of fast cars that will include champions from each series. Headlining the show will be defending SWLS champion Brent Sexton from Lakeside, California, and five-time - CLS champion Bobby Michnowicz of Oak Hills. They will be joined by a bevy of stars from each club including Yucca Valley's Jeff Dyer who won at Imperial last autumn, 2022 SWLS Rookie of the Year Cody Griggs of Lakeside, Palmdale's Eric Greco, Lakeside's Dalton Sexton, CLS 2022 Rookie of the Year Connor Speir of Fillmore, San Diego's A.J. Bender, C.J. Marin of Imperial Beach, and a host of others. Sexton, who turned 50 last year, is the only driver to have won a championship in each of the two series that are co-sanctioning this weekend's show. The Tennessee native won his first title with the CLS in 1999. Nine years later he won the series championship again in 2008. His title-winning campaign in the SWLS last year came 14 years after his last CLS crown and 23 seasons after his first. Both nights of racing will include full shows with heat races, B and A main events. In 2023, the SWLS appeared at the Imperial Valley Raceway five times. Brent Sexton captured two of the main events. Dalton Sexton, Brent's oldest son, Dyer, and El Cajon's Braden Chiaramonte scored the victories in the other three. The following companies have donated bonuses totaling $675.00 ($1,350.00 total) to the purse each night. T Shirts By Timeless, Min-Kota Lightning Sprints, Little Mrs. Coors Light, Dyer Motorsports, Savage Racing Design, Olson Underground Inc., Premier Roofing Inc., SRK Racing, Sexton Fire Protection, CLS Officials The Cosseys, AG Sand Cars/Triple XXX Race Cars, Cakes By Kim/Betty Crocker Pit Stop, and DroneDude on Instagram. In addition to the Lightning sprint cars, their full-size brethren, the Southern California Open Class Non-Wing Sprint Cars, will also be in action. Racing will begin at 6:00 p.m. each night. Fair spectator gates will open at 5:00 p.m. on Friday and noon on Saturday. Kids 18 and under get into the races for free with their ticket to the fair. Admission to the races for those 19 and over will require an extra ticket. The track is located on the Imperial Valley fairgrounds at 200 East 2nd Street in Imperial, California. After this week's doubleheader, the drivers of the SWLS will get two weekends off before returning to action for round #3 of the "CLS/SWLS Best of the West Series" at Arizona's Mohave Valley Raceway on April 1st. The SWLS will return to Imperial four more times in 2023. Those dates are April 22nd, September 23rd, October 20, and 21. If you or your company would like to be a part of the SWLS this year, call or email Brent Sexton at mailto:sextonfire@cox.net or mailto:sextonfire@gmail.com. The Lucas Oil POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series would like to thank Sexton Fire Protection, RTL Traffic Control & Equipment, Victory Graphix, BK Wing, and A.M. Ortega Construction Inc. 2023 Lucas Oil POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule March 10 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway Winged April 15 Perris Auto Speedway Winged April 22 Imperial Valley Raceway Wingless May 13 Barona Speedway Winged (TBD) May 20 Bakersfield Speedway Winged May 27 Perris Auto Speedway Winged (TBD) June 10 Colorado Nationals Winged (TBD) July 8 Barona Winged (TBD) Deming Speedway Clay Cup Winged (No Points) July 22 Ventura Raceway Winged August 5 Barona Speedway Wingless (TBD) August 19 Perris Auto Speedway Winged August 10-13 13th Minkota Nationals Winged (Non-Points) September 2 Barona Speedway Winged (TBD) September 23 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged October 14 Mohave Valley Raceway Winged October 20 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged October 21 Imperial Valley Raceway Wingless October 28 Barona Speedway Winged (TBA) November 11 Perris Auto Speedway Winged Lucas Oil POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series Champions 2020 Chris Crowder 2021 Grant Sexton 2022 Brent Sexton This release was produced by Scott Daloisio. Contact (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- BRODY ROA ROLLS INTO CENTRAL ARIZONA RACEWAY THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
(Cypress, CA, February 28, 2023) Inland Rigging team driver Brody Roa heads to the Central Arizona Raceway this Friday and Saturday, March 3rd and 4th, as the point leader in the 24th season of USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series racing. The veteran driver positioned himself at the top of the point heap after sweeping the season-opening main events at the Cocopah Speedway at the end of January. 328248567_556254649770164_2165585440967618448_n.jpg Brody Roa on his way to victory at Cocopah in January. AJ Johnson photo. Roa, who hails from Garden Grove, California, is no stranger to the track that is located an hour south of Phoenix. He has competed there multiple times over the years in 360 and 410 sprint cars. His last 410 appearances came in 2019 when he won the series championship in the now-defunct USAC Southwest Sprint Car Series. In three races that year, he had one second, a third, and a single fourth-place finish on the track. In 360 action, Roa posted a win in Jayson May's #8M in the inaugural CAS Sprint Car race at the track on September 6, 2020. "Brad Whitfield has taken it over," Roa said of the new Central Arizona Raceway promoter. "He puts a lot of work into Cocopah and I know he will put a lot of work into Casa Grande. I hope he doesn't touch it too much because I think it gets really racy when it slicks off. Especially three and four where it really starts crowning over the top. It does not have a peak. You have to have a lot of patience on the top to not get over it. That is what I have always kind of liked about that place, three and four. "One and two is really narrow and has a ton of banking," Roa continued. "You just kind of bury it in there. It has so much banking that it kind of sucks the car down onto the track. Kind of like when we were running the wing car. I think three and four is kind of the driver's end of the place. I hope he does not change much on that end of the racetrack. It is so round and has so much banking, I am not sure if there is anywhere out here (California) that compares to it." Roa carries a 14-point lead into this weekend's races and he is very pleased after his first two races in a DRC Chassis. Before January, he had never driven a DRC. The car and driver performed harmoniously with each other at Cocopah. In addition to capturing the first place prize money for both main events there, he won each of his heat races. In qualifying, he was third fastest on night one and eighth quickest on the second evening. "Nope," Roa laughed when asked if he made any changes to the DRC Chassis in preparations for the Casa Grande track. "We took it apart and changed engines. We had to put the second engine in for this race. That is the only thing we have changed. We had some issues and we were really lucky to finish the way we did at Cocopah with the first engine. Pretty big bummer for Tom and Christy (team owners Tom and Christy Dunkel) but at least we picked up the win." This weekend begins a very busy racing stretch for Roa. All told, he will be racing eight times in 29 days. After this week's competition at Central Arizona, he will head to the Imperial Valley Raceway where he will be joined by teammate Tom Dunkel in a two-night open competition show on March 10th and 11th. One week later, he will head to Perris Auto Speedway for the annual Sokola Shootout. The following week he will journey to Central California for a pair of races on the 24th and 25th. The event on the 24th will be at Peter Murphy's Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford. The following night the team will make the short journey to the legendary Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare. The veteran racer will close five straight weekends of racing when he heads to Arizona's Mohave Valley Raceway on April 1st for round six of the USAC/CRA Series. "I like it for periods of time," Roa responded when asked about a busy racing docket. "The schedule though kind of gets too busy. I like to be home with Addison (his two-year-old daughter) and Tailor (his wife) and now we have a second one coming. Bringing the race team back home and putting it in my garage is going to be a lot of fun and good for the family." After the January races at Cocopah, Roa, Tailor, and Addison flew to Florida for a vacation at Walt Disney World. It was there in front of the Magic Kingdom that Addison announced she is going to be a big sister in July. "The due date is July 27th on grandma's birthday," the beaming dad said. "My wife's family are huge Disney fans. So we went and thought that would be a cool place to announce it. We did it with a little pair of pink checkered shoes for a little racing touch. We are very excited." For fans who would like to see Roa in person at the Central Arizona Raceway this Friday and Saturday, gates will open at 4:00 p.m. and racing will get underway at 6:00. The track is located on the Pinal County Fairgrounds at 512 S Eleven Mile Corner Rd, Casa Grande, AZ (85194). The office phone is (602) 292-7607. For those who cannot make it to the track, both nights will be streamed live via pay-per-view on Speed Sport TV at the following link https://speedsport.tv/. As always, Roa would be more than happy to jump in a race car on his weekends off from the #17R. His entire schedule is printed below. If anybody wishes to contact him about open dates, they can do so at 714-932-7994 or mailto:brodyroa91@gmail.com The team wants to thank the following sponsors for making the 2023 season possible. Inland Rigging, Dunkel Farms, United Asset Sales, Osborne Speed & Machine, Sander Engineering, "Biker" Bruce Fischer, ALR Virtual Services, Burris Racing, Caltrol, Competition Suspension, K-1 Race Gear, Molecule, Rod End Supply, Driven Racing Oil, Baldwin Filters, and NGK Spark Plugs. Brody Roa's 2023 Schedule and Race Results January 27 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main January 28 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main February 25 Kern County Raceway Park USAC West Coast Sprint Cars Rained Out March 3 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars March 4 Central Arizona Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars March 10 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp Non Wing Sprint Cars March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp Non Wing Sprint Cars March 18 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars March 24 Keller Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars March 25 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 22 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 29 Kern County Raceway Park USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 6 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 20 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 27 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 10 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 24 Bakersfield Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 1 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 12 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 19 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 26 TBA USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 9 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 23 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 14 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 20 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp Non Wing Sprint Cars October 21 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp Non Wing Sprint Cars November 3 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 4 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 11 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars @inlandrigging, @dunkelfarms @roygamityanauctioneer @burris_racing_usa @mikeburrisoc @csishocks @sander_engineering @sanderjenna @theoriginalloosebruce @alrvirtualservices @k1racegear @moleculesports @rodendsupply @baldwinfilters @ngkracing @originalngksparkplugs @usacnation @usac_cra @perrisautospeedway @b_roa91 @tai_xoxo_roa @zacboz35 @joegibb83, @caltrolinc @narc410 @drivenracingoil This release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
dirt track racing advertisement
Bakersfield Speedway Nearby Dirt Tracks
- Kern County Raceway Park Race Track16 miles away - Bakersfield, California, USA
- Thunderbowl Raceway Race Track54 miles away - Tulare, California, USA
- Tulare Kings Kart Club Race Track54 miles away - Hanford, California, USA
- Keller Auto Raceway Race Track63 miles away - Visalia, California, USA
- Keller Auto Speedway Race Track68 miles away - Hanford, California, USA
- Lemoore Raceway Race Track71 miles away - Lemoore, California, USA
- Ventura Raceway Race Track82 miles away - Ventura, California, USA
- Santa Maria Raceway Race Track85 miles away - Nipomo, California, USA
Distance information is direct (as the crow flies) - driving distance will differ due to road routes and things like lakes or mountains.
dirt track racing advertisement
Bakersfield Speedway Dirt Track Racing Organizations
- CLS - California Lightning Sprints Dirt Track Racing Organization
- IMCA - International Motor Contest Association Dirt Track Racing Organization
- NMRA - National Midget Racing Association Dirt Track Racing Organization
- POWRi - Performance Open Wheel Racing Inc Dirt Track Racing Organization
- USAC - United States Auto Club Dirt Track Racing Organization
- WoO - World of Outlaws Dirt Track Racing Organization