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 BADGER MIDGET SERIES  INLAND WINGED SPRINTS      SOCAL LIGHTNING SPRINTS  NATIONAL PAVEMENT SPRINT CAR RANKINGS
BADGER MIDGET SERIES 

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Badger Midget Auto Racing Association (BMARA), the oldest midget organization in the world. Some events are co-sanctioned by the United States Automobile Club (USAC). BMARA sanctions several midget car events at other nearby tracks.

 

 
SOCAL LIGHTNING SPRINTS

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David Taft Wins California Clash #2 – Aiden Lange Takes the Point Lead

 

Torrance, CA — March 10, 2026 — Ramona, California’s David Taft scored the win in round #2 of the California Clash Series, which pits the California Lightning Sprint Cars against the SoCal Lightning Sprints, last Saturday night at Imperial Valley Raceway. 2025 CLS champion Aiden Lange came away from the two nights of racing with both the CLS and California Clash point leads.


 

Two drivers who competed on Friday were not back for Saturday’s race. Riverside’s Drake Cardey, who set the fast qualifying time before blowing an engine moments later, and Manu Tatum, who did not get a lap in on Friday, were both absent. However, San Diego’s Landon Dalton made his season debut on Saturday night, bringing the car count to 18—just one fewer than the night before.

 

Lange, who resides in Lakewood, set the fastest time in qualifying with a 12.534. Friday night winner Jeff Dyer of Yucca Valley was second quickest at 12.603. The third-best time was a 12.636 turned in by El Cajon’s Braydin Collie. “Shugah’” Shane Sexton was fourth fastest at 12.638, and 2024 SCLS champion Ryan Dumas of San Diego rounded out the top five with a 12.656.

 

Camarillo's Cody Nigh captured the first eight-lap heat race of the night when he beat Lange and Sexton to the checkers. The second heat race went to Taft, who bested Dumas and Torrance veteran “Rockstar” Jon Robertson. The third and final heat race was taken by three-time Lightning Sprint Car champion Brent Sexton of Lakeside, who finished ahead of his teammate Collie and 2025 SCLS champion Peter Benker of Alpine.

 

Taft, who finished eighth on Friday, started on the pole in his AG Sand Cars/Kitchen Barn/Outhouse Coffee #54. Alongside him was Nigh. The second row was comprised of Sexton-Gatlin Racing teammates Brent Sexton on the inside with Collie to his outside. Champions Lange and Dumas made up row three, with Robertson and Shane Sexton in row four.

 

Taft got the jump at the start and led the opening lap over Dumas, who picked up three positions on the first lap.  Brent Sexton and Nigh were third and fourth. However, the driver who made the biggest move on the first lap was rising young open-wheel star Brayden Chiaramonte of El Cajon. Starting 10th, he raced around five cars and was up to fifth by the end of the first circuit.

 

Taft built a small but comfortable lead, but much of the crowd’s attention was focused on Chiaramonte. He hounded Dumas until lap seven when he raced by him for second. Continuing his charge, he pulled up to the back bumper of leader Taft. The teenager tried both high and low lines to get by Taft and kept the pressure on until he slipped high in turn one on the 13th circuit. That allowed Taft to open a small lead, but it disappeared on lap 14 when Parker Dumas, Ryan’s twin brother, went up in smoke in turn one.

 

In a strange twist, Ryan Dumas rolled to a stop in turn three during the caution, and like his brother, he was done for the night. The pair finished 16th and 17th. 

 

Unlike the previous night when three yellow and three red flags plagued the race, Parker’s yellow was the first of the 20-lapper.  Only one more caution would follow.

 

That second caution came just seconds after the green lights came back on for the restart. As soon as the race resumed, Chiaramonte slowed and the caution came out. He was done for the night with an electrical problem in the Sexton-Gatlin Racing #3C.

 

For the second and final restart, Collie, Lange, Nigh, and Shane Sexton were stacked behind the leader. Taft, Collie, and Lange soon pulled away from the rest of the field, with Taft and Collie breaking away by themselves with four laps remaining.

 

Collie hounded Taft until a slip up the track gave Taft a comfortable lead on the final lap. The mistake nearly cost Collie second place as Lange charged hard when the white flag waved. Out front, Taft cruised around the final lap and won with nearly half a straightaway to spare. Collie managed to hold off Lange for second. Veteran Nigh was fourth, and fifth went to USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series star AJ Bender of San Diego, who started 13th. That charge through the field earned Bender the Hard Charger Award.

 

Taft’s victory was his first with the CLS. His other Lightning Sprint win came at an SCLS race at Barona on June 8, 2024.

 

Defending CLS champion Lange’s pair of third-place finishes over the weekend placed him in the CLS and California Clash Series point leads. California Highway Patrol Officer Jeff Dyer sits second and trails the leader by 17 points. Taft, Benker, and Shane Sexton round out the top five.

 

Next up for the CLS will be its first race in 2026 at its home track, Ventura Raceway, on March 21. Round three of the six-race California Clash Series between the CLS and the SCLS will take place at Perris Auto Speedway on August 29.

 

For updates and complete series information, follow the California Lightning Sprint Car Series on Facebook or visit the official website at racecls.com.

 

The CLS would like to thank the following companies for being partners in the 2026 season.  Motor City Buick/GMC, American Racer Tires, T Shirts By Timeless, Advanced Racing Suspension, BR Motorsports, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Diablo Fabrication and Design, Eibach Springs, Extreme Mufflers, EZ UP, The Joie of Seating, King Racing Products, Outlaw Wings, RacingJunk.com,  RC Fuel Injection, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, SpeedMart, and Triple X Race Components.  If you would like to join the CLS and be a marketing partner, please contact Jon Robertson via email at  jon.robertson@sbcglobal.net or by calling (310) 367-9050.   

 

Qualifying: 1. Aiden Lange, 12.534; 2. Jeff Dyer, 12.603; 3. Braydin Collie, 12.636; 4. Shane Sexton, 12.638; 5. Ryan Dumas, 12.656; 6. Brayden Chiaramonte, 12.727; 7. Cody Ngh, 12.803; 8. Jon Robertson, 12.828; 9. Brent Sexton, 12.841; 10. Parker Dumas, 12.899; 11. David Taft, 13.025; 12. Peter Benker, 13.095; 13. AJ Bender, 13.104; 14. Landon Dalton, 13.224; 15. Tyler Warner, 13.287; 16. Cody Benker, 13.400; 16. 17. Kelly Weitzel, 14.021; 18. Liam Coffey, No Time

 

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. Nigh, 2. Lange, 3. Shane Sexton, 4. Cody Benker,5. AJ Bender, 6 Parker Dumas  

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. Taft, 2. Ryan Dumas, 3. Robertson, 4. Dyer, 5. Dalton, 6. Weitzel

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. Brent Sexton 2. Collie, 3 Peter Benker, 4. Chiaramonte, 5. Warner, 6. Coffey

 

Main Event – 18 Laps

1. David Taft, Ramona, CA (1st)

2. Braydin Collie, El Cajon, CA (3rd) …+1.230

3. Aiden Lange, Lakewood, CA (6th) … +2.286

4. Cody Nigh, Camarillo, CA (2nd) … +2.974

5. AJ Bender, San Diego, CA (13th) … +4.074

6. Shane Sexton, Warner Springs, CA (8th) … +4.837

7. Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA (4th) … +6.043

8. Jeff Dyer, Yucca, Valley, CA (9th) … +6.528

9. Peter Benker, Alpine, CA (11th) … +7.119

10. Cody Benker, Alpine, CA (12th) … +7.662

11. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA (7th) … +8.151

12. Tyler Warner, Alpine, CA (15th) … +8.885

13. Landon Dalton, San Diego, CA (14th) … +9.375

14. Kelly Weitzel, El Cajon, CA (16th) … +1 Lap

15. Brayden Chiaramonte, El Cajon, CA (10th) … +7 Laps

16. Ryan Dumas, San Diego, CA, (5th) … +7 Laps

17. Parker Dumas, San Diego, CA (17th) … +7 Laps

18. Liam Coffey, Riverside, CA (18th) … +20 Laps

 

Motor City Buick/GMC California Lightning Sprint Car Point Standings

1. Aiden Lange … 252

2. Jeff Dyer … 235

3. David Taft … 224

4. Peter Benker … 223

5. Shane Sexton … 216

6. Braydin Collie … 206

7. Cody Benker … 195

8. Brent Sexton … 189

8. Cody Nigh … 189

9.  AJ Bender … 189

 

CLS vs SCLS California Clash Points

1. Aiden Lange … 252

2. Jeff Dyer … 235

3. David Taft … 224

4. Peter Benker … 223

5. Shane Sexton … 216

6. Braydin Collie … 206

7. Cody Benker … 195

8. Brent Sexton … 189

8. Cody Nigh … 189

9.  AJ Bender … 189

Jeff Dyer on his way to the win in the California Clash season opener.  Missy Benker photo.

 

Nineteen strong cars showed up for the season opener, and the field was nearly evenly split between drivers from each series. Lakeside’s Brent Sexton, a three-time lightning sprint champion, was on the pole for the 20-lap main event, with CLS regular “Rockstar” Jon Robertson of Torrance alongside. The first-ever SCLS champion, Ryan Dumas, lined up on the inside of row two with Dyer next to him. San Diego’s Parker Dumas, who won both races at Imperial a year ago, started on the left side of row three. Starting next to him was the 2025 SCLS champion, Peter Benker of Alpine.

 

As soon as the first green flag for an SCLS main event of the year waved, Sexton flew into the lead and was chased into turn one by Robertson, Dyer, and Ryan Dumas. Dyer, in his Dyer Motorsports Amsoil Oil Twins/Jobu Racing/Fonseca Racing/Specialty Fasteners #4, immediately took to the cushion and relieved Robertson of second place on the opening lap. Two laps later, he raced around Sexton for the lead and immediately began to pull away.

 

Dyer’s big lead lasted only a lap before Camarillo’s Cody Nigh went off the top of the track in turn one, bringing out a yellow flag. It was the first of a deluge of yellow and red flags that plagued the season opener.

 

Sexton, Peter Benker, Robertson, and Parker Dumas tucked in behind the leader for the restart. However, once the green lights were turned off, Dyer motored away again to another large advantage. Likewise, Sexton pulled away from a wild battle for third that was shaping up between Robertson, Peter Benker, Parker Dumas, and 2025 CLS champion Aiden Lange of Lakewood. That battle nearly produced the second yellow of the race when Parker Dumas got over Robertson’s rear end coming off turn four and clobbered the front straight wall. Amazingly, he continued on and the race stayed green, even as Robertson rolled to a stop in the infield.

 

While the action was not halted for the Parker Dumas–Robertson incident, it was stopped on lap nine when El Cajon’s Braydin Collie rolled over in turn two. He was not injured, but his car suffered enough damage to end his night.

 

Once racing resumed, Dyer’s pursuers were Sexton, Peter Benker, Lange, and USAC/CRA 410 sprint car star AJ Bender. This time, Dyer did not run away from the field, but only because Nigh rolled to a stop on the back chute before the field could complete another lap, bringing out another yellow flag.

 

After that caution, four laps were completed before another yellow appeared when Parker Dumas spun in turn four. Following the restart, what looked like possible contact between Lange and Bender exiting turn four saw Bender hit the inside berm and flip. Like Collie, he was uninjured.

 

Sexton broke on lap 14, handing second place to Benker. Not long afterward, Ryan Dumas hit the same berm Bender had struck and turned over, bringing out yet another red flag. At that point, officials announced the race would be concluded with a green, white, and checkered finish, making it an 18-lap event.

 

Dyer, who was largely oblivious to the extracurricular action taking place throughout the race, once again pulled away for a dominating victory. Benker finished second, with Lange third. Benker’s teenage son Cody and “Shugah’” Shane Sexton of Warner Springs rounded out the top five.

 

Liam Coffey of Riverside, who bought a car from Dyer over the winter, was contesting his first-ever lightning sprint car race. Starting 15th, he stayed out of the chaos and drove all the way to sixth to earn the race’s Hard Charger Award.

 

SCLS regulars captured three of the top five spots in the main event and six of the top 10.

 

Before the main event, Dyer beat Peter Benker and Ramona’s David Taft to the checkered flag in the first heat race of the year. Heat two went to Brent Sexton over teammate Collie and Ryan Dumas. Robertson, Parker Dumas, and Cody Benker were the top three in the third and final heat race.

 

2025 CLS Rookie of the Year Drake Cardey steered the Brian Fonseca/Samantha Sproull Savage Racing #3F to the fastest lap in qualifying with an 11.965. However, his engine blew before he got back to the pits, ending his night before it really got started. Peter Benker was second fastest at 12.066, followed by Ryan Dumas at 12.070. Parker Dumas and Lange rounded out the top five with times of 12.131 and 12.185, respectively.

 

The SCLS will make its 2026 debut on its home track, Barona Speedway, on April 11.

 

Official SCLS shirts and caps are now available for purchase at the track or online via the SCLS website or their Facebook page.

 

The SoCal Lightning Sprint Car Series would like to thank the following marketing partners for participating in the inaugural season: AG Sandcars, Triple X Race Cars, American Racer Tires, Outhouse Coffee, and Cakes By Kim / Betty Crocker’s Pit Stop.

 

If you or your company would like to become a marketing partner with SCLS, contact Dustin Dumas at (619) 992-8308 or info@socallightningsprints.com.

 

SCLS President Dustin Dumas is also the proprietor of AG Sandcars. He sells and builds Lightning Sprints and is a supplier of Triple X Cars, American Racer Tires, and racing components. Anyone interested in racing Lightning Sprints can contact him at (619) 992-8308 or info@socallightningsprints.com.

 

Qualifying: 1. Drake Cardey, 11.965; 2. Peter Benker, 12.066; 3. Ryan Dumas, 12.070; 4. Parker Dumas, 12.131; 5. Aiden Lange 12.185; 6. AJ Bender, 12.196; 7. Cody Nigh, 12.302; 8. Jeff Dyer, 12.378; 9. Braydin Collie, 12.402; 10. Jon Robertson, 12.575; 11. Tyler Warner, 12.663; 12. Brent Sexton, 12.679; 13. Cody Benker, 12.681; 14. David Taft, 12.698; 15. Shane Sexton, 12.867; 16. Liam Coffey 13.402; 17. Kelly Weitzel,15.625; 18. Manu Tatum, no time; 19. Dalton Sexton, no time.

 

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. Dyer, 2. Peter Benker, 3. Taft, 4. Lange, 5. Warner, 6. Weitzel

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. Brent Sexton, 2. Collie, 3. Ryan Dumas, 4. Bender, 5. Shane Sexton

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. Robertson, 2. Parker Dumas, 3. Cody Benker, 4. Coffey, 5. Nigh

 

Main Event – 18 Laps (With Starting Positions and Distance Behind)

1. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA (4th)

2. Peter Benker, Alpine, CA (6th) …1.034

3. Aiden Lange, Lakewood, CA (9th) … 1.845

4. Cody Benker, Alpine, CA (11th) … 3.221

5. Shane Sexton, Warner Springs, CA (13th) … 5.589

6. Liam Coffey, Riverside, CA (15th) … 5.825

7. Tyler Warner, Alpine, CA (14th) … 6.306

8. David Taft, Ramona, CA (8th) … 1 Lap

9. Ryan Dumas, San Diego, CA (3rd) … 3 Laps

10. Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA (1st) … 4 Laps

11. AJ Bender, San Diego, CA (10th) … 6 Laps

12. Parker Dumas, San Diego (5th) … 8 Laps

13. Brayden Collie, El Cajon, CA (7th) … 12 Laps

14. Cody Nigh, Camarillo, CA (12th) … 12 Laps

15. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA (2nd) … 13 Laps

DNS Drake Cardey, Riverside, CA

DNS Tatum Manu, Apple Valley, CA

DNS Dalton Sexton, Lakeside, CA

DNS Kelly Weitzel, El Cajon, CA

SoCal Lightning Sprint Car Series Begins Third Season This Week at Imperial

 

El Cajon, CA — March 4, 2026 — The fast-rising SoCal Lightning Sprint Car Series will open its third season this Friday and Saturday, March 6 and 7, at Imperial Valley Raceway. The race, which will be co-sanctioned by the California Lightning Sprint Car Series, will be part of the annual California Mid-Winter Fair. Admission will be free with the purchase of a ticket to the fair, and racing will commence at 6:15 p.m. both nights.


 

 

Friday’s opener will be the first of 15 races for the SCLS in 2026. Those 15 races will be contested at five different tracks. In addition, it will be the first of the six-race “California Clash Series” versus the CLS. San Diego County’s Barona Speedway will remain the home track for the SCLS in 2026 and will host 10 of the club’s races. Imperial’s two races make it the only other track to hold more than one event in 2026. Tracks holding single SCLS races this season are Perris Auto Speedway, Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, and Ventura Raceway.

 

Last year, veteran driver Peter Benker won his first Lightning Sprint Car championship. The Alpine driver captured the title by 156 points over his teenage son, Cody Benker. Fellow Alpine resident Tyler Warner placed third in the championship standings and also captured the Rookie of the Year award. Deejay Dumas of El Cajon and San Diego’s Landon Dalton rounded out the top five.

 

“Shugah’” Shane Sexton of Warner Springs, inaugural SCLS champion Ryan Dumas of San Diego, Kelly Weitzel of El Cajon, San Diego’s Parker Dumas, and Chase Wilson of San Diego rounded out the top 10. All are expected to be on hand at Imperial.

 

Eleven SCLS races were staged in 2025. Eight different drivers posted wins during the highly competitive season. Only three — Parker Dumas, his brother Ryan Dumas, and Jeff Dyer of Yucca Valley — scored more than one victory. Each recorded two wins. Champion Benker, Warner, Sexton, Lakeside’s Brent Sexton, Eric Greco of Palmdale, and Ramona’s Darren Brown each captured one victory.

 

In addition to the SCLS competitors, a strong contingent of CLS drivers will also be on hand for the co-sanctioned races. Heading the group is 2025 CLS champion and 2024 Imperial winner Aiden Lange. Seven-time CLS champion Bobby Michnowicz of Oak Hills, Riverside’s Drake Cardey — who placed second to Lange in the title chase and was named Rookie of the Year — California Highway Patrol Officer Jeff Dyer, Braydin Collie of El Cajon, Lakeside’s Brent Sexton and his sons Grant and Dalton, “Rockstar” Jon Robertson of Torrance, and Cody Nigh of Camarillo are slated to lead the CLS contingent.

 

The SCLS and CLS would like to thank the following companies for adding to the purses this weekend: AG Sand Cars/XXX Race Components, T Shirts By Timeless, American Racer, DW Racing, Bubs Racing, Cakes By Kim, Chris Dickey, Pat Kelley, Benker Racing, KW Racing, and SRK Racing.  In addition, Dyer Motorsports is sponsoring the Hard Charger Award each night.

 

In addition to the Lightning Sprints, Dwarf Cars and Arizona Mini Late Models will also be in action. Both nights will feature complete shows for the Lightning Sprints with qualifying, heat races, and 20-lap main events. Racing will begin at 6:15 p.m. each night.

 

Admission is free with a ticket to the California Mid-Winter Fair. For more information or to purchase advance fair tickets, visit www.ivfairgrounds.com/p/tickets--deals. For fans who cannot attend in person, both nights will be streamed live on speeduniontv.com.

 

Imperial Valley Raceway is located on the Imperial Valley Fairgrounds at 200 E. 2nd Street, Imperial, California 92251.

 

After this week’s events, the SCLS will make its first 2026 appearance on its home track, Barona Speedway, on April 11.

Official SCLS shirts and caps are now available for purchase at the track or online via the SCLS website or their Facebook page.

 

The SoCal Lightning Sprint Car Series would like to thank the following marketing partners for participating in the inaugural season: AG Sandcars, Triple X Race Cars, American Racer Tires, Outhouse Coffee, and Cakes By Kim / Betty Crocker’s Pit Stop.

 

If you or your company would like to become a marketing partner with SCLS, contact Dustin Dumas at (619) 992-8308 or info@socallightningsprints.com.

 

SCLS President Dustin Dumas is also the proprietor of AG Sandcars. He sells and builds Lightning Sprints and is a supplier of Triple X Cars, American Racer Tires, and racing components. Anyone interested in racing Lightning Sprints can contact him at (619) 992-8308 or info@socallightningsprints.com.

 

2026 SoCal Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule

March 6 — Valley Raceway — Winged — California Clash with CLS #1
March 7 — Imperial Valley Raceway — Winged — California Clash with CLS #2
April 11 — Barona Speedway — Winged
April 25 — Barona Speedway — Non-Wing
May 23 — Barona Speedway — Winged
May 24 — Barona Speedway — Winged
June 20 — Barona Speedway — Non-Wing
August 1 — Barona Speedway — Winged
August 15 — Barona Speedway — Non-Wing
August 29 — Perris Auto Speedway — Winged — California Clash with CLS #3
September 12 — Barona Speedway — Non-Wing
September 25 — Bakersfield Speedway — Winged — California Clash with CLS #4
September 26 — Ventura Raceway — Winged — California Clash with CLS #5
October 10 — Barona Speedway — Non-Wing
November 21 — Barona Speedway — Winged — California Clash with CLS #6

SoCal Lightning Sprint Car Series Champions

2024 — Ryan Dumas
2025 — Peter Benker

INLAND WINGED SPRINTS

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 NATIONAL PAVEMENT SPRINT CAR RANKINGS

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