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Jeff Dyer Wins Crash-Filled CLS/SCLS California Clash Opener at Imperial Valley

 

Torrance, CA — March 7, 2026 — California Highway Patrol Officer by day and open-wheel racer by night, Jeff Dyer, won the season-opening California Clash race Friday night at Imperial Valley Raceway. The race, which was the first of 16 for the California Lightning Sprint Car Series and the first of six races in the California Clash, was co-sanctioned by the SoCal Lightning Sprints. Round #2 will take place on the same Imperial track beginning at 6:15 tonight.

 

 

 

A strong combined CLS/SCLS field of 19 cars, split nearly evenly between the two groups, showed up for the race contested during the annual California Mid-Winter Fair. Riverside’s Drake Cardey, who finished second in CLS points and captured Rookie of the Year honors in 2025, fired the first salvo of the 2026 season when he set the fastest time in qualifying at 11.965. Defending SCLS champion and past CLS Rookie of the Year Peter Benker of Alpine timed in second quick at 12.066. Ryan Dumas of San Diego, who won the inaugural SCLS title in 2024, was third fast at 12.070. Dumas’ brother Parker, who won both Mid-Winter Fair main events in 2025, and defending CLS champion Aiden Lange of Lakewood were fourth and fifth at 12.131 and 12.185, respectively.

 

Unfortunately for Cardey, who is racing full-time in the USAC Western Midgets in 2026, the engine blew on the Savage Racing #3F during his qualifying run , and his weekend was over almost as quickly as it began.

 

Dyer, in the Dyer Motorsports Amsoil Oil Twins/Jobu Racing/Fonseca Racing/Specialty Fasteners #4, won the first eight-lap heat race ahead of Peter Benker and Ramona’s David Taft. Three-time lightning sprint car champion Brent Sexton beat teammate Braydin Collie and Ryan Dumas to the checkers in heat race two. “Rockstar” Jon Robertson of Torrance gave the CLS a complete sweep of the heats when he won the third eight-lapper over Parker Dumas and teen driver Cody Benker.

 

When the field rolled onto the track for the 20-lap main event, Sexton found himself on the pole with Robertson alongside. Ryan Dumas and Dyer occupied row two. Starting directly behind his brother, Parker Dumas was on the inside of row three with Peter Benker to his right. Collie and Taft manned row four.

 

Sexton, who won a main event at Imperial in 2023, got the jump on the start and led Robertson, Dyer, and Ryan Dumas into turn one. Dyer went rim-riding in the first bend and quickly relegated Robertson back to third. Ryan Dumas got over the inside berm coming off turn four on the opening lap. By the time he recovered, he had fallen to near the back of the pack.

 

Dyer continued to ride the high line, and it paid dividends as he raced past Sexton for the lead coming off turn four on lap three. By the end of the next lap, the United States Army veteran had increased his lead to nearly half a straightaway.

 

Dyer’s massive lead did not last long as the yellow flew when Camarillo’s Cody Nigh went off the track in turn two. That brought Sexton, Robertson, Peter Benker, and Parker Dumas to the tail of the leader for the restart.

 

Dyer got a great restart and pulled away again. Sexton maintained second, but an immediate battle broke out for third between Robertson, Peter Benker, Parker Dumas, and Lange. Things got exciting when Parker Dumas climbed the rear of Robertson’s car on the front chute on lap seven. Dumas careened into the wall but continued. Robertson, however, pulled to the infield.

 

The proceedings came to a complete halt when Collie flipped in turn two on lap nine. He emerged uninjured, but his car was done for the night.

 

After Collie’s car was righted and the red flag was lifted, Sexton, Peter Benker, Lange, and USAC/CRA 410 sprint car star AJ Bender of San Diego lined up directly behind leader Dyer for the restart. The field took the green, but the yellow quickly returned when Nigh rolled to a stop on the back chute. It was his second caution of the night, and he was done for the evening.

 

The race got four more laps in before the yellow halted action again when Parker Dumas spun in turn four. The caution reeled Dyer back to the pack and interrupted what had become an entertaining battle for fourth between Lange and Bender.

 

Up front on the restart, it was the same story. Dyer simply motored away. Sexton maintained second with Peter Benker third. The Lange/Bender battle fired up again as they traded positions back and forth before yet another yellow intervened. This time Parker Dumas, battling a damaged car, spun again in turn four.

 

On the next restart, the leader never made it to the start/finish line. Behind him, Bender and Lange appeared to touch. Bender then hit the inside berm and flipped, bringing out the second red flag of the night. Like Collie earlier, the driver was uninjured, but the car was done for the evening.

 

After a couple more laps, Sexton—who had been running second since lap three—was passed for the runner-up spot by Benker. A few moments later, Sexton slowed dramatically and pulled off the track. One lap after that, Ryan Dumas caught the inside berm in turn four and rolled over, bringing out the worn-out red flag once again.

 

At that point, officials elected to go to a green-white-checkered finish. With fingers crossed, the race restarted and concluded without further incident. Dyer raced across the line with room to spare over Peter Benker. Lange placed third with Cody Benker fourth and “Shugah’” Shane Sexton fifth.

 

Sixth place went to Riverside’s Liam Coffey, who was contesting his first-ever lightning sprint car race. Advancing from 15th on the starting grid to sixth, he earned the Hard Charger honors.

 

The same show takes place tonight with racing beginning at 6:15 p.m. 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.

 

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. 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 (4^th)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DNS Drake Cardey, Riverside, CA

DNS Tatum Manu, Apple Valley, CA

DNS Dalton Sexton, Lakeside, CA

DNS Kelly Weitzel, El Cajon, CA