Thirteen CLS cars rolled into “The Best Little Dirt Track in America.” Qualifying set the tone early, with ageless veteran Bruce Douglass—the 2009 Perris Auto Speedway Senior Sprint Car champion—turning the fastest lap at 13.118. He narrowly edged seven-time CLS champ Bobby Michnowicz (13.122). Series-leading rookie Drake Cardey of Riverside clocked in third at 13.184, followed by his teammate Jeff Dyer (13.344) and returning Clay Byers of Castaic (13.492).

Heat races went to the rookies and veterans alike. Cardey topped Racing Junk Heat #1 ahead of El Cajon’s Braydin Collie and Byers. It was Cardey’s third heat race win of the year, tying him with Collie, point leader Aiden Lange, and Eric Greco (away at school in Idaho). Cody Nigh of Camarillo claimed his second heat race victory of 2025 in Extreme Muffler Heat #2.  The Ventura local was chased to the checkers by Dyer, and “Rockstar” Jon Robertson of Torrance.

 

For the main, point leader Lange was on the pole with Byers alongside.  Teammates Cardey and Dyer shared the second row.  Row three matched up Michnowicz with Douglass.

 

When the 25-lap main rolled to green, Lange, who lives in Lakewood jumped from the pole into the early lead, with Douglass, Dyer, and Cardey in pursuit. Dyer and Cardey swapped third on laps two and three, while Lange quickly stretched his advantage to nearly a straightaway by lap three.

 

Behind him, Michnowicz sliced past Cardey on lap four and began hounding Dyer. Douglass left the bottom wide open, and Dyer pounced on lap six to grab second. Michnowicz also slipped by Douglass two laps later.

 

By lap nine, Dyer was reeling Lange in. Two laps later, he blasted past the leader and immediately began to pull away. Within a couple of circuits, Dyer’s lead stretched to a third of a straightaway.

 

Michnowicz wasn’t done. With 10 to go, he powered past Lange into second and quickly narrowed the gap to Dyer. The cagey veteran tried the inside line on lap 17, but Dyer fended him off.

 

Traffic made the battle even more intense. With cars racing three-wide ahead of them, Michnowicz nearly stole the top spot at the start of lap 18. But Dyer decisively sliced through the lapped pack, putting cars between himself and Michnowicz. By the time Michnowicz cleared traffic, Dyer was gone.

 

At the End of the race, that went green to checkers without interruption, it was Dyer with his second CLS triumph of 2025, followed by Michnowicz, Cardey, Lange, and Byers.

 

“Feels pretty good,” Dyer told flagman and infield announcer Kris Kornder after the race.  “We have had a pretty good car all year.  We have been right there.”

 

“This is pretty awesome.  Traffic was tough.  I saw Bobby’s nose a few times, and I tried to take his line away.  Today is the fifth anniversary of my grandpa passing away, so it is pretty cool to win this one for him.”

 

Up next for the CLS is a two-night road trip to wrap up the Civil War Series against the Bay Cities Racing Association. The weekend kicks off Friday, September 12, when the Lightning Sprints share the stage with the World of Outlaws at Bakersfield Speedway. Just a day later, the series heads north to Kevin Lockwood’s Merced Speedway for the Saturday night finale.

 

Heading into that weekend, Lange holds a commanding 74-point advantage over Legend in the Motor City Buick/GMC Championship standings. Cardey sits third, followed by Greco in fourth and Collie in fifth. In the Rookie of the Year chase, Cardey owns a 54-point cushion over Collie with five big nights left to decide it.

 

Ventura Raceway,  August 30, 2025 Results

 

Diablo Fabrication Qualifying: 1. Bruce Douglass, 13.118; 2. Bobby Michnowicz, 13.122; 3. Drake Cardey, 13.184; 4. Jeff Dyer, 13.344; 5. Clay Byers, 13.492; 6. Aiden Lange, 13.512; 7. Zate Legend, 13.518; 8. Cody Nigh, 13.560; 9. Tyler Warner, 13.702; 10. Braydin Collie, 13.827; 11. Jon Robertson, 13.962; 12. Ryan Greco, 14.020; DNS Robb Palmear

 

Racing Junk Heat #1: 1. Cardey, 2. Collie, 3. Byers, 4. Douglass, 5. Warner, DNS Palmear

 

Extreme Muffler Heat #2: 1. Nigh, 2. Dyer, 3. Robertson, 4. Michnowicz, 5. Lange, 6. Greco

 

Main Event – 25 Laps (With Distance Behind and Starting Positions)

1. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA … (3rd)

2. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA … 1.021 - (5th)

3. Drake Cardey, Riverside, CA … 5.979 - (4th)

4. Aiden Lange, Lakewood, CA … 6.897 - (1)

5. Zate Legend, Riverside, CA … 7.010 - (8th)  

6. Cody Nigh, Camarillo, CA … 8.814 - (7th)

7. Braydin Collie, El Cajon, CA … 9.732 - (9th)

8. Bruce Douglass, Ventura, CA … 1 Lap - (6th)  

9. Tyler Warner, Alpine, CA … 1 Lap - (12th)  

10. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA … 1 Lap - (10th)

11. Ryan Greco, Palmdale, CA … 1 Lap - (13th)

12. Clay Byers, Castaic, CA … 1Lap - (2nd)

13. Robb Palmear, Ventura, CA … 23 Laps – (12th)

 

 

For more updates and series information, follow the California Lightning Sprint Car Series on social media and visit the official website at racecls.com.

 

The CLS would like to thank the following companies for being partners in the 2025 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, Hoosier Tires, 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 in 2025, please contact Jon Robertson via email at  jon.robertson@sbcglobal.net or by calling (310) 367-9050. 

 

Motor City Buick/GMC California Lightning Series Points

1. Aiden Lange … 1135

2. Zate Legend … 1061

3. Drake Cardey … 1036

4. Eric Greco … 990

5. Braydin Collie … 982

6. Jeff Dyer … 914

7. Leland Day … 838

8. Bobby Michnowicz … 827

9. Jon Robertson … 776

10. Cody Nigh … 616

 

Final Central California Shootout Points

1. Aiden Lange …242

2. Drake Cardey … 225

3. T.J. Smith … 224

4. Jeff Dyer … 221

5. Leland Day … 213

6. Braydin Collie … 207

7.  Hunter Kinney ... 206

8. Zate Legend … 199

9. Jon Robertson … 187

10. Eric Greco … 139

 

CLS vs BCRA Civil War Point Standings

1. Eric Greco, CLS … 260

2. Greg Dennett, BCRA … 210

3. Matt Land, BCRA … 200

4. Braydin Collie, CLS … 199

5. Hunter Kinney, BCRA … 198

5. Aiden Lange, CLS … 198

7. Zate Land, CLS … 197

8. Leland Day, CLS … 180

9. Drake Cardey, CLS … 174

10. David Gasper, CLS … 133