By Scott Daloisio
(APRIL 6, 2010, LAKESIDE, CA) The California Lightning Sprint Cars return to action this Saturday night, April 10th, at their home track, Perris Auto Speedway. Joining them on the doubleheader night of open wheel action will be the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars. Spectator gates will open at 5:00 PM with the first race of the night set for 7:00 PM.
Bobby Bender of Ramona scored a convincing win when the CLS opened the season at The PAS on March 6th. Two weeks later Rowland Heights driver Johnny Bluntach captured his third ever CLS checkered flag at the third of a mile Bakersfield Speedway. While they have the first two wins of the 2010 campaign, it is Spring Valley veteran Jarrett Kramer who sits atop the championship standing heading into round three on Saturday.
Kramer started 17th in the season opener at The PAS and passed 13 cars to finish fourth. At Bakersfield, the flamboyant racer started seventh and ended up second after closing on Bluntach on the last lap as they weaved their way through lapped traffic. The two top four finishes give Kramer a total of 270 points which is 18 more than second place Alex Bender heading into Saturday’s race. Kramer’s brother Seth is third in the standings followed by Bakersfield’s Wink Schweitzer, Bobby Bender and Bluntach.
There will be little time to rest for the California Lightning Sprint Car teams after Saturday’s race. The next week they will make their first journey of the season to the picturesque Ventura Raceway.
The California Lightning Sprint Car Series would like to acknowledge the following sponsors for making the 2010 campaign possible. The Christian Stover Foundation, Performance by Rosson Racing, BK Wings, Circle Track Performance, Hoosier Tires and Accelerated Environmental Service. Anyone wishing to come on board as a series sponsor can call Brent Sexton at: (619) 454-6945.
For more information on this Saturday’s race or the 2010 California Lightning Sprint Car Series, contact Brent Sexton ((619) 454-6945 or sextonfire@cox.net) or Scott Daloisio (909 226-7768 or sdaloisiosports@aol.com).
2010 CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS
1. Jarrett Kramer – Spring Valley, CA – 270
2. Alex Bender – Ramona, CA – 252
3. Seth Kramer – Spring Valley, CA – 244
4. Wink Schweitzer – Bakersfield, CA – 240
5. Bobby Bender – Ramona, CA – 216
6. Johnny Bluntach – Rowland Heights, CA – 206
7. Tobey Sampson – Torrance, CA – 179
8. Robert Wilhelm – Riverside, CA –171
8. Dan Hillberg – Placentia, CA – 171
10. Guy Maresch – Anaheim Hills, CA – 164
2010 CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE
April 10th … Perris Auto Speedway
April 17th … Ventura Raceway
May 1st … Bakersfield Speedway
May 29th … Perris Auto Speedway
June 5th … Ventura Raceway
June 12th … Perris Auto Speedway
June 19th … Santa Maria Speedway
July 3rd … Perris Auto Speedway
July 24th … Perris Auto Speedway (1st Annual Christian Stover Memorial
July 31st … Bakersfield Speedway
August 14th … Perris Auto Speedway
August 28th … Perris Auto Speedway
September 11th … Ventura Raceway
September 25th … Bakersfield
October 2nd … Perris Auto Speedway
October 9th … Perris Auto Speedway (Southern California Fair)
November 5th & 6th … Perris Auto Speedway (Oval Nationals)
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 Ganson
2007 Shane Rosson
2008 Brent Sexton
2009 Stuart Hielshier Sr.