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CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT CARS
413 Saint Andrews Place
Placentia, CA 92870
(714) 719-0295
[email protected]
http://www.calightningsprints.com/
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Hillberg (714) 719-0295 or [email protected]
For Immediate Release
DEFENDING CHAMPION KRAMER GETS SECOND WIN OF 2011!
(Placentia, CA, August 23, 2011) When the apparent winner came in ten-pounds to light at the post-race weigh in, defending California Lightning Sprint Car Series champion Jarrett Kramer won his second race of the 2011 campaign before another large crowd at Perris Auto Speedway last Saturday. The victory also catapulted Kramer into second in the CLS championship standings.
Kramer, a 29-year-old racing veteran from Spring Valley, started the main inside the fourth row alongside fast qualifier Sheldon Creed of San Diego in the 18-car starting field. Anaheim Hill's veteran Guy Maresch set the pace once Kevin Winters displayed the green flag to start the 20-lap race. Darren Hillberg, who resides in nearby Corona and who won his first ever main event at The PAS on July 2nd, was second when the race began.
The first yellow of the race came out on lap two when series rookie John Sparland of San Marcos lost a wheel and came to a stop in turn four. Once racing resumed, Hillberg relieved Maresch of the top spot and quickly built a good size lead. Behind him, Creed, pre-race favorite Kevin Michnowicz of Lomita and Wildomar's Tim Brown were steaming their way to the front. Michnowicz, who started 14th after a poor qualifying time, was in fifth by the end of the fourth circuit and Brown worked his way up to second one lap later.
Heading into the race, point leader Brown had only finished out of the top five once all season long. He had a fast car on Saturday and was looking for his first win the of the year, but a tangle with the lapped car of J.J. Bagwell on the eight go' round, put him out of the main event for the first time in 2011. Bagwell got on his side bringing out the red flag. He was OK, but like Brown, his racecar was to damaged to continue.
On the restart, Creed, 14, quickly took the lead. Many in the crowd thought the race for the top spot was done at that point, but that was not to be as Michnowicz was coming fast.
Dan Hillberg of Placentia came in to the night second in points, but just before the halfway point, he banged the turn one cushion in the Tobey Sampson owned #82 causing the Jacob's Ladder to break and losing a chain. He ended up 14th and subsequently lost the second spot in the standings to Kramer.
The always fast Michnowicz was a teen on the move and he chased down and passed Creed for the lead. Once out front, the three-time series winner built a commanding advantage, but that lead disappeared when the yellow flew for Maresch who spun with five laps to go bringing out a yellow.
For the restart, the top four were Michnowicz, Creed, Darren Hillberg and Kramer. Kramer made what turned out to be a key pass of Hillberg on lap 16 for third. Meanwhile, Michnowicz easily motored away from the pack again for what looked like his fourth win of the year. That would have tied him with his father Bobby for tops on the circuit. However, disaster struck with less than tow laps to go when he blew an engine. That handed the lead to Creed and he led the remaining two circuits for what seemed to be his first ever CLS win over Kramer and Darren Hillberg. However, after the victory interview on the front straight, Creed went to the scales and his car was found to be 10 pounds to light and he was disqualified. That gave the win to Kramer over Darren Hillberg and Corona rookie Stephon Limon. Alexander Bissett of Hemet, driving the Zach Zauss #29, and Jim Squire III of Lakeside rounded out the top five.
With the victory, Kramer took second from Hillberg in what has been quite an amazing revival for the veteran driver. The first half of the year, Kramer had mechanical ills, missed one race and like Creed on this night, was disqualified after an apparent win for being to light. He virtually did not score points in two races, but has clawed his way up to second. With five point paying races left on the 2011 schedule, Kramer is 154 points behind Brown. Dan Hillberg is 8-points behind Kramer. Bissett and Anaheim's Dale Gamer, who was the first car to drop out of the main, round out the top five in points.
The CLS will journey to the Santa Maria Speedway for the final time in 2011 this Saturday, August 27th. The series then takes a couple of weeks off before heading to Victorville Raceway Park on September 17th.
The California Lightning Sprint Car Series would like to thank 2011 series sponsors Christian Stover Foundation, Circle Track Performance, DJ Safety, Electro Tech Powder Coating, Elliott's Powder Coating, DK Machine and Fabrication, Hoosier Tires, Keizer Wheels, Performance by Rosson Racing, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Saldana Race Products and Sander Engineering. If you or your company would like to become part of the California Lightning Series for the 2011 season, please call Dan Hillberg at: (714) 719-0295.
To keep up with the CLS on line, please visit the web site at: http://www.calightningsprints.com/index.html
Main Event Results: 1. Jarrett Kramer (Spring Valley), 2. Darren Hillberg (Corona), 3. Stephon Limon (Corona), 4. Alexander Bissett (Hemet), 5. Jim Squire III (Lakeside), 6. Dan Lancaster (Imperial Beach), 7. Jon Squire (El Cajon), 8. Peter Benker (El Cajon), 9. Kevin Michnowicz (Lomita), 10. Dawn Sparland (San Marcos), 11. Guy Maresch (Anaheim Hills), 12. John Simms (Carlsbad), 13. Tim Brown (Wildomar), 14. Dan Hillberg (Placentia), 15. Paul Krueger (Buena Park), 16. JJ Bagwell, 17. John Sparland (San Marcos), 18. Dale Gamer (Anaheim), DQ Sheldon Creed (San Diego)
2011 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Point Standings
1. Tim Brown - Wildomar - 1609
2. Jarrett Kramer - Spring Valley - 1455
3 Dan Hillberg - Placentia - 1447
4. Alexander Bissett - Hemet - 1395
5. Dale Gamer - Anaheim - 1271
6. Dan Lancaster - Imperial Beach - 1236
7. Darren Hillberg - Corona - 1219
8. Paul Krueger - Buena Park - 1175
9. Stephen Limon - Corona - 1170
10. Guy Maresch - Anaheim Hills - 1097
2011 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule
March 12 - Perris Auto Speedway - Kevin Michnowicz
April 2nd - Perris Auto Speedway - Kevin Michnowicz
April 16th - Ventura Raceway - Dan Hillberg
April 30th - Bakersfield Speedway - Bobby Michnowicz
May 14th - Santa Maria Speedway - Kevin Michnowicz
May 28th - Perris Auto Speedway - Jarrett Kramer
June 11th - Victorville Raceway Park - Bobby Michnowicz
July 2nd - Perris Auto Speedway - Darren Hillberg
July 23rd - Bakersfield Speedway - Bobby Michnowicz
July 30th - Perris Auto Speedway - Bobby Michnowicz
August 20th - Perris Auto Speedway - Jarrett Kramer
August 27th - Santa Maria Speedway -
September 17th - Victorville Raceway Park
September 24th - Bakersfield Speedway
October 15th - Ventura Raceway
November 4th - Perris Auto Speedway
November 5th - Perris Auto Speedway
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 Hielcshier Sr.
2010 Jarrett Kramer
This press release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768. Please keep an eye out for our other clients: Perris Auto Speedway, "Dynamite" David Cardey, Greg Alexander, Justin Marvel in the RB Motorsports #1B and the Oil Twins Amsoil.
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