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MICHNOWICZ,
16, WINS PERRIS WINGED CALIF. LIGHTNING SPRINT MAIN
– By Tim Kennedy
PERRIS, Calif., Mar. 12 – Kevin Michnowicz,
16, started fifth and drove his dad's Henchcraft/1200-cc
Kawasaki ZX-12 winged California Lightning Sprint
car to his first 20-lap feature victory Saturday on
the half-mile clay Perris Auto Speedway. The son of
former CRA 410 sprint car feature winner Bobby
Michnowicz, of Torrance, made his sixth CLS
appearance and topped to his prior finishes of
second, third and three fifth place finishes during
his brief 2010 CLS Series career. The team became
the series 2011 point leader after the first of 18
scheduled races.
Dan Hillberg, 2011 CLS president, started second and
paced the first five laps in a 17-car field. Fourth
starter Tim Brown led lap 6 in a three-car dog-fight
with Michnowics and Hillberg. On lap 7 Michnowicz
shot from third to first with an inside pass in the
third turn. He opened a straightaway lead by lap 15
and won by half a straightaway over Brown. Brent
Sexton raced from 16th starting spot to finish third
with 12 cars racing at the finish. Rookie Sheldon
Creed, 13, came from 12th to finish fourth. Pole
starter/2010 CLS champion Jarrett Kramer was fifth.
Dan Hillberg, 15-year old Jacob Will, Guy Maresch,
Darren Hillbetrg and 18-year old rookie Gabriella
Robles completed the top ten.
Rookie Steven Limon, 24, was in sixth place on lap 5
when his left rear suspension broke. The car dug in
and rolled to the wall exiting turn four. He
complained about a sore neck but declined medical
transport and remained in the pits. Limon, Brown and
Will won the 6-lap heat races. Michnowicz, the 13th
qualifier in a 20-car field, set the fastest
qualifying time of 18.231. The CLS season opener was
a preliminary attraction for the USAC-CRA Sprints
featured division. Both series will return to Perris
on Saturday, April 2. |
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