HILLBERG GETS SURPRISE WIN AT VENTURA CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR RACE!

CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT CARS

Source — Scott Daloisio Sports

Date Posted — April 19, 2011

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PLACENTIA, California — Veteran driver Dan Hillberg of Placentia, California thought his last corner pass of Paul Krueger was going to be good for a second place finish in the California Lightning Sprint Car main event at the Ventura Raceway on Saturday night. A few moments later, Hillberg was surprised when he was informed by officials that his pass netted him his second ever CLS main event win.

Hillberg began the main event on the inside of the fourth row and was methodically moving his way forward throughout the race. However, most in the crowd were watching the amazing charge of defending CLS champion Jarrett Kramer. The Spring Valley, California resident started the 20-lap main on the inside of the back row in the 16-car field. Kramer passed 14-cars on his way to the front of the pack and took the checkered flag first. However, when CLS officials put his car on the scales minutes after winning the main event, the car was found to be 11 pounds under weight and he was disqualified.

Kramer's disqualification gave the win to longtime veteran Hillberg, who began racing with the USRC Midgets in the late 1970s. Krueger, who was a longtime regular in the USAC Three-Quarter Midget series, finished second followed Dale Gamer of Anaheim, Wildomar's Tim Brown and teenager Alexander Bissett of Hemet.

Jacob Will and Jim Squire won the two heat races earlier in the program. Seventeen-year-old Kevin Michonowicz, who won the series first two races at Perris Auto Speedway and came in as the point leader, crashed in his heat race and did not start the main event.

Brown's fourth place finish in the main event combined with two second place finishes at Perris sees him taking over the point lead after three races. He has a comfortable 59-point advantge over Hillberg in the standings. Teens Michnowicz, Bissett and Will round out the top five.

CLS is taking this week off before heading to the Bakersfield Speedway on Saturday, April 30th.

The California Lightning Sprint Car Series would like to thank the following sponsors for their support in the 2011 season: Performance by Rosson Racing, DK Machine and Fabrication , Sander Engineering, Elliott's Powder Coating, Circle Track Performance, Hoosier Tires, Racing Optics and the Christian Stover Foundation. 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

Ventura Main Event: 1. Dan Hillberg (Placentia), 2. Paul Krueger (Buena Park), 3. Dale Gamer (Anaheim), 4. Tim Brown (Wildomar), 5. Alexander Bissett (Hemet), 6. Dan Lancaster, 7. John Sparland (San Marcos), 8. Jacob Will (Carlsbad), 9. Dawn Sparland (San Marcos), 10. Stephen Limon (Corona), 11. Chris Watkins (Cypress), 12. Jim Squire (Lakeside), 13. Donna Kotlinski (Nuevo), 14. Darren Hillberg (Corona), 15. Gabby Robles (Nuevo), 16. Jarrett Kramer (Spring Valley) DQ

2011 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Point Standings

1. Tim Brown - Wildomar - 465

1. Dan Hillberg - Placentia - 406

3. Kevin Michnowicz - Lomita - 385

4. Alexander Bissett - Hemet - 380

5. Jacob Will - Carlsbad - 373

6. Paul Krueger - Buena Park - 341

7. Dale Gamer - Anaheim - 336

8. Donna Kotlinski - Nuevo - 326

9. Darren Hillberg - Corona - 311

10. Stephen Limon - Corona - 300

2011 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule