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| California Lightning Sprints Press Release |
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Chris Rahe Wins The CLS
Opener At Perris! by Josh Williams |
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(Perris Auto Speedway - February 23, 2002)
The California Lightning Sprints kicked off the 2002 racing season
at their home track, Perris Auto Speedway Saturday night before a
packed house. Thirty-one Lightning Sprints signed in to join the
famous World Of Outlaws on a very fast track.
The first heat race was won by 1998 CLS Points Champion Chris Rahe in just 2:24 (average 18 seconds flat). This was accomplished from his 6th place starting position! Perris Auto Speedway track record holder Carl Cosico finished 2nd ahead of Keith Janca & Lonnie Lopez. The 2 time CLS Points Champ Greg Bragg found himself in familiar territory out front of the 2nd heat race while David Cardey & Tyler Brown chased. Jonny Bates made the 4th & final transfer position after starting last in his first ever CLS heat race. Kip McCleary in his backup car used the pole position to win his first heat race of 2002 ahead of 2000 Rookie of the year Jeff Stiller, Lonnie Clabaugh & Denise Cline (Sczymczak). The fourth heat race had 1999 CLS Champ Brent Sexton drop out with a blown motor while leading and Josh Williams smacked the turn 4 wall while 2nd. James Squire took the win. Paul Cook made an impressive return to CLS action finishing 2nd. Robby Sczymczak finished 3rd ahead of Rookie Dylan Morris who also transferred directly to the main in his first ever CLS heat race start. The B Main got off to a rocky start as the flag-man was not satisfied with the front row pacers sending Jesse Dean to the tail of the field for the re-start. Steve Nelson brought the field to the re-start. Steve was joined by Danny Swanson & Karl Benefeil for a 3 wide battle going into the first turn. Swanson emerged with the lead & never looked back. Karl Benefeil followed closely while Ashley Walker recovered from a bad start & worked her way up to 3rd for her first trip the A Main. Steve Cardey also recovered from a bad start to grab the final transfer position but would be unable to start the main allowing Mike Barnette to make his debut CLS feature start. The A Main was brought to the green flag by Paul Cook. Jeff Stiller led the field into the first turn & appeared to be on his way to his first CLS Feature victory. Jeff's hope for a win faded as he dropped off the pace giving up the position to Chris Rahe on lap 12. Paul Cook kept pace with the front runners until his night was ended by a broken chain. David Cardey, Greg Bragg & Tyler Brown chased while Chris Rahe steadily increased his lead. Carl Cosico, rebounding from a year filled with bad luck appeared to be back on track also keeping pace with the leaders but was disqualified after hitting the re-start cone on the back straight. David Cardey used the low line to make a run on Rahe on a lap 17 re-start. Rahe withstood the challenge to again pull away. Caution flew again on lap 19 for Cardey as his engine blew. The stage was set for a showdown as Greg Bragg was now glued to Chris Rahe's bumper for the restart. Chris Rahe anticipated Greg's charge & protected the low line leaving nothing to chance and pulled away once again to take the win. Rob Sczymczak finished 4th after starting 12th. Denise Cline finished 5th after starting 14th. Jeff Stiller fought hard to hang on finishing 6th. The hard charging honor goes to Jonny Bates in his debut CLS start moving up 11 positions to finish 7th. Also impressive was Ashley Walker's feature debut finishing 8th from her 18th starting position. James Squire finished 9th & Keith Janca rounded out the top 10 on what sounded like 2 cylinders. Race Summary: Heat 1 - Chris Rahe 51, Carl Cosico 14, Keith Janca 67, Lonnie Lopez 11L, Jesse Dean 22, Pat Hickey 27, Gary Sexton 48 Heat 2 - Greg Bragg 2, David Cardey 37, Tyler Brown 34, Jonny Bates 33, Karl Benefeil 45, Donny Gansen 25, Danny Swanson 76 Heat 3 - Kip McCleary 9, Jeff Stiller 56, Lonnie Clabaugh 99, Denise Cline 8, Ashley Walker 10, Adam Householder 23, Ernie Bartley 74, Steve Cardey 31 Heat 4 - James Squire 54, Paul Cook 72, Rob Sczymczak 4, Dylan Morris 28, Mike Barnett 46, Steve Nelson 66, Josh Williams 29, Brent Sexton 44 B Main - Danny Swanson 76, Karl Benefeil 45, Ashley Walker 10, Steve Cardey 31, Mike Barnett 46, Pat Hickey 27, Steve Nelson 66, Jesse Dean 22, Adam Householder 23 A Main - Chris Rahe 51, Greg Bragg 2, Tyler Brown 34, Rob Sczymczak 4, Denise Cline 8, Jeff Stiller 56, Jonny Bates 33, Ashley Walker 10, James Squire 54, Keith Janca 67, Mike Barnett 46, David Cardey 37, Lonnie Lopez 11L, Paul Cook 72, Kip McCleary 9, Lonnie Clabaugh 99, Danny Swanson 76, Karl Benefeil 45, Carl Cosico 14, Dylan Morris 28 |
