For Further Information Contact Brent Sexton (619) 454-6945 and sextonfire@cox.net For Immediate Release
CHIARAMONTE WINS POWRi SOUTHWEST LIGHTNING RACE – TAKES POINT LEAD
(Lakeside, CA, April 26, 2022) Fresh off his USAC Western Midget debut a week earlier in Bakersfield, 15-year-old Braden Chiaramonte posted his first victory of 2022 in the Lucas Oil POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series last Saturday night at the Imperial Speedway. In posting the wire-to-wire win, Chiaramonte catapulted from third place to first in the series championship point standings.
Braden Chiaramonte being interviewed after his win last week at Imperial. Chiaramonte photo.
Lake Elsinore’s Jeremy Queener started off the night by setting the fastest time in qualifying with a lap of 12.816. Lakeside, California’s Brent Sexton was second quick with a time of 12.914. Oak Hills veteran Bobby Michnowicz was third at 12.956. Sexton won the dash which featured the four fast qualifiers. Queener and Chiaramonte placed second and third. Michnowicz, who has been plagued by bad luck thus far in 2022, pulled off before the race was over.
Lakeside’s Dalton Sexton, who won the season opener at Imperial in March and who came into last Saturday as the series point leader, outdistanced Queener and San Diego’s David Bezio to win the first heat. A few moments later, third-year driver Wyatt Boczanowski of San Diego captured the second heat when he beat Chiaramonte and Lakeside’s Jim Squire to the checkered flag.
Chiaramonte was on the pole for the main and that did not bode well for the rest of the competition. Queener was next to the teen on row one. Boczanowski and Dalton Sexton were in row two with Jim Squire and Bezio in the third set of twos. Chiaramonte, who qualified fourth fastest and quick timer Queener, jumped into the first two spots when the race began. Boczanowski, who was making his first start in a long time, was third and Dalton Sexton was fourth.
By the time the race completed three laps, Chiaramonte and Queener had a full straight advantage over the field. One go around later, the lead duo hit lapped traffic coming off turn four. Queener was on Chiaramonte’s rear bumper and tried to challenge for the lead. Chiaramonte thwarted the effort, and Queener would not get that close again.
Lap six saw more bad luck for Michnowicz as he slowed and coasted back to the pits. He was done for the duration. By that time, Chiaramonte in the white RTL Traffic Control and Equipment Rentals/AM Ortega/Impact Racing/AIM Sports Data #73, had advanced his lead to a half straightaway. However, that all went out the window after Marin slid to a stop in turn one. Boczanowski, who was third, clipped Marin and tipped over. That brought out the red flag and resulted in Boczanowski leaving the track on a hook.
For the restart, Chiaramonte was at the point with Queener right behind. Bezio, who was subbing for 2021 series champion Grant Sexton who was under the weather, was third. Chiaramonte streaked away when the track went green and established a decent size lead. A couple of times the teenager momentarily got stuck behind lapped traffic and Queener inched a little closer, but not close enough to take a shot at the leader.
Chiaramonte crossed under the checkers first for his initial win of the 2022 campaign. Queener stayed in second for his best finish of the year and Bezio placed third. Brent Sexton and his oldest son Dalton rounded out the top five. Lakeside’s Cody Griggs, who started 11th and finished fifth, was the main event “Hard Charger.”
“It was a tough night for sure,” Chiaramonte told the crowd after the race. “The car was pretty good, but not good enough to win to start the night. We made a bunch of adjustments to the car and with a fresh Yoshimura that they built for us, it is good.” No time to rest for the SWLS drivers as they are headed to the Barona Speedway this Saturday night, April 30th. Chiaramonte is a mere two points ahead of Bezio in the championship chase. Dalton Sexton is third and is only five points out of first. Brent Sexton and Griggs round out the top five.
Gates at Barona will open at 3:00 p.m. with racing at 6:00. In addition to the SWLS, the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Compacts, IMCA Hobby Stocks, Pure Stocks, Dwarfs, and Mini Sprints will all be in action. Adult tickets are $25.00. Kids 7-17 are $10.00 and children 6 and under are free. Family packs of two adults and two kids are available for $50.00. Seniors, military, and EMTs get in for $10.00.
The track is located at 1754 Wildcat Road in Lakeside (92040). The track website is https://baronaspeedway.com/ and the office phone number is (619) 994-6560.
The Lucas Oil POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series would like to thank the Sexton Fire Protection, RTL Traffic Control & Equipment, Victory Graphix, BK Wing, and A.M. Ortega Construction Inc. If you or your company would like to become part of the series in 2022, please contact Brent Sexton at (619) 454-6945 or mailto:sextonfire@cox.net
April 23 Imperial Speedway race Results Qualifying: 1. Jeremy Queener, 12.816, 2. Brent Sexton, 12.914, 3. Bobby Michnowicz, 12.956, 4. Braden Chiaramonte, 12.963, 5. Dalton Sexton, 13.053, 6. Wyatt Boczanowski, 13.896, 7. David Bezio, 13.963, 8. Cody Griggs, 14.107, 9. Jim Squire, 14.338 10. Jon Squire, 14.417, 11. C.J. Marin No Time, Grant Sexton DNS Fast Car Dash: 1. Brent Sexton, 2. Queener, 3. Chiaramonte, 4. Michnowicz Heat 1: Dalton Sexton, 2. Queener, 3. Bezio, 4. Michnowicz, 5. Jon Squire Heat 2: Boczanowski, 2. Chiaramonte, 3. Jim Squire, 4. Brent Sexton, 5. C.J. Marin, 6. Griggs
Main Event (with starting positions) 1. Braden Chiaramonte – El Cajon, CA – 1st 2. Jeremy Queener – Lake Elsinore, CA – 2nd 3. David Bezio – San Diego, CA – 6th 4. Brent Sexton – Lakeside, CA – 7th 5. Dalton Sexton – Lakeside, CA – 4th 6. Cody Griggs – Lakeside, CA – 11th 7. Jim Squire – Lakeside, CA – 5th 8. C.J. Marin – Imperial Beach, CA – 10th 9. Wyatt Boczanowski – San Diego, CA – 3rd 10. Jon Squire – El Cajon, CA – 9th 11. Bobby Michnowicz – Oak Hills, CA 8th Lucas Oil POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Points 1. Braden Chiaramonte – El Cajon, CA – 441 2. David Bezio – San Diego, CA – 439 3. Dalton Sexton – Lakeside, CA– 436 4. Brent Sexton – Lakeside, CA – 427 5. Cody Griggs - – 369 6. Jeremy Queener – Lake Elsinore, CA – 3512 7. C.J. Martin - Imperial Beach, CA – 344 8. Will Browne – Glendora, CA – 268 9. Grant Sexton – Lakeside, CA – 260 10. Matt Sotomayor – El Cajon, CA – 242 2022 Lucas Oil POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule March 4 Imperial Valley Raceway Wingless – Dalton Sexton March 5 Imperial Valley Raceway Wingless – Brent Sexton April 23 Imperial Valley Raceway Winged – Braden Chiaramonte April 30 Barona Speedway Winged May 14 Barona Speedway Wingless May 28 Central Missouri Speedway (Winged National) Non-Points May 29 Central Missouri Speedway (Winged National) Non-Points June 8 Barona Speedway Winged June 25 Barona Speedway Winged July 9 Barona Speedway Wingless July 14 Deming Speedway (Clay Cup – Winged) Non-Points July 15 Deming Speedway (Clay Cup – Winged) Non-Points July 16 Deming Speedway (Clay Cup – Winged) Non-Points August 11 Norman County Raceway Minkota Nationals (Winged) Non-Points August 12 Rivers Cities Speedway Minkota Nationals (Winged) Non-Points August 13 Greenbush Race Park Minkota Nationals (Winged) Non-Points August 14 Buffalo Rivers Speedway Minkota Nationals (Winged) Non-Points Sept. 14 Perris Auto Speedway (with USAC/CRA) Winged October 1 Barona Speedway Winged October 8 Mojave Valley Raceway (co sanction with CLS) Winged October 13 Lemoore Raceway (California Cup) Non-Points October 14 Lemoore Raceway (California Cup) Non-Points October 15 Lemoore Raceway (California Cup) Non-Points October 23 Imperial Valley Raceway Wingless This release produced by Scott Daloisio (909) 226-7768 sdaloisiosports@gmail.com