CHATHAM, La. – Cody Robbins won the inaugural Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Cajun Region Modified event Saturday at Chatham Speedway.
Starting eighth, Robbins cut through the field and passed race-long leader Tommy Rascoe on the final circuit of the 20-lap feature, taking home the oversized check from victory lane at Jerry Hobson’s quarter-mile oval.
Robbins has a long resume in a variety of divisions around his Mansfield, La., home including sprint cars, late models, factory stocks and more. Robbins opted to compete with the STSS Cajun Region this year and was making just his second start in a Northeastern-style modified.
The opening lap of the historic STSS event saw a pair of incidents necessitating complete restarts. Rascoe, who started fourth, emerged with the lead while Robbins swiftly climbed to second.
Lap after lap, corner after corner, Robbins’ No. 7 stalked Rascoe’s No. 9R, looking to the inside.
Ultimately, slower traffic on the last circuit changed the race’s complexion. Rascoe’s car, while negotiating a lapped car, pushed off the bottom and Robbins took advantage, diving through the inside to take the top spot.
“I was hoping we were going to catch the lapped traffic,” Robbins said. “I saw his wheels turn to the left and I knew he (Rascoe) was going to push. I had just enough room to get under him.”
Robbins earned $1,175 for the win: $1,000 from the posted payout, $100 from Shed Road Auto Parts (Bossier City, La.) as the Hard Charger and $75 as the highest-finishing driver with an APE Engines (Natchitoches, La.) decal.
Rascoe, who competed with the STSS during the Sunshine Swing in Ocala, Fla., back in January, settled for second. Caleb Dillard started sixth, got shuffled back early and drove forward to third in the Tim Bates Painting No. 85. Greg Dillard ran inside the top-five for the entire distance, finishing fourth and Keith Badiali, who at one point was racing for the lead, finished fifth.
The finish:
Cody Robbins, Tommy Rascoe, Caleb Dillard, Greg Dillard, Keith Badiali, Richard Holt, Thomas Holt, Joe Boswell, Michael Krompengal, David Forbis, Gerald Cook, Brent Buckley, Jimmy McCommas, Corey Oltz.