STOCKTON, Calif. — D.J. Netto won the 35-lap Jimmy Sills Classic at the Stockton Dirt Track on Saturday night.
In surprising fashion, Netto took advantage of a very late race caution to pass initial leader Shane Golobic with just two laps remaining and drove the Netto AG No. 88n to victory over Kalib Henry and Golobic.
The race’s final caution waved on lap 33 when Blake Carrick spun in the second turn. The caution put an end to Golobic’s dominating performance after he started on the front row next to pole sitter Netto. Golobic led from the initial start and controlled the race despite several cautions and a red flag period. Netto made a bold pass to the inside of Golobic going into the first turn on the restart.
A surprised Golobic tried to make a cross over move going down the backstretch, only to overpower the outside edge and loosing yet another spot. He would have to settle for a third-place finish after having controlled the entire race up until that point.
The race went five laps before the first caution flag flew for Ben Worth. On the restart, Netto challenged leader Golobic by getting along side of him in the fourth turn, but Golobic would remain the leader going into the first turn. The green flag would stay out long as fifth-place runner Zane Blanchard spun going down the back stretch. His race ended as he was towed back to the pits.
scary moment for Tony Gualda occurred on lap 10 when he parked his car atop the fourth turn banking and jumped from the car, apparently on fire. The result was the race’s only red flag stoppage, as Gualda was able to walk away from the scene after being attended to by the ambulance crew.
The next caution was for Lucas Ashe who stopped off the third turn. He would refire and join the back of the pack. Andy Forsberg’s race ended on lap 14 after spinning and then retiring from the event.
A long green flag period allowed Golobic to catch the back of the field, where he had to master the slower cars. What looked like a sure win ended when Blake Carrick brought out the caution with just two laps to go.
The finish:
D.J. Netto, Kalib Henry, Shane Golobic, Willie Croft, Kyle Offill, Mitchell Moles, Cole Macedo, Blake Carrick, Tanner Carrick, Jesse Love, Ben Worth, Lucas Ashe, Andy Forsberg, Tony Gualda, Jake Haulot, Zane Blanchard, Jayson Bright