CHICO, Calif. – A last-lap, last-corner pass of Shane Golobic gave Justyn Cox the victory during the opening night of the 25th annual Fall Nationals for 360 sprint cars Friday night at Silver Dollar Speedway.
Cox, who actually took the lead briefly from Golobic on lap 27 before Golobic raced back past, reloaded his charged and swooped around the NOS Energy Drink-sponsored, Matt Wood Racing-prepared No. 17w coming off turn four to the checkered flag.
Though Golobic led down the backstretch, when he went low in turn three Cox pitched the Rutz Racing No. 8r to the top side, with the move sticking and propelling Cox ahead.
Cox ultimately beat Golobic to the finish line by .199 seconds.
Not only did Friday night mark Cox’s first victory at Silver Dollar Speedway after a decade of trying, it was also the first California win for the Canadian Rutz Racing operation and car owner Doug Rutz.
That made for an emotional celebration in victory lane.
“I have dreamed of this moment for a long time,” said Cox. “It’s taken 10 years to get my first win at Chico and I want to thank Doug Rutz and his family for giving me this opportunity to drive their car.”
Golobic was short on words after a disappointing second-place finish to a race he felt was his to win.
“Lapped traffic wasn’t kind to me tonight and I guessed wrong,” said Golobic. “That’s racing sometimes, unfortunately.”
Willie Croft completed the podium ahead of Andy Forsberg and Chase Majdic.
Stephen Ingraham led the first 14 laps of the 30-lapper after starting from the pole as the dash winner, but got tangled up while trying to pass the slower car of Greg Hamilton, with the two making contact that left Ingraham on his side.
That led to one of three red flags, with Ingraham retiring to a 19th-place finish.
Two early reds also slowed the pace on Friday night. Kyle Offill tagged the frontstretch wall and went for a tumble with two laps in the book, while Justin Sanders went end over end in turn four on lap five.
Sanders and Offill finished 22nd and 23rd, respectively.
Fifty-one cars lined the pit area for Friday night’s program. Colby Johnson won the 15-lap B-main, while Tyler Thompson and Jodie Robinson split twin C-main victories.
The finish:
Justyn Cox, Shane Golobic, Willie Croft, Andy Forsberg, Chase Majdic, Kalib Henry, Sean Becker, Cody Lamar, Ryan Robinson, Ryan Bernal, Korey Lovell, Devon Borden, Michael Faccinto, Kyle Hirst, Colby Johnson, Mitchell Faccinto, Greg Hamilton, Tony Gualda, Stephen Ingraham, Michael Ing, Tim Kaeding, Justin Sanders, Kyle Offill, Cole Macedo.