ANTIOCH, Calif. – Justyn Cox overcame an early spin to race back through the field to win Friday’s winged sprint car feature that headlined the action at Antioch Speedway.
Shawn Arriaga started on the pole of the 12-car field and led the first lap before giving way to Nick Ringo in turns three and four on lap two. The first caution waved with three laps completed for two cars stopped in turn four.
On the ensuing restart Ringo held the lead, but behind him Cox looped his No. 31c sprint car in turn two to bring the caution back out. That dropped Cox to the tail of the 12-car field.
Ringo maintained his lead on the next restart as Cox began to work his way back through the field. However, William Cornwell Jr. would flip his No. 3c sprint car in turns three and four to stop the action with seven laps complete. Cornwell was uninjured.
When racing resumed the battle was on at the front of the field with Ringo trying to hold off Joey Ancona. The battle intensified and Ancona tried to make a daring move into turn three, but the leaders made contact and Ancona spun in turns three and four to bring out the caution as Ringo continued on with damage to his front wing.
The incident moved Cox up to fourth and he shot to third on the restart as Ringo took a defensive line on the bottom of the track. Utilizing the top of the track, Cox quickly drove by runner-up Arriaga before running down and passing Ringo on the top coming out of turn four at the halfway point in the 30-lap main event.
Cox would go on to lead the remainder of the feature as Ringo survived to finish second.
“I made an oopsie there on lap four. It’s not a lot of cars, so just got to be patient and get back up there,” said Cox in victory lane. “It’s nice to get back to Antioch. It’s been awhile and I love to see the changes with the new promoter. It’s awesome here.”
Ancona rebounded to finish third after his contact with Ringo while battling for the lead. Jake Haulot and Art McCarthy Jr. completed the top-five.
In other action, Shawn Jones won the 30-lap non-winged sprint car feature ahead of a 17-car field. Les Friend picked up a victory in the hobby stock main event after starting seventh. Joel Hannagan came from 12th to win the hard top feature.