PLACERVILLE, Calif. – Justyn Cox picked up a new ride just for the Nor-Cal Posse Shootout and it paid off in a big way Friday night at Placerville Speedway.
It was announced early in the week that the veteran driver would be in the Moxie Motorsports No. 97 for the two-night show, and Cox repaid the team with the feature win during the opening night of action.
Cox led all 30 laps in the Morrison Concrete-sponsored car, picking up $2,500 after starting on the front row. Rico Abreu who would nipped Shane Golobic at the finish line by a nose to take the runner up spot.
Kalib Henry came home in fourth ahead of Andy Forsberg.
For almost the entire distance, it was a battle between Cox and Golobic, as the two fought high and low around the tight El Dorado County Fairgrounds track. Despite several double file restarts due to minor caution periods, Cox managed to stay in front of Golobic’s Matt Woods Racing No. 17w.
If Cox picked the low line to run, Golobic moved up high and when Cox decided to try the high side, Golobic went low.
However, the race’s final caution waved with just six laps remaining. The field was bunched up for the final time, but it was Cox who continued to master the dry and dusty track while Golobic seemed to lose distance each of the closing laps.
That allowed Abreu to catch and overtake Golobic at the line, after Abreu spent most of his race battling Henry and producing the second-best race within the race.
Abreu sixth in the 24-car field and slowly picked off positions with the aid of double file restarts, due to four caution periods.
Heat races were won by Golobic, Abreu, Kyle Hirst and Cox, with Golobic going on to claim the Dash. Blake Carrick won the B-feature and Jodie Robinson won the C-main.
Forty-five cars timed in.
The finish:
Justyn Cox, Rico Abreu, Shane Golobic, Kalib Henry, Andy Forsberg, Kyle Hirst, Ryan Robinson, Justin Sanders, Michael Faccinto, Bobby McMahan, Tim Kaeding, Tony Gualda, Shane Hopkins, Sean Becker, Cole Macedo, Blake Carrick, Tanner Carrick, Bubba DeCaries, Kurt Nelson, Tyler Brown, Andy Gregg, Chase Johnson, Kaleb Montgomery, Ryan Bernal