PETERSEN MEDIA: Getting into a high pressure situation back in September as he got the call to drive the Bates Motorsports entry in the remaining Sprint Car Challenge Tour events for the injured Tim Kaeding with the team still in the thick of the Sprint Car Challenge Tour Owners Championship, Justyn Cox passed with flying colors as he excelled in his fill in role and helped the team capture the title in during the final race of the season.
“This Championship was all Tim Kaeding and Josh Bates Motorsports,” Justyn Cox said. “I am just the guy that was fortunate enough to help the team finish off the journey and it feels cool to help a local team like this win a title against a deep field of very strong teams.”
Cox has been awfully strong in the Bates Motorsports entry, and that remained the same during Saturday night’s Sprint Car Challenge Tour finale at Stockton Dirt Track.
Timing in second fastest in his qualifying group, Cox would pick up a fourth place finish in heat race action and put the R&B Company backed No. 42x machine in the feature event.
Though he would line up 13th, the team Cox and Bates Motorsports was chasing was starting behind them as Cox just focused on getting to the front. From his seventh row starting position, the Clarksburg, CA driver had his elbows up as he carved his way forward and looked to be a threat to win the feature event as he got inside the Top-Five in seemingly no time at all and began chasing after the likes of DJ Netto and eventual race winner, Shane Golobic.
Moving into second late, Cox quickly eliminated Golobic’s sizeable lead and made things interesting with just two laps to go. On the race’s final lap, Cox would make a bid for the lead, but Golobic had just too much momentum up top and Cox would cap his hard charge with a second place finish.
By way of his second place effort, Cox successfully helped the Bates Motorsports team claim the 2018 Sprint Car Challenge Tour Owner’s Championship. Aside from helping Bates Motorsports win the title, Cox was personally able to pick up positions for himself as he ended the year fourth in driver points behind Kyle Hirst, Sean Becker, and Willie Croft.
The team was also in action on Friday night as they looked to get some laps in Stockton, CA under their belt together with so much on the line on Saturday night.
Timing in 11th fastest in time trials, Cox would take advantage of a front row starting position in his heat race as he would win and move into the Dash where his sixth place finish put him in the third row for the 30-lap feature event .
In the feature, Cox would continue to show strength at the helm of the Bates Motorsports entry as he would get up into third and challenge Jason Solwold and Tony Gualda late only to see a caution flag impede his progress.
Losing a spot to DJ Netto on the restart, Cox would cap Friday night with a fourth place finish, paving the way for a great weekend.
“It was a ton of fun to work with Bates Motorsports these past couple of months, and I truly thank them for the opportunity,” Cox said. “It is kind of a bummer that season is already over, but I am already so excited for 2019 to get started. I also have to thank my team, and all my partners for their continued support through this season.”
The Cox Racing team would like to thank Berco Redwood, Berry Lumber, Trex, PM Truck Repair, Justice Brothers, K&N, LRB, Konnected, A.R.T., Sacramento Theatrical Lighting, College Cyclery, Arai, Racing Optics, All American Powder Coating, Coos Bay Speedway, Swimming Pool Perfections, Tim’s Hot Rod Shop, Shell Shock, Moyle Race Engines, and Manzer Motorsports for their support in 2018!
2018 BY THE NUMBERS: Races-45, Wins-2, Top 5’s-16, Top 10’s-24
ON TAP: Justyn Cox has concluded his 2018 season.
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