By Shawn Miller
ELMA, Wash. (July 17) – Saturday’s feature was one of the most satisfying – and longest – races of Justyn Cox’s young career.
The second-year racer from Clarksburg, Calif., finished 14th in a Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour feature at Grays Harbor Raceway, which tied his best career National finish.
Cox, who started 18th, quickly drove to 10th as he narrowly avoided a pair of crashes.
The action was halted after one lap when Wayne Johnson was involved in a violent wreck that stopped the race for approximately one hour while the track waited for an ambulance to get back.
Cox restarted 16th and was into the top 10 following a crash two laps later.
“The start was hectic to say the least,” Cox said. “Wayne is a champion of our sport and has been a role model of mine, so I really hope he can recover quickly.”
Cox battled for a top 10 most of the race before ultimately settling for 14th after losing a spot on a late restart.
After driving from eighth to fourth in his heat race, Cox started the second of three B Mains on the pole. He led all 15 laps to transfer to the feature, where Cox finished in a position he’d only accomplished once before – May 29 at the Jetmore Motorplex in Jetmore, Kan.
However, as exciting as tying a career-best National finish is that the result moved Cox from 18th to 15th in the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour standings.
“Tonight was a great night for a lot of reasons, including the momentum it built heading into a track I’m familiar with,” said Cox, who qualified for his first career National feature last July when the Tour visited the Cottage Grove Speedway in Cottage Grove, Ore.
The Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour resumes next Friday with a two-day race in Cottage Grove.
For more information, including complete results, visit www.justyncox.com.