CLARKSBURG, Calif. – When the new racing season gets underway in Northern California, Justyn Cox will return to action in a familiar ride aboard his family-owned No. 31c on a full-time basis.
Cox announced the news Thursday afternoon, effectively ending a two-year tenure with C&M Motorsports.
“First and foremost, I want to thank Cody, Mandy, and everyone associated with the C&M Motorsports team for a fantastic opportunity to race with them for the past two seasons,” Justyn Cox said. “It was a great team to race with and I am lucky enough to have made some lifelong friends from that opportunity and I wish them and their team all of the best moving forward.”
Though it will look familiar to onlookers, the Cox Family Racing team has gone through a bit of a makeover as longtime sponsor, Berco, has emerged of a more prominent partner with the forming of Cox-Berco Racing.
“The Berry family came to us with a great opportunity to bring our family team back, and it was something that was too good to pass up,” Cox said. “It is a great way to get our team back together, and my entire family is excited for the year ahead.”
With Cox-Berco Racing coming together over the last few days, the team is still finalizing additional marketing partners, and will make those announcements as deals become finalized.
Aside from Justyn Cox assuming driving duties, Rod Tiner Jr will be back as the team’s crew chief. Phillip Wilkinson will also fill out the role of crew member and mechanic.
For the past two seasons the Cox Racing No. 31c team has been idle with Cox competing with C&M Motorsports, thus making next season a rebuilding year of sorts for the team. The initial plan will be work their schedule around the Placerville (Calif.) Speedway schedule, however, the team will not run for series nor track titles.
“We have a lot of exciting things in the works, and it is a good year to have a little flexibility and not commit to any one track or series,” Cox said. “The Cox-Berco Racing team’s schedule will feature a heavy dose of Placerville Speedway as it is our home track, but we are looking forward to moving around a little and traveling along the West Coast and even mixing in a little 410ci action.”
C&M Motorsports expressed its gratitude to Cox’s service with the team.
“Mandi and I are really appreciative for what Justyn did for our race team the last two seasons,” team owner Cody Geaney said. “Obliviously 2020 was a bit of a weird year with the [COVID-19 pandemic] shutdown, but we were able to get out of California that year and have some fun in the Midwest. 2021 we were able to win 360ci portion of the Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial, and finish third in the SCCT points. It really was a solid couple of seasons, and we truly wish him and his family all the best.
“Getting to know the Cox family over our time together, Mandi and I truly feel like we have made some lifelong friends. He was given a great opportunity to get his family team going again from one of his long-time sponsors, and really it is an opportunity he could not pass up. I know how much racing means to that family, and I am excited for them.”
With the move coming just this week, C&M Motorsports doesn’t have a plan for the season in place yet, but the team is brainstorming ideas over the winter months.
“Fortunately, there is plenty of time for us to figure out which direction we will go, and we will definitely explore our options,” Geaney added.