PLACERVILLE, Calif. — Justin Sanders took advantage of a late-race caution flag and passed leader Shane Golobic to win the Sprint Car Challenge Series season opener at the Placerville Speedway on Saturday night.
Sanders drove Dale Miller’s No. 4sa sprint car to victory in the 35-lapper around the El Dorado County Fairgrounds quarter-mile bullring.
A heartbroken Golobic had to settle for second, while Sean Becker made a late-race charge after losing spots early on. Youngsters Blake Carrick and Isaiah Vasquez rounded out the top five.
Willie Croft and Golobic brought the 24-car starting field down to take the green flag with Croft jumping to an early lead. Croft proved to be fast early on, using the low line around the track while Golobic was looking for speed on the top side. Â
The two battled up until the first caution caused by Justyn Cox who stopped on the inside first turn berm on lap eight.
With a double-file restart, it would once again be Croft choosing to run low on the speedway while Golobic did the complete opposite. Golobic patience and strategy paved off when he passed Croft with a high move on the 11th circuit.
The race slowed for a second time when Tim Kaeding spun his No. 42x in the fourth turn. Golobic was leading Croft, Sanders, Vasquez and Carrick. Â
On the restart, Kalib Henry did a 360 spin in the first turn but kept going, avoiding a caution. Vasquez showed his muscle, passing Croft to take over second. On lap 19, Sanders got around Croft putting him in third.
The track caution lights would come on for Colby Johnson who stopped in the middle of the track on the back stretch on lap 22. After the restart and just one lap later the race slowed once again when a gaggle of cars slowed in turns three and four for someone who may have done a quick spin.
Sanders took advantage on the restart to move into second and the Golobic-Sanders battle began. With just 10 laps to go, it was apparent that those two had the fastest cars. Golobic ran the bottom of the track, while Sanders tried to make the top side work.Â
Golobic, using the shortest way around the track, was inching away each lap and look to be headed for the win when a caution would slow the race and bunch the field back up and give Sanders one final chance at Golobic with only four laps remaining.
The single-file restart would give Golobic a slight advantage but it would be Sanders who got around Golobic to take the win.Â
The finish:
Justin Sanders, Shane Golobic, Sean Becker, Blake Carrick, Isaiah Vasquez, Shane Hopkins, Logan Forler, Willie Croft, Stephen Ingraham, Michael Faccinto, Kaleb Montgomery, Max Mittry, Steven Tiner, Kalib Henry, Joel Myers Jr., Tim Kaeding, Bubba Decaires, Tony Gomes, Andy Forsberg, Trent Canales, Dustin Freitas, Colby Johnson, Jimmy Trulli, Justyn Cox