The Spring Sizzler at Stafford Motor Speedway lived up to its nickname as “the Greatest Race In the History of Spring.” A late battle for the win between Bobby Santos III and Doug Coby provided a thrilling finish to a great race.

Santos was best on a short run. Coby was best five laps into a run.

On a restart with 20 laps to go Coby got the jump on Santos, but Santos gave it everything he had going into turn three. Santos got into the grass and slid up into Coby’s door. The contact slowed up everything and triggered a hard crash behind them for Eric Goodale and Ken Heagy. While Santos and Coby are friends, Coby was quite peeved about the contact.

“I’m not happy with the door-slam in turn three that actually caused a wreck behind us,” said Coby. “That’s what you do when you’re trying to win a race, but it’s using up a little too much race track.”

But it wasn’t the door-slam that had Coby the angriest after the race. Instead it was the lapped car of T.J. Zacharias who may have cost Coby the win.

On the final lap Santos took a higher line going into turn three, leaving Coby the bottom. Coby got a run, but his chance at the win was blocked by the slower Zacharias. While Coby said he understands that lapped cars are a part of racing, he still feels something should be done to keep them from dictating the outcome of a race late in the going.

“When there’s two to go and the top two cars are trying to put on a show, they (the lapped cars) need to be on pit road as far as I’m concerned,” said Coby. “They’re not racing with anybody and it just kind of robs the fan of a finish. That’s racing. That’s how it goes. I hate to be a sore loser.”

Santos knew that Coby was better than him on the longer runs, but that all the late cautions helped him.

“I was very nervous,” said Santos. “I think the race definitely went our way at the end.”

The win is Santos’ third victory in the Spring Sizzler and sixth NWMT win at Stafford Motor Speedway.

“It’s pretty cool,” said Santos. “Winning here in general is awesome.”

Spring Sizzler 200 Unofficial Results:

1) Bobby Santos III
2) Doug Coby
3) Rowan Pennink
4) Woody Pitkat
5) Justin Bonsignore
6) Ted Christopher
7) Donny Lia
8) Timmy Solomito
9) Matt Hirschman
10) Ron Silk
11) Tommy Barrett Jr.
12) Patrick Emerling
13) Jamie Tomaino
14) Eric Goodale
15) Wade Cole
16) Ron Yuhas Jr.
17) Gary McDonald
18) David Salzarulo
19) T.J. Zacharias
20) Melissa Fifield
21) Ken Heagy
22) Jimmy Zacharias
23) Gary Putnam
24) Ryan Preece
25) Glen Reen
26) Keith Rocco
27) Richie Pallai Jr.