Manchester, New Hampshire – Indianapolis racing driver Stephen Cox was running in fifth position halfway through Sunday’s 35-lap Pro-4 Modified Series Jim Darlington Memorial when he was caught up in a multi-car incident that ended his day.
Driving for veteran team owner Dan Meservey, Sr., this was Cox’s first time behind the wheel of a Pro-4 modified and his first time at New Hampshire’s Hudson International Speedway. After finishing fourth in the qualifying race, Cox started the main event inside Row 3.
“I missed a shift on the start, which was totally my fault,” Cox said. “That dropped me eight or ten car lengths behind the leaders, and then we slowly started reeling them back in. I really needed a yellow to catch back up to the top guys because I think we could race with them. I don’t think we had anything for the top two, but a third place finish was pretty realistic.”
Halfway through the event, Cox’s STA-BIL Brand Fuel Stablizer #21 was hit from behind and spun down low on the track in Turn 4, bringing out a caution flag. A third car then crashed into Cox’s machine, ending the night for both drivers.
“He did a good job with the car and was running competitive laps,” Meservey said of Cox’s initial run in Pro-4 modifieds. “Like honey to a comb. And we all had fun.”
The next race for Stephen Cox will be at Ohio’s Midvale Speedway on August 10th, when he returns to the Super Cup Stock Car Series. His last appearance at Midvale in June, 2017, produced a win from the last spot on the starting grid.