VERNON, N.Y. — Every time Paulie Colagiovanni hit the track at Utica-Rome on Friday night, the result was the same — first place.
Beginning in hot laps, continuing through the heat races and finally in the feature, Colagiovanni showed he was the car to beat throughout the night and ultimately earned the $2,000 top prize for his efforts en-route to his first victory of the season.
Jeff Cook and Matt Tanner brought the 24-car starting field to the green flag. Cook jumped out to the early lead, while Tanner and Matt Farnham waged war for second.
By lap 7, Colagiovanni had worked his way from his 5th place starting position into the top 3, making quick work of the No. 90 of Tanner. Then on lap 9, Colagiovanni shot by second place Farnham and set his sights on the No. 10 car of Cook.
As Cook caught lap traffic on lap 11, Colagiovanni was able to use lap traffic to his advantage and got by Jeff cook as they raced into turn one.
Danny Varin worked his way into the second position past Cook on lap 12, and shortly after Shawn Donath set Cook back yet another spot as he took away 3rd.
All 25 laps of the main event were completed without a single caution slowing the action, and when the dust settled it was Colagiovanni who parked on the front stretch victorious by a margin of nearly one second.
“I wasn’t sure whether the top or the bottom would be the fastest in the beginning, but once I moved up top and kept my foot in it just right, it came out good,” said Colagiovanni in victory lane.
Completing the Ashley Lynn Winery podium were Danny Varin and Shawn Donath. Rounding out the top five were Jordan Poirier in fourth and polesitter Jeff Cook in fifth.
Feature Finish (25 Laps):
1) 10c-PAULIE COLAGIOVANNI [1], 2) 01-Danny Varin, 3) 53-Shawn Donath, 4) 28-Jordan Poirier, 5) 10-Jeff Cook 6) 87-Jason Barney, 7) 90-Matt Tanner, 8) 7ny-Matt Farnham, 9) 17-Sammy Reakes IV, 10) 79-Jordan Thomas, 11) 98-Joe Trenca, 12) 45-Chuck Hebing, 13) 56-Billy VanInwegen, 14) 28f-Davie Franek, 15) 7c-Dylan Swiernik, 16) 41-Dalton Rombough, 17) 10h-Kelly Hebing, 18) 32-Kyle Smith, 19) Parker Evans, 20) 33-Lacey Hanson, 21) 90t-Travis Cunningham, 22) 11j-Chris Jones, 23) 33x-Matt Janczuk, 24) 21-Steve Glover