SWEDESBORO, NJ – The 2020 United Racing Club season came to a close on what was an absolutely beautiful Saturday afternoon on November 7, 2020 at Bridgeport Motorsports Park. Paulie Colagiovanni out of Marcellus, NY was able to grab his first URC win of his career as he topped the field of 26 that took the green.
A staggering forty cars signed in for what would be the final race of the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season. At the end of the night URC would not only determine the season finale winner, but also the Midge Miller Memorial Trophy winner, as well as the all important 2020 championship. Going into the night, Adam Carberry led Josh Weller by only 13 points. The track was completely different from the night before, and with the 100 lap Danny Serrano scheduled to run before the sprint car A-main it was expected to change even more. During hot laps, Colagiovanni set quick time with a lap of 13.892 which would stand as the fast time of the night. The four heat races were won by Austin Bishop, Colagiovanni, Tyler Ross, and Alex Bright respectfully. During the heat race, the previous night’s winner Mark Smith was involved in crash with Ryan Stillwaggon causing Smith to scratch for the night and ultimately ending his chances at taking home the custom made Midge Miller Memorial trophy created by Cold Hard Art.
A C-main was scheduled but due to several more cars scratching after qualifying races were complete, only a B-main was needed to be run. The top four finishers: Jason Shultz, Dallas Schott, Jeff Rohrbaugh, and Ryan Coniam would tag the back of the feature event with Joe Kata and Jesse Pruchnik taking provisionals based on their position in the owner points standings.
When the A-main hit the track the temperatures had come down significantly and after a brief fence repair due to an accident in the modified 100 lapper the field was set to begin. Youngsters Alex Bright and Austin Bishop would lead the field to the green. Bright jumped out front and lead for the first 8 laps before Colagiovanni took over on lap 9. Several battles continued throughout the field, but all eyes were on the championship two. Josh Weller rocketed forward after starting 13th with Carberry only 3 spots behind in 16th. Weller was as far up as 5th while Carberry seemed to struggle in the first half of the race coming forward and stayed around the 13th-15th positions. Unfortunately, heartbreak struck when Weller was battling with JJ Grasso. The two cars collided spinning Grasso and causing a right rear shock to break off the 63 machine. Weller was able to continue but it was obvious the car was not going to be as dominate as it was early in the race.
With 5 laps to go the caution flag waved for Bishop who came to a stop on the track. Ryan Smith who had a fast car all night had now made his way into the top three and would restart right behind Colagiovanni. Smith tried but it was too little too late as Paulie Colagiovanni cruised across the line to earn his first United Racing Club win with Smith, Briggs Danner, Chuck Hebing, and Derek Locke rounding out the top 5. “We had a fast car time wise” Colagiovanni said, “I knew if I hit my marks I’d have a chance to win.” When it comes to the new Bridgeport configuration, Colagiovanni said “the big track was bad fast, but I like this track better; it’s more racey.”
The 100 lap modified race had a lot of drivers worried if the track would take rubber as it did in July, but Cologiovanni committed to “running a protective line not knowing if the track would take rubber in 3 and 4.” Colagiovanni – the 2019 ESS Champion is use to the “NY slick” tracks, but due to COVID-19 NY was not able to have many 360 races, but Paulie believes “having the ability to run different tracks and track types helps me as a driver and running with different series helps me learn.” While plans for 2021 are still up in the air for racing in NY, Colagiovanni plans to run as many 360 races with URC as he can while also running his 410 sprint car. Paulie would like to thank his father for putting everything together for him in which he is very thankful. Doug, Timmy, Barb, and Hoover for everything from getting the car prepped all the way to pushing him out on the racetrack. He would also like to thank all of the remaining family, friends and sponsors.
The winner of the Midge Miller Memorial is awarded to the driver with the best average finish between the two finale days. Though his bid to win the season finale came up short, Ryan Smith was named the winner of the Midge Miller Memorial and received the 50 pound custom trophy from Cold Hard Art. Smith’s two finishes of 5th and 2nd secured him as the high point man for the weekend. Reflecting back on the weekend, and the new Bridgeport track Smith said “Friday night was juiced up and Saturday night was really slick, but the new track is ten times better than the big track. They did a great job!” Car owner of the 10X that Smith was driving, Brad Nowatarski plans to find a nice place in the shop for the custom trophy.
Without a doubt the biggest race on Saturday was for the championship. At the conclusion of the race, Josh Weller finished 8th with Carberry right behind him in 9th. The one position difference was not enough for Weller to pass Carberry in the championship chase giving the no. 47 team their first URC Championship. A championship story on Adam Carberry and team to follow.
The 2020 season has come to a close and plans for 2021 are already being made and a schedule is being put together. Keep an eye on our social media accounts for announcements including banquet, schedule, and more. See everyone in 2021!
Photo Credit: Jesse Carberry
Contingency awards:
KSE Hard Charger – Jason Shultz +15
Ultra Shield last redraw spot – Derek Locke
ISC Racers Tape – Chuck Hebing (4th)
Seals-It – Jason Shultz (6th)
Rod End Supply – Josh Weller (8th)
Ultra Shield – Robbie Stillwaggon (11th)
King Racing Products – Brian Carber (15th)
DMI – RJ Jacobs (last in feature)
Feature Laps Led by:
1-8 Alex Bright
9-25 Paulie Colagiovanni
RESULTS – NOVEMBER 7, 2020
HEAT 1 (10 LAPS): 1. 11A-Austin Bishop[1]; 2. 25-JJ Grasso[2]; 3. 45-Chuck Hebing[3]; 4. 63-Josh Weller[4]; 5. 89-Robbie Stillwaggon[7]; 6. 55-Dallas Schott[8]; 7. 10K-Joe Kata[6]; 8. 35-Jason Shultz[9]; 9. 55M-Domenic Melair[5]; 10. 9S-Rick Stief[10]
HEAT 2 (10 LAPS): 1. 10-Paulie Colagiovanni[1]; 2. 5G-Briggs Danner[6]; 3. 77-Derek Locke[5]; 4. 28F-Davie Franek[9]; 5. 23-Justin Foster[2]; 6. 14B-Brett Wright[7]; 7. 46-Ryan Coniam[4]; 8. 4-Wade Prentice[3]; 9. (DNF) 5W-Lucas Wolfe[8]; 10. (DNF) 13S-Jon Stewart[10]
HEAT 3 (10 LAPS): 1. 5-Tyler Ross[5]; 2. 10X-Ryan Smith[6]; 3. 22-Troy Betts[7]; 4. 32-Kyle Smith[2]; 5. 8C-Brian Carber[10]; 6. 00R-Jeff Rohrbaugh[8]; 7. 42-Jesse Pruchnik[3]; 8. 74JR-JR Berry[4]; 9. 3-Denny Peebles[9]; 10. 77Z-Craig Pellegrini Jr[1]
HEAT 4 (10 LAPS): 1. 20-Alex Bright[1]; 2. 18-Tim Tanner Jr[5]; 3. 18J-Randy Jacobs[8]; 4. 47-Adam Carberry[6]; 5. 90-Matt Tanner[9]; 6. 7-Ed Aikin[2]; 7. 32E-Dale Eggert[10]; 8. 61-Will Hull[3]; 9. (DNF) M1-Mark Smith[7]; 10. (DNF) 11-Ryan Stillwaggon[4]
B-MAIN (10 LAPS): 1. 35-Jason Shultz[9]; 2. 55-Dallas Schott[1]; 3. 00R-Jeff Rohrbaugh[3]; 4. 46-Ryan Coniam[6]; 5. 10K-Joe Kata[5]; 6. 7-Ed Aikin[4]; 7. 14B-Brett Wright[2]; 8. 9S-Rick Stief[13]; 9. 77Z-Craig Pellegrini Jr[15]; 10. 42-Jesse Pruchnik[7]; 11. 11-Ryan Stillwaggon[16]; 12. 74JR-JR Berry[10]; 13. 32E-Dale Eggert[8]; 14. 4-Wade Prentice[17]; 15. 13S-Jon Stewart[14]; 16. 55M-Domenic Melair[11]; 17. (DNS) 3-Denny Peebles
A-FEATURE (25 LAPS): 1. 10-Paulie Colagiovanni[3]; 2. 10X-Ryan Smith[11]; 3. 5G-Briggs Danner[8]; 4. 45-Chuck Hebing[5]; 5. 77-Derek Locke[12]; 6. 35-Jason Shultz[21]; 7. 5-Tyler Ross[9]; 8. 63-Josh Weller[13]; 9. 47-Adam Carberry[16]; 10. 22-Troy Betts[10]; 11. 89-Robbie Stillwaggon[17]; 12. 18-Tim Tanner Jr[6]; 13. 55-Dallas Schott[22]; 14. 32-Kyle Smith[15]; 15. 8C-Brian Carber[19]; 16. 46-Ryan Coniam[24]; 17. 28F-Davie Franek[14]; 18. 10K-Joe Kata[25]; 19. 90-Matt Tanner[20]; 20. 42-Jesse Pruchnik[26]; 21. (DNF) 11A-Austin Bishop[2]; 22. (DNF) 23-Justin Foster[18]; 23. (DNF) 00R-Jeff Rohrbaugh[23]; 24. (DNF) 20-Alex Bright[1]; 25. (DNF) 25-JJ Grasso[4]; 26. (DNF) 18J-Randy Jacobs[7]
TOP 10 2020 OWNER URC POINTS (FINAL)
- Adam Carberry - 1191
- Josh Weller – 1181 (-10)
- Dallas Schott – 966 (-225)
- BBJG. Inc. – 951 (-240)
- Sam Ross – 927 (-264)
- Robert Stillwaggon – 893 (-298)
- Dave Betts – 870 (-321)
- Parke Bishop – 867 (-324)
- Bob Lileck – 823 (-368)
- Ritter Racing – 818 (-373)
TOP 10 2020 DRIVER URC POINTS (FINAL)
- Adam Carberry – 1191
- Josh Weller – 1181 (-10)
- Dallas Schott (Rookie) – 966 (-225)
- Austin Bishop - 932 (-259)
- Tyler Ross – 927 (-264)
- Ryan Stillwaggon – 893 (-298)
- Troy Betts – 813 (-378)
- Paulie Colagiovanni – 813 (-378)
- Derek Locke – 802 (-458)
- Ed Aikin – 733 (-458)
- Casey Robicheau on Nov 15, 2020
- Article Date: 11/7/2020 by Casey Robicheau