RPW Column: Jason Barney Wins Second Career Cole Cup Patriot Sprint A-Main At Utica-Rome

Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – VERNON, NY – The Patriot Sprint Tour joined the Modified and Crate 602 Sportsman in the final event for the 2022 at Utica-Rome Speedway Tuesday. Thirty two teams signed in for action.

And when the checkered flag flew, it was Jason Barney with his 2nd career Cole Cup victory. His first one was in 2017.

The win was worth $5,000 for Barney.

It wasn’t an easy win for Barney. he ran 3rd for more than half of the 25 lap feature behind Jon Preston and Matt Farnham. But after halfway, Barney’s #87 closed in on Farnham, making the pass on lap 18. Just as he was closing in on Preston, caution flew and Barney got a big break.

Due to quite a few caution laps, teams started having fuel concerns. The Patriot Sprint Tour officials decided to allow teams 5 minutes to add fuel.

And Barney felt some relief, thinking that he was right on the edge.

“I don’t think we would have made it if they hadn’t thrown the red,” Barney said in Victory Lane. “I was running out I think.”

When the green flew, it was Barney making the pass on Preston with 3 laps to go to take the victory.

Barney, who was battling through some injuries, was quite emotional in Victory Lane.

“Cole Cups are big and any win at Utica-Rome Speedway is big. Two weeks ago, we junked a good car. I’ve been barely able to walk. I was going to ask Matt Farnham to drive my car yesterday, I was still on the fence about doing this. My back has really been messed up. But it was a fun race with Matt, a fun race with Jonathan. Two Cole Cups, pretty cool.”

Despite being passed late in the race, it was a good night for Preston as he earlier won the dash and came within a few laps of winning the Cole Cup.

“It was our best run here. The track had some moisture. I was passed on the last lap last week and tonight, passed with a few laps left. I got to tighten up on the last few laps.”

Third place finisher Farnham had earlier in his heat set a new Patriot Sprint Tour track record.

“Car was good, just needed to be a little tighter. Just missed on the setup for the feature, didn’t tighten it up enough. Too free just about from the beginning. Jason was just that good tonight. I can’t thank him enough for helping us get this new Xi car up to speed.”

Danny Varin finished 4th and Shawn Donath 5th. The balance of the top 10 were Jordan Thomas 6th, Davie Franek 7th, Parker Evans 8th, Larry Wight 9th and Steve Glover 10th.

Patriot Sprint Tour 360 Sprint Car ‘Cole Cup’ Feature Finish (25 laps): JASON BARNEY, Jonathan Preston, Matt Farnham, Danny Varin, Shawn Donath, Jordan Thomas, Davie Franek, Parker Evans, Larry Wight, Steve Glover, Tyler Trump, Chad Miller, Dave Axton, Dalton Rombough, Chase Moran, Paulie Colagiovanni, Joe Trenca, Jordan Poirier, Tommy Wickham, Adam Carberry, Jordan Hutton, Mike Kiser, Matt Tanner, Denny Peebles.

Did Not Start: Tyler Thompson

Did Not Qualify: Keith Granholm, Jessie Pruchnik, John Cunningham, Scott Holcomb, Sammy Reakes IV, Thomas Radivoy, Chuck Hebing.