Column By: MARTY CZEKALA / RPW – RANSOMVILLE, NY – Scranton, PA’s Johnny Smith IV led the opening five laps of Friday’s Empire Super Sprints feature at Ransomville, before fading to third at the end.
The finish gives Smith IV his best finish in ESS competition and his first ever podium.
Smith IV gave up the lead when entering high on the racetrack on lap five, opening the door for Paulie Colagiovanni to grab the lead downstairs.
“I thought we were going to able the top in three and four a bit longer, but I knew it was going away fast,” Smith IV told RPW post-race. “Right when I was trying to make that move, I hit something on the straightaway and got a little squirrelly and he got underneath me.”
While Smith IV was happy that he had an extremely fast race car, he did not think that he had what it took to hold off Colagiovanni.
“Paulie was really good,” Smith IV said. “I don’t think I would’ve been able to hold him off even if I got to the bottom earlier. Maybe a second. We’re still lacking to run the bottom, planning on trying to rip the lip for most of the race. Overall, I’m really happy because the car was working really good.”
Smith IV’s ride though did come out of the pits fast, scoring fast time in his hot lap group with a 14.597s, then finishing second to Matt Farnham in his heat. Thanks to the redraw, Smith IV was able to start from pole.
“I love this place,” Smith IV said in victory lane. “I wish we could get more races on here. It’s a five-hour haul to come here because [Ransomville] gives us a great track. Even if it slicks up, it gives us two lanes, but when it’s heavy, it’s fast.”
The win for Colagiovanni gives him his second of the Empire Super Sprints season.
Next race for ESS is Friday at Mohawk.