Tim Sears Jr. heads for a Go Nuclear victory at Utica-Rome.
What won the race: Eighth-starting Tim Sears Jr. of Clay, N.Y., overtook race-long leader and polesitter Dustin Waters of Portville, N.Y., at the halfway point of the 30-lapper and raced to victory. Sears survived several restarts in taking the checkers over Charlie Sandercock, reigning series champ Dale Caswell and Waters.
Quotable: The race served as the tour's season opener after Mohawk International Raceway was twice weathered-out. ... The trophy for the Gnome Cup included a gnome holding a cup. ... This season's series championship pays $5,000. ... Drivers failing to make the feature lineup: Corey Earl, Matt Vanderlinden, David McDonald, Jason Knowles, Bill Eisele, Aron Backus, Steve Coit, Scott Waters, Aaron Jacobs, T.J. Downs, Stan Clark, Jeremy Wonderling
On the move: Winner Tim Sears Jr. advanced seven positions.
Car count: 35
Next series race: June 1, Humberstone Speedway (Port Colborne, ON) $1,200