Inside Line Promotions – VISALIA, Calif. (April 20, 2014) – Giovanni Scelzi let loose after capturing a signature win last Friday at Plaza Park Raceway.
Scelzi pulled off a last-corner, last-lap pass to secure the outlaw micro sprint victory, which marked his second of the season.
“That was a pretty fun one to win,” he said. “I stood on top of the wing and saluted the crowd.”
Scelzi qualified fourth quickest and advanced from third to second place in his heat race earlier that night. The feature was then inverted by four, which started Scelzi on the pole of the 30-lap main event.
“I started on the pole and the guy on the outside of us jumped the start the first time and didn’t go the second time,” he said. “So we were moved back a row and started third.”
Scelzi maintained the third position for the first half of the race before advancing to the runner-up spot around Lap 15. He then began to chase down the leader.
“He was really the better car all night,” Scelzi said. “I stayed within four or five car lengths most of the race.”
Things heated up once the white flag was waved.
“(The leader) got hung up behind a lapped car in turns one and two,” Scelzi said. “I followed him into turn one and two on the bottom. We were bumper to bumper coming off the turns. He went to the bottom in turn three and I rolled up to the middle right next to him. I just hit a little patch of moisture and went around him. I probably beat him by six inches to a foot.”
Scelzi was side by side for the top spot exiting turn four and he won the drag race to the finish line.
“I wasn’t sure who won because coming off turn four we were rubbing wheels,” he said. “I was pretty sure I got him, but I wasn’t sure what they’d call.”
Scelzi was informed of the triumph during the cool-down lap. The win was his second of the season and his first in winged action.
Scelzi also competed in the nonwing outlaw micro sprint class at Plaza Park Raceway on Friday. He qualified eighth quickest and placed second in his heat race. That started him on the outside of the fourth row for the main event.
“The track was really hooked up around the bottom so there wasn’t much passing,” he said. “I just rolled around the bottom and waited for people to make mistakes. It was just follow the leader and slick and dusty up at the top.”
Scelzi advanced from eighth to a fourth-place result, which marked his fourth top five of the season.
He is scheduled to return to action on May 3 at Lemoore Raceway in Lemoore, Calif.
QUICK RESULTS –
April 18 – Plaza Park Raceway in Visalia, Calif. (Outlaw) – Qualifying: 4; Heat race: 2 (3); Feature: 1 (1).
April 18 – Plaza Park Raceway in Visalia, Calif. (Nonwing Outlaw) – Qualifying: 8; Heat race: 2 (2); Feature: 4 (8).
SEASON STATS –
8 races, 2 wins, 4 top fives, 6 top 10s, 6 top 15s, 6 top 20s
UP NEXT –
May 3 at Lemoore Raceway in Lemoore, Calif.
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.GaryScelziMotorsports.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GioScelzi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gary-Scelzi-Motorsports/225890834113599
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“It’s awesome to have someone like FK Rod Ends part of our team,” Scelzi said. “They’ve got a great product that is stronger than anything you can buy in sprint car racing.”
Scelzi would also like to thank Whipple Superchargers, Fowler Packing, Fuel Delivery Services, Inc., Roth Motorsports, Carlucci Transport, Panella Trucking, Red Rose Transportation, AXA Equitable Insurance with Bob & Gina Estrada, Tim Jones, G&J Truck Sales, Red Line Oil, K&N Filters, Sparco, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems and Schoenfeld Headers for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.
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- Shawn Miller on Apr 20, 2014
- Article Date: 4/20/2014 by Inside Line Promotions