6/24/2019
RacinBoys
Watts, D. Scelzi headline King of the West weekend
By Jim Allen Stockton, CA) -- Sean Watts pulled off what seemed to be the impossible by beating the best King of the West-NARC Fujitsu Sprint Car Series drivers to score his first series career victory in the Salute to First Responders headliner at the Stockton Dirt Track.
Watts, piloting his own Billet America/Kaeding Performance Center Maxim, ran a mistake-free race from the pole and led all but the first lap of the 25-lap headliner. His march to victory lane was slowed by five caution periods and a red flag for Willie Croft with 10-laps remaining. Croft steering box broke and he took a nasty spill down the front straightaway that completely destroyed his car. Luckily, Croft was only bruised in the accident.
Seventh starter and King of the West-NARC championship point leader DJ Netto methodically worked his way through the frontrunners on the rough track to take the runner-up spot from Dominic Scelzi with eight circuits to go. Netto methodically reeled in Watts five laps later and pressured for the lead, but Watts answered the call with flawless laps around the 4/10’s mile oval.
Netto began experience motor issues in the final two laps, but held on to secure the runner-up spot in the Netto Ag/Rotella Shell 88N. Scelzi motored to third in the Roth Motorsports KPC and was one of the first drivers to congratulate the winner.
“I didn’t even know he was there,” admitted Watts in victory lane, when asked about Netto applying pressure in the final laps. “I was just extremely focused on what I had to do and I finally got here (victory lane.)
“I don’t know if this win has set in yet,” continued the calm winner, “but I know it took a lot of hard work from my team to get here and I thank them all.”
It was a clean sweep night for Watts, who also claimed his heat race and the Sunnyvalley Bacon dash. Watts earned $3200 for his endeavors.
Bud Kaeding aboard the Alviso Rock Maxim and 11th starter Jason Statler in the DF Rios Maxim rounded out the top five. Ryan Bernal, and Matt DeMartini were the only other survivors running at the checkered. DeMartini first ever top 10 finish earned him the Swift Metal Finishing hardcharger award after starting 19th in the starting grid.
Scelzi and Chase Johnson captured the other two heat races.
FUJITSU FEATURE EVENT (25-laps): Sean Watts, DJ Netto, Dominic Scelzi, Bud Kaeding, Jason Statler, Ryan Bernal, Matt DeMartini, Shane Golobic, Willie Croft, Mark Barroso, Jonathan Allard, Geoff Ensign, Gary Paulson, Nathan Rolfe, Kenny Allen, Tom Estenson, Chase Johnson, Richard Brace Jr.
LAP LEADERS: Jonathan Allard 1; Sean Watts 2-25
ARP FAST QUALIFIER: Shane Golobic – 14.149 seconds
BROWN & MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS FIRST HEAT (10 laps): Sean Watts, Jonathan Allard, Shane Golobic, Matt DeMartini, Mark Barroso, Mitchell Faccinto, Geoff Ensign.
FK ROD ENDS SECOND HEAT (10 laps): Dominic Scelzi, Jason Statler, Bud Kaeding, DJ Netto, Kenny Allen, Gary Paulson
SPEEDSHIFT TV/MVP THIRD HEAT (10 laps): Chase Johnson, Willie Croft, Ryan Bernal, Nathan Rolfe, Richard Brace Jr., Tom Estenson
SUNNYVALLEY BACON DASH (6 laps): Sean Watts, Jonathan Allard, Dominic Scelzi, Bud Kaeding, Shane Golobic, Willie Croft
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DOMINIC SCELZI WINS POMBO-SARGENT AT OCEAN SPEEDWAY
By Jim Allen (Watsonville, CA) -- Dominic Scelzi won the frantic 30 lap NARC-King of West Series Pombo-Sargent Classic presented by Fujitsu sprint car feature at Ocean Speedway on Friday night. Ryan Bernal and Colby Copeland followed the No. 83 Roth Motorsports KPC in front of a good crowd at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds dirt oval.
Early race leader and front row starter Willie Croft edged out Bud Kaeding to fill out the top five finishers. Croft took the lead from pole sitter Mitchell Faccinto at the drop of the green. Croft pulled away from the rest of the 20 car starting field until the red flag flew for Nathan Rolfe who did a soft flip in the second turn making him the first retiree.
The restart saw Croft leading Faccinto and Chase Johnson however Billy Anton would spin in the first turn on lap 10 to slow the race. Johnson would pull into the infield with an expired motor while running in the third spot. The second place Faccinto’s TSG Recycling No.37 would slow on lap 14 and pull off the track with a broken rear end. This would move both Scelzi and Bernal into contention. Anton would be charged with another yellow flag when he spun in the fourth turn on lap 16.
Leader Croft was momentarily slowed in traffic on the 23rd circuit and Scelzi would take a gamble with a low pass in the third turn which would pay off. A rattled Croft got sideways coming off the fourth turn, clipped an infield tire, sending his car into the infield. The bobble cost Croft two more positions before he could get his No. 29 back on the track.
Ryan Bernal quickly reeled in Scelzi and launched a massive third turn slide job on the 28th circuit, but Scelzi returned the favor coming out of the fourth to extinguish the threat. Scelzi earned a $3000 first place prize for his two car length victory. He also paced the 20 car field in qualifying. Bernal’s efforts came aboard the Tarlton Motorsports KPC.
“I knew he was back there and coming for me,” explained Scelzi in regards to Bernal’s late race blitz. “I knew the slide job was coming, I just didn’t know when.”
Bernal countered, “I knew I had to give it a shot, I just did it one lap too soon!”
Copeland would earn the Swift Metal Finishing hardcharger award for his drive from the 13th starting spot aboard the Good Guys Rod & Custom Association Maxim.
The second five to cross the checkered were championship point leader DJ Netto, Shane Golobic, Geoff Ensign, Kurt Nelson and Sean Watts.
The Sunnyvalley Bacon Dash was won by Faccinto with BMRS heat race wins going to Bernal, D J Netto and Sean Watts.
FUJITSU FEATURE EVENT (30-laps): Dominic Scelzi, Ryan Bernal, Colby Copeland, Willie Croft, Bud Kaeding, D J Netto, Shane Golobic, Geoff Ensign, Kurt Nelson, Sean Watts, Jason Statler, Kenny Allen, Jayson Bright, Matt DeMartini, Chris Nelson, Mark Barroso, Billy Aton, Mitchell Faccinto, Chase Johnson, Nathan Rolfe
LAP LEADERS: Croft 1-23, Scelzi 24-30.
BROWN & MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS FIRST HEAT (10 laps): Ryan Bernal, Dominic Scelzi, Nathan Rolfe, Colby Copeland, Jayson Bright, Matt DeMartini, Shane Golobic
FK ROD ENDS SECOND HEAT (10 laps): DJ Netto, Chase Johnson, Mitchell Faccinto, Jason Statler, Bud Kaeding, Mark Barroso, Chris Nelson
SPEEDSHIFT TV/MVP THIRD HEAT (10 laps): Sean Watts, Willie Croft, Geoff Ensign, Kurt Nelson, Kenny Allen, Billy Anton
SUNNYVALLEY BACON DASH (6 laps): Mitchell Faccinto, Willie Croft, Chase Johnson, Sean Watts, Dominic Scelzi, Ryan Bernal
Submitted By: Kirk Elliott
