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Giovanni Scelzi Finishes Second in Trophy Cup Standings After Stellar Weekend

(Photo by Wildlight Motorsports Photography)

Inside Line Promotions – TULARE, Calif. (Oct. 23, 2018) – Giovanni Scelzi recorded a second-place finish among a stout field of 88 drivers last weekend during the 25th annual Trophy Cup at Thunderbowl Raceway.

Scelzi piloted a second entry for his family owned team during the mega event, which began on Thursday. He qualified fourth quickest in his group and advanced from sixth to fourth place in a heat race to rank eighth in points. With a 12-car inversion for the main event Scelzi lined up on the inside of the third row.

It didn’t take long for him to sniff the lead. Scelzi advanced into second place on the opening lap and he stalked the leader for the remainder of the race.

“Thursday was the best track we had all weekend,” he said. “It was slick and didn’t take rubber until the last five laps of the main. I ran the bottom and rolled right through there. Mitchell Faccinto was leading on the bottom so I started working the fence. I passed him once and slid him again for the lead, but I couldn’t make any speed in turns one and two. There was a big hole on entrance. I had to cheat it and when you do that you couldn’t make any speed.”

Scelzi settled for a runner-up result, which moved him up to second in event points. Here is a link to watch the feature: https://youtu.be/AM-569BlUYw.

He returned to the oval on Friday for another preliminary night, this time qualifying second quickest in his group and powering from sixth to second place in a heat race. He was the highest-points driver during the first half of the night so Scelzi lined up 12th for the main event.

“The cushion was big and gnarly,” he said. “It was so hard to pass with so many good cars. We raced smart and ended up with the same points total as the night before.”

Scelzi scored a sixth-place finish. Here is a link to watch the race: https://youtu.be/rqADaJSNSW0.

Scelzi then opened Saturday’s finale with a run from eighth to sixth place in a heat race. That put him fifth in points and lined him up on the outside of the eighth row for the 50-lap feature.

“We had two good prelim nights and on Saturday we had a decent heat race to put us in a great position,” he said. “In the feature we were really efficient. I latched behind Jac (Haudenschild) and we moved through the field. Whenever he’d pass someone I’d pass them too. The track took rubber halfway through so you really had to force the issue if you wanted to pass. I got to sixth and ultimately needed one more position.”

Scelzi charged from 16th to a sixth-place result, but he finished two points – or one total position – shy of winning the Trophy Cup title.

His attention shifts east as Scelzi will drive for Bernie Stuebgen this Friday and Saturday at Port Royal Speedway in Port Royal, Pa., during the Tuscarora 50 with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series.

“Port is a tough place,” Scelzi said. “It’s probably the fastest and most difficult place I’ve been to. It will be a tough crowd, too. We’ve qualified good so hopefully we can do that, make the show and stay up front all night.”

QUICK RESULTS –

Oct. 18 – Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. – Qualifying: 4; Heat race: 4 (6); Feature: 2 (5).

Oct. 19 – Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. – Qualifying: 2; Heat race: 2 (6); Feature: 6 (12).

Oct. 20 – Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. – Heat race: 6 (8); Feature: 6 (16).

SEASON STATS –

60 races, 3 wins, 19 top fives, 30 top 10s, 43 top 15s, 47 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Friday and Saturday at Port Royal Speedway in Port Royal, Pa., for the Tuscarora 50 with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.GaryScelziMotorsports.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GioScelzi

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gary-Scelzi-Motorsports/225890834113599

VIDEO –

Here is a link to a highlight and promotional video: https://vimeo.com/216772925

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – K&N Filters

K&N Filters is the leader in performance air and oil filtration. For more information, visit http://www.KNfilters.com.

“K&N Filters gives our motors the maximum performance they can possibly have,” Scelzi said. “They are the nicest product on the market and I enjoy being able to work with them. K&N has supported my family’s racing since Day 1. Throughout the years we’ve become really close with the people at K&N and it’s a great relationship we have.”

Scelzi would also like to thank Whipple Superchargers, Scelzi Enterprises, Fuel Delivery Services, Inc., Red Rose Transportation, Inc., Carlucci Transport, Roth Motorsports, Panella Trucking, NAPA Auto Parts, Red Line Oil, K&N Filters, Schoenfeld Headers, FK Rod Ends, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Weld Wheels, Sparco, Simpson Race Products, KSE Racing Products, Worldwide Bearings, Todd Jorgensen, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Meridian Steel, Kenny’s Components, Auto Meter, Allstar Performance, DJS Safe Seats, Arctic Cat, Southern Pacific Farms and Indy Race Parts 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.

To meet the media relations needs of your program by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.

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