6/26/2023
Vito Cancilla
Cancilla Wins Reverand Ron Spencer Classic
11-year-old Vito Cancilla continued a historic, unprecedented start to the 2023 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model season with his fourth triumph of the year in round five of the season.
Cancilla was the top qualifier for the division for ages 10-16 years old, then lined up third for the 70-lap event. Wilton’s Chase Hand led the pack after starting on the pole. Outside pole sitter Cam Carraway fell back to outside the top-five on the top side of the speedway.
A red flag flew on lap 11 when Nevada’s Mia Wright spun in turn four, then collected Tristan Pena of San Antonio in a hard crash. Neither driver was hurt.
Cancilla challenged the back bumper of Hand while Henry Barton of San Francisco raced with Bakersfield’s Taylor Mayhew for third. Mayhew tagged the front stretch wall and slipped backwards as a result. Cancilla finally pounced on the inside of Hand, driving into the lead on lap 30.
After the Mission Racing Style Tortilla Chips Break on lap 40, action resumed with Cancilla and Hand at the front of the field. Joey Kennealy of Madera starred in the second half, making a maneuver on the outside line to charge into third. Cancilla set a torrid pace to earn a 3.3 second win over Hand, who completed his fifth second place finish of the season. Kennealy, Barton, and Carraway rounded out the top-five.
Article Credit: Steven Blaksley
