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Giovanni Scelzi Posts Podium Finish During Debut in Indy Race Parts Ride

(Photo by Loud Pedal Photography)

Inside Line Promotions – MANSFIELD, Ohio (May 1, 2018) – Giovanni Scelzi captured a podium finish during his debut with the Bernie Stuebgen owned, Indy Race Parts backed No. 71 team last weekend at Mansfield Motor Speedway.

“It was great,” Scelzi said. “We ran really good and were fast in every event.”

Scelzi kicked off the Sprint Car World Championship on Friday by qualifying 16th quickest out of more than 70 drivers. He then finished where he started – third – in a heat race to lock into the 12th starting position in an A Main.

“I felt like I put myself in position to advance based on qualifying and making it through the heat race,” he said. “Throughout the night I didn’t put myself in a position to get in wrecks or blow tires. I bided my time and stayed out of trouble.”

Scelzi was methodical on the tricky track as he moved forward throughout the main event before picking up steam in the closing laps to score a third-place finish. The result locked him into Saturday’s eight-car dash, which determined the first four rows for the 50-lap main event.

Scelzi redrew the No. 3 to start the dash on the inside of the second row. He quickly gained a position and was running second when his right front tire came off the rim.

“I thought a shock broke,” he said. “I was trying to hang on and not crash.”

Somehow Scelzi held on to the ill-handling race car for the remainder of the dash and a fourth-place finish lined him up on the outside of the second row for the $100,000-to-win A Main.

“It paid good to win and we were there to win,” he said. “Let’s run 50 laps and see what happens. I thought we were a top-three car. I was biding my time and trying to save tires. We made a few small changes during the midpoint caution and felt like we were going to be fast the second half of the race.”

Scelzi spent the first half of the race inside the top five and was running there when the left rear birdcage bolt broke shortly after restarting the second half of the race. He was unable to finish and was credited with a 19th-place result.

“I’d have liked to see what we had, but that’s how it goes,” he said. “I want to thank Bernie and the team for the opportunity and fast race car.”

Scelzi will be back in the No. 71 this weekend when he will compete on Friday at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., and Saturday at Selinsgrove Speedway in Selinsgrove, Pa., with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour presented by SawBlade.com before wrapping up the weekend at BAPS Motor Speedway in York Haven, Pa., on Sunday. It will be his debut at all three tracks.

“I’m really excited to head to Central Pennsylvania,” Scelzi said. “To race at historic tracks like Williams Grove and Selinsgrove, it’s really cool to finally go there. I grew up racing at Williams Grove on video games so I’m excited to race there in real life.”

QUICK RESULTS –

April 27 – Mansfield Motor Speedway in Mansfield, Ohio – Qualifying: 16; Heat race: 3 (3); Feature: 3 (12).

April 28 – Mansfield Motor Speedway in Mansfield, Ohio – Dash: 4 (3); Feature: 19 (4).

SEASON STATS –

13 races, 0 wins, 4 top fives, 5 top 10s, 7 top 15s, 10 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Friday at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., and Saturday at Selinsgrove Speedway in Selinsgrove, Pa., with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour presented by SawBlade.com and Sunday at BAPS Motor Speedway in York Haven, Pa.

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://youtu.be/RjDQszUzoe0

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Sparco

Sparco is a leading manufacturer of racing gear, including suits, gloves, helmets, shoes and more. For additional information, visit http://www.SparcoUSA.com.

“They are by far the most comfortable racing suit on the market,” Scelzi said. “They are the safest suit you can possibly buy and they are the best looking. I can’t thank Sparco enough for everything they do for me and my brother every single year.”

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