Sprint Car Racer Dominic Scelzi Experiences Four Wide Excitement in World of Outlaws Race
- Jun 12, 2013
"Dominic has been driving for Gary Scelzi Motorsports since he was five-years-old," explained his father and owner of the team, Gary Scelzi. "He has won championships in everything he has driven, from Go-karts to Micro Sprints." Although one would suspect that the young driver has experienced his share of exciting races during the past 11 years, Dominic recently embarked upon what he considered the most important race of his career. And rightfully so, as the young driver debuted in a series sporting drivers that many consider the "best of the best."
"In Tulare, racing with the World of Outlaws at age 15 and being his first 410 class race," recalled his father. "It doesn't get any better than that. At that age, racing with the best sprint-car drivers in the world and making the main event was a pretty big deal." Beginning the qualifying race in the back of a 32-car field, he managed to work his way to the 26 position by the run's end. Starting seventh in his heat Dominic Scelzi crossed the finish line in the eighth spot, earning a place in the B-Main. To cinch a spot in the A-Main, the driver had to make an impressive showing. In spite of his efforts, a flat ended his night early. "I thought he did really well for his age," recalled Gary Scelzi. "It is very difficult just to make the Main event with the Outlaws. Like Dominic said, and I quote, ‘You're driving as hard as you can up on the cushion, and a guy like Donny Schatz blows by you; and you think. . . how are these guys that good?'" A team meeting at the beginning of the following night left Dominic with a little different perspective. The young driver's nerves calmed upon changing his approach. Not putting as much emphasis on expectations, Dominic went into the final night of the event with an eagerness to have fun and learn from the best. And it didn't take long for the change of mentality to show its worth. The young driver hit the track with confidence. After finishing fifth fastest in the hot laps, Scelzi started in the eleventh position in his heat. At the waving of the green flag, he wasted no time muscling his way to the front of the pack and crossed the finish line amongst the top five drivers, earning his rightful spot in the A-Main. With twenty-one drivers positioned in front of him, Scelzi was faced with a long hard climb. But he was obviously eager and ready for battle. Working his way around the track, Dominic challenged his competitors for position. And as the laps wound down, the young driver crossed the finish line in nineteenth place. Although the podium was far from his reach, Dominic Scelzi and his team were elated at the outcome. Not only had the young driver had fulfilled a dream of racing in the World of Outlaws and going four wide with some of the best drivers in the world, but he had acquired years of experience in a single race. With many years of racing ahead of him, Dominic Scelzi will likely experience a plethora of exciting events in the years to come. He and his team are acutely aware that future success will depend a great deal upon keeping his race cars properly maintained. They are advocates of keeping the internal components of their engines contaminant free. That in mind, they depend upon K&N products for their filtering needs. "I have been using K&N products since I was a kid riding dirt bikes," recalled the team owner. "That's all I've ever known. When Dominic started racing Go-Karts, we ran K&N, and now with the sprint car, that tradition has just carried on. "All I know, is in the beginning, K&N had the only quality air filter that could be cleaned and re-used and helped performance. If I didn't think K&N products were the best, they simply wouldn't be on my race cars ." Looking to the future, Scelzi continued, "I think you are going to see Dominic win more races, and I think he will continue to build his fan-base with his personality. In conclusion he said, "And I think you may see him driving other people's cars in the future." |
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Related K&N News Articles about Dominic Scelzi: Sprint Car Driver Dominic Scelzi Races 360 Class with Future Plans in 410 Sprint Car Class; Sprint Car Racer Dominic Scelzi Dominates Rebel Wing Main at Kings Speedway in Hanford, California; Brothers Dominic Scelzi and Giovanni Scelzi Keep Winning and Inspiring; Scelzi Brothers Dominic Scelzi & Giovanni Scelzi Clinch 2011 Lemoore Raceway Championships | |||