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Giovanni Scelzi Caps Peter Murphy Classic With Podium Finish for Roth Motorsports

(Photo by MM Racing Photos)

Inside Line Promotions – TULARE, Calif. (April 24, 2017) – Giovanni Scelzi earned a pair of strong results last weekend during the Peter Murphy Classic at Thunderbowl Raceway, where he guided his Roth Motorsports entry to a sixth-place finish on Friday with the Sprint Car Challenge Tour and a third-place result on Saturday with the King of the West-NARC Fujitsu Sprint Car Series.

“They were both good nights,” he said. “That’s an intimidating place. To unload with such a fast car on Friday was a big confidence boost.”

Scelzi qualified fifth quickest in his group and ninth overall out of more than 50 drivers to kick off Friday’s competition. He quickly maneuvered from fifth place into the lead during a heat race, but the rear end broke with two laps remaining.

That sent Scelzi into the B Main, which he won after starting third to transfer into the 13th starting position in the main event.

“We got rolling in the feature,” he said. “The track was really, really slick. I was really surprised it didn’t take rubber because it was really slick from the first lap. I got caught midpack running for eighth and ninth. It took too long to get through the field. I thought we had the car speed to run for a win, but it took too long to get up there.”

Scelzi climbed into the top five following a late-race restart, but he slid into the wall in turns one and two and another competitor took advantage. Scelzi closed with a sixth-place result. Here is a link to watch the feature: https://youtu.be/7qrCXibYaeQ.

The event concluded on Saturday, when Scelzi made his 410ci winged sprint car debut at Thunderbowl Raceway during only his second career 410 race.

“It was a huge speed change from the night before,” he said. “It was kind of a surprise going quick time. I tried to be as smooth as I could. It was nice drawing an early pill because the track slowed down.”

Scelzi set quick time out of nearly 40 drivers during qualifying. He then advanced from fourth to second place in a heat race to make the pole shuffle, where a zero inversion gave him the No. 1 position.

“I chose the bottom line and got the jump over Bud Kaeding,” he said. “We led both laps and won so that gave us the pole for the main event.

“The non-wing race before us took rubber and they reworked the track for our A Main. On the initial start I hit some grease and spun my tires and Bud got in front of me. On the next restart I wheelied down the frontstretch and fell back to third. The first 10 or 15 laps I ran around in third. Carson Macedo drove by me and I fell to fourth. I really couldn’t get going. On the last corner of the race I drove by Buddy Kofoid for third.”

Scelzi capped the event by placing third, which marked his fourth top five of the season. He has scored a top-five result during both career 410 races. Here is a link to watch the main event: https://youtu.be/umxEHfz2rtE.

“It’s been a good start to the year with the 410 deal,” he said. “I’m learning more. I need to calm down and not force the issue. I was trying to go so hard and it hurt me. I want to thank Dennis and Teresa Roth as well as the rest of the team for their hard work and the great opportunity.”

QUICK RESULTS –

April 21 – Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. – Qualifying: 9; Heat race: DNF (5); B Main: 1 (3); Feature: 6 (13).

April 22 – Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. – Qualifying: 1; Heat race: 2 (4); Pole Shuffle: 1 (1); Feature: 3 (1).

SEASON STATS –

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

UP NEXT –

TBD

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 video: https://vimeo.com/161410751

Here is a link to a promotional video: https://vimeo.com/160322149

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Whipple Superchargers

Based in Fresno, Calif., Whipple Superchargers manufactures superchargers for all types of cars. Whipple’s dedication to innovative thinking, hard work, attention to detail and outstanding product performance has led to a better, American made product for the performance industry. For more information, visit http://www.WhippleSuperchargers.com.

“Whipple Superchargers are known worldwide for their business,” Scelzi said. “My dad and Art Whipple are really good friends. He loves racing and when we decided to go sprint car racing he was a huge, huge factor in helping us get going.”

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