Scelzi Grateful for Strong Safety Products following Wild Crash at Knoxville
Inside Line Promotions – KNOXVILLE, Iowa (July 4, 2016) – Dominic Scelzi endured one of the wildest rides of his career last Friday at Knoxville Raceway.
Scelzi was competing just outside the top 10 when he and another driver made contact in turns one and two at the half-mile oval. The collision resulted in both cars flipping and Scelzi’s car being destroyed during the crash.
“It was the second most painful one I’ve been in,” he said. “It was probably the biggest flip I’ve taken. It was a wild one. To kill a car at Knoxville, it was pretty stylish. I really want to thank all of our partners for the safety products. They all did the job perfectly and I feel fine. A big thanks also to ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, which we believe are the safest made, and to DJS Safe Seat.”
The night with the National Sprint League began with Scelzi drawing a high number, which sent him out last for qualifying.
“We went out dead last and that really hurt us there,” he said. “Fortunately we were able to start on the front row of a heat race.”
Scelzi qualified 18th quickest overall before he won a heat race after starting on the pole.
“It’s so tough because I feel like we’ve been able to race really well there,” he said. “It’s a matter of me figuring out qualifying. I’ve really struggled putting good laps down with qualifying. I think that’s something that comes with getting laps on that race track.”
Scelzi entered the main event ranked 14th in overall points. That lined him up on the outside of the seventh row for the main event.
“It was pretty much a free for all,” he said. “From 10th to 15th we were going back and forth every corner. I had been running the bottom really well. Right before a yellow came out we got around one or two guys. I had moved up to the top and that’s when the contact came in turns one and two about a lap after the restart. I had contact with a guy trying to throw a slide job on me. He didn’t get me cleared and I didn’t have anywhere to go and that resulted in a destroyed car. Thankfully we have the best safety gear and that protected me from an injury during the violent wreck.”
Scelzi was credited with a 21st-place result, but on a positive note he was able to spend some valuable time with an uncle.
“I want to thank my Uncle Mark Rose for flying out from California to watch me race and spend some time with me last weekend; we had a great time,” he said. “Mark runs the operations at Red Rose Transportation in Fresno, which keeps him very busy. I am very grateful for his support.”
Saturday’s National Sprint League event at Knoxville Raceway rained out.
The Roth Motorsports backed team will return to action this Friday and Saturday at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis., for the FVP Outlaws at Cedar Lake event with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series. It will be Scelzi’s debut at the track.