Giovanni Scelzi Improves Throughout Hockett/McMillin Memorial at Lucas Oil Speedway

Inside Line Promotions – WHEATLAND, Mo. (Sept. 26, 2017) – Giovanni Scelzi made great strides during his first career appearance at Lucas Oil Speedway last weekend when the oval hosted the 7th annual Jesse Hockett/Daniel McMillin Memorial.

Scelzi piloted a sprint car for BDS Motorsports during the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour three-day event, which began on Thursday with Scelzi placing second in a heat race, fourth in a qualifier and second in a B Main before he rallied from 21st to 15th in the main event.

“The first night we struggled the whole night,” he said. “Going to new places you don’t know if it’s you or the car when you don’t run well. We came in and I didn’t know what was wrong, but the steering felt weird. It turns out both front shocks were damaged so they were fixed before Friday’s race.”

The results improved immediately for Scelzi, who won his heat race and finished fourth in a qualifier to lock directly into the A Main. He picked up a couple of positions during the feature to place 13th.

“We were back to normal and were really fast,” he said. “Unfortunately, the track was pretty locked down so it was tough to make a lot of passes.”

Scelzi ranked 12th in overall points out of more than 50 drivers following the two preliminary nights. That lined him up on the pole of a qualifier, which he won to start the $10,000-to-win main event on the outside of the sixth row.

“We were really good and I got rolling really quick,” he said. “I think we were up to seventh in the first five or six laps. I got up to fourth and I passed Johnny Herrera for third late in the race, but a yellow came out. That put me back to fourth with seven laps to go. After the restart I rolled the bottom in turns one and two and got by him, but I got over the cushion in turns three and four and got into the fence. The cushion was right on the edge. I just rolled in too high. It was a hard way to end it, but it felt good to run that well.”

Scelzi was in contention for a podium finish before the late-race incident, which relegated him to a 20th-place finish.

He is slated to drive for Harley Van Dyke this Friday and Saturday at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif., for the Fall Nationals. Scelzi has earned two top fives at the track this season.