Giovanni Scelzi Captures Top 10 at Knoxville During Season Debut in Indy Race Parts No. 71

Giovanni Scelzi Captures Top 10 at Knoxville During Season Debut in Indy Race Parts No. 71

Inside Line Promotions – KNOXVILLE, Iowa (April 23, 2019) – Giovanni Scelzi earned a top-10 result during his season debut in the Indy Race Parts backed No. 71 last Saturday at Knoxville Raceway.

Scelzi and car owner Bernie Stuebgen headed west to tackle the season opener at the half-mile oval after weather wiped out races near the Indiana shop.

“It’s always great to get laps at Knoxville,” Scelzi said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t time in as well as we wanted and qualifying points are pretty valuable so that buried us.”

Scelzi qualified 10th quickest out of the 30-plus competitors. He then maneuvered from fourth to second place during a heat race to rank eighth in overall points. That lined him up on the outside of the fourth row for the main event.

“The track had a big curb up top and was narrow on the bottom,” he said. “The race went green to checkered and I never got into a rhythm, but you can’t be upset because that was the toughest local competition you’ll get.

“It was productive. We had a brand new car with a fresh engine so there were a lot of variables. Everything went smooth. Plus, every time you go there it helps you. Running the bottom there takes a lot of laps. It’s a very fine line. So any time you get laps at Knoxville it’s very valuable.”

Scelzi is scheduled to return to Knoxville Raceway this Saturday before making his debut at Kokomo Speedway in Kokomo, Ind., on Sunday with the BOSS Series.