SCELZI WINS POMBO-SARGENT AT OCEAN
June 22, 2019
Jim Allen

(6/21/19) Watsonville, CA, By Joe Shivak & Jim Allen … Dominic Scelzi won the frantic 30 lap NARC-King of West Series Pombo-Sargent Classic presented by Fujitsu sprint car feature at Ocean Speedway on Friday night. Ryan Bernal and Colby Copeland followed the No. 83 Roth Motorsports KPC in front of a good crowd at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds dirt oval.

Early race leader and front row starter Willie Croft edged out Bud Kaeding to fill out the top five finishers. Croft took the lead from pole sitter Mitchell Faccinto at the drop of the green. Croft pulled away from the rest of the 20 car starting field until the red flag flew for Nathan Rolfe who did a soft flip in the second turn making him the first retiree.

The restart saw Croft leading Faccinto and Chase Johnson however Billy Anton would spin in the first turn on lap 10 to slow the race. Johnson would pull into the infield with an expired motor while running in the third spot. The second place Faccinto’s TSG Recycling No.37 would slow on lap 14 and pull off the track with a broken rear end. This would move both Scelzi and Bernal into contention. Anton would be charged with another yellow flag when he spun in the fourth turn on lap 16.

Leader Croft was momentarily slowed in traffic on the 23rd circuit and Scelzi would take a gamble with a low pass in the third turn which would pay off. A rattled Croft got sideways coming off the fourth turn, clipped an infield tire, sending his car into the infield. The bobble cost Croft two more positions before he could get his No. 29 back on the track.

Ryan Bernal quickly reeled in Scelzi and launched a massive third turn slide job on the 28th circuit, but Scelzi returned the favor coming out of the fourth to extinguish the threat. Scelzi earned a $3000 first place prize for his two car length victory. He also paced the 20 car field in qualifying. Bernal’s efforts came aboard the Tarlton Motorsports KPC.

“I knew he was back there and coming for me,” explained Scelzi in regards to Bernal’s late race blitz. “I knew the slide job was coming, I just didn’t know when.”

Bernal countered, “I knew I had to give it a shot, I just did it one lap too soon!”

Copeland would earn the Swift Metal Finishing hardcharger award for his drive from the 13th starting spot aboard the Good Guys Rod & Custom Association Maxim.

The second five to cross the checkered were championship point leader DJ Netto, Shane Golobic, Geoff Ensign, Kurt Nelson and Sean Watts.

The Sunnyvalley Bacon Dash was won by Faccinto with BMRS heat race wins going to Bernal, D J Netto and Sean Watts.

FUJITSU FEATURE EVENT (30-laps): Dominic Scelzi, Ryan Bernal, Colby Copeland, Willie Croft, Bud Kaeding, D J Netto, Shane Golobic, Geoff Ensign, Kurt Nelson, Sean Watts, Jason Statler, Kenny Allen, Jayson Bright, Matt DeMartini, Chris Nelson, Mark Barroso, Billy Aton, Mitchell Faccinto, Chase Johnson, Nathan Rolfe

LAP LEADERS: Croft 1-23, Scelzi 24-30.

BROWN & MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS FIRST HEAT (10 laps): Ryan Bernal, Dominic Scelzi, Nathan Rolfe, Colby Copeland, Jayson Bright, Matt DeMartini, Shane Golobic

FK ROD ENDS SECOND HEAT (10 laps): DJ Netto, Chase Johnson, Mitchell Faccinto, Jason Statler, Bud Kaeding, Mark Barroso, Chris Nelson

SPEEDSHIFT TV/MVP THIRD HEAT (10 laps): Sean Watts, Willie Croft, Geoff Ensign, Kurt Nelson, Kenny Allen, Billy Anton

SUNNYVALLEY BACON DASH (6 laps): Mitchell Faccinto, Willie Croft, Chase Johnson, Sean Watts, Dominic Scelzi, Ryan Bernal