Giovanni Scelzi Powers to Strong Results During Pair of Ohio Sprint Speedweek Starts

Inside Line Promotions – ORRVILLE, Ohio (June 25, 2019) – Rain hampered what was supposed to be a busy week of racing for Giovanni Scelzi, who had planned on competing throughout most of Ohio Sprint Speedweek.

When it was all said and done, Scelzi and the Bernie Stuebgen owned team raced twice during the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions spectacle. While the number of races wasn’t as high as anticipated, Scelzi made the most of his action by finishing second at Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, Ohio, on June 16 and eighth last Saturday at Wayne County Speedway.

The competition began with Scelzi qualifying fourth quickest overall out of 34 drivers and quickest in his group at Muskingum County Speedway. He then rallied from fourth to second place in a heat race before a dash win lined him up on the outside of the front row for the A Main.

“We had a really good run and were good all night,” he said. “We could maneuver and make the car do whatever I needed to. I could run the top, bottom or the middle. Dale (Blaney) got through traffic better and had a better pace. I didn’t catch him at a good time. I pulled to his bumper at the checkered flag, but never had an opportunity to make a pass for the win.”

Scelzi’s second-place finish marked his eighth top five of the season.

The team returned to action on Saturday at Wayne County Speedway, where Scelzi timed in 15th quickest overall and fourth in his group. A third-place run in a heat race lined him up 14th in the main event.

“We struggled from the start and couldn’t get a handle on the car,” he said. “The track was really, really slick. That was as slick as that place has ever been in my time racing there. We made a bunch of changes and we were better in the main event, but we were still a bit off.”

Scelzi capped the action with a charge to eighth.

Scelzi will return to his family owned No. 41s this Thursday through Saturday at Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minn., during the 41st annual AGCO Jackson Nationals with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series. It will mark his debut at the track.

“A new place is always fun to go to,” he said. “I haven’t raced a lot in the Midwest other than Knoxville Raceway. I’m excited to get back racing with the Outlaws in our family car.