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LEMOORE, Calif. (Oct. 7, 2013) – The 4th annual California Cup couldn’t have started off much better for Dominic Scelzi.
He opened the doubleheader at Lemoore Raceway on Friday by qualifying second quickest in a nonwing micro sprint for Pace Chassis owner Scott Coffman.
“We were really good in qualifying,” Scelzi said. “The track was kinda rough and we were able to get through the rough part really good.”
Scelzi then charged from fourth to second place in his heat race, earning the outside pole for the 30-lap feature.
“The leader got a good jump,” he said of the main event. “It was one lane in (turns) one and two and in (turns) three and four everybody was rolling through the middle.”
Just after the midpoint of the race traffic slowed the leader and Scelzi briefly took the lead before falling back to second.
“I ran second the entire race and a lapped car messed up the leader and I got under him, but he got back by,” he said. “The track started slicking off and we started getting better. I didn’t have anything to win it, but I would have run second.”
Scelzi restarted second after a caution with five laps remaining. Unfortunately, contact from a driver behind Scelzi ended his bid for a podium finish.
“It was almost like he was trying to slide me,” he said. “He drove up on the berm. I lifted and got out of it, turned up and he just kept going and drove over my front end.
“I didn’t feel anything was broken. I went into (turn) three and everything was fine. Coming out of (turn) four the left front went down and started dragging. I lifted and was pulling down toward the infield. It broke loose, spun the car around and we did a 360 and got ran into. It bent the frame, knocked the front end out of it and it ended our weekend.”
Not only did the damage force Scelzi to the pits early, the team was unable to race on Saturday.
“If we would have run second we would have been locked into the dash,” he said. “We were one of the three fastest cars the whole night. If we would have been a little looser I think we would have been able to get around the leader.”
Scelzi returns to his sprint car on Saturday at Kings Speedway in Hanford, Calif., for the Cotton Classic with the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series.
“I’m really looking forward to it because it’s my home track,” he said. “We had a really bad showing the last time I was there so I’m looking for redemption.”
Scelzi ranks 10th in the championship standing with two King of the West races remaining.
QUICK RESULTS –
Oct. 4 – Lemoore Raceway in Lemoore, Calif. – Qualifying: 2; Heat race: 2 (4); Feature: 16 (2).
SEASON STATS –
38 races, 3 wins, 14 top fives, 22 top 10s, 26 top 15s, 31 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Saturday at Kings Speedway in Hanford, Calif., for the Cotton Classic with the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
VIDEO –
Here is a link to Scelzi’s first career King of the West victory at Stockton 99 Dirt Track on Aug. 3: http://youtu.be/9qvlWdZuDJ8
APPAREL –
Scelzi has t-shirts and sweatshirts available for sale at his hauler and the Race Chic trailer at each race this season. For more information on Scelzi’s schedule, visit http://www.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Sparco
Sparco is a leading manufacturer of racing gear, including suits, gloves, helmets, shoes and more. For additional information, visit http://www.SparcoUSA.com.
“They are by far the most comfortable racing suit on the market,” Scelzi said. “They are the safest suit you can possibly buy and they are the best looking. I can’t thank them enough for everything they do for me and my brother every single year.”
Scelzi would also like to thank Whipple Superchargers, Red Rose Transportation, Fowler Packing, K&N Filters and Fuel Delivery Service for their continued support.