Gio Scelzi

Last updated
Gio Scelzi
Scelzi Evergreen 2020.jpg
Scelzi at Evergreen Speedway in 2020
NationalityFlag of the United States.svg  American
Born (2001-11-28) November 28, 2001 (age 23)
Fresno, California
Related to Gary Scelzi (father)
ARCA Menards Series West career
Debut season 2020
Current team Bill McAnally Racing
Years active2020–present
Car number16
Engine Toyota
Crew chiefJohn Camilleri
Starts11
Championships0
Wins1
Poles0
Last updated on: November 7, 2020.

Giovanni Scelzi (born November 28, 2001) is an American racing driver. He currently competes full-time in the World of Outlaws Nos Energy Drink Sprint Car, series driving the #18 sprint car for KCP Racing.

Contents

Racing career

Scelzi began his career in the micro-sprint ranks, driving at Plaza Park Raceway. [1] Racing at Lemoore Speedway as a nine-year-old, Scelzi posted 24 wins during that season. [2]

At age sixteen, Scelzi moved from his hometown of Fresno, California to Indianapolis, Indiana to be closer to sprint car competition. [1] In September of that year, he became the youngest winner in World of Outlaws history, winning a preliminary event at the National Open at Williams Grove Speedway in Pennsylvania. [3]

In 2019, Scelzi became the youngest driver to win a feature at Knoxville Raceway, using the highest groove on the racetrack to take the lead. [4] He also won his first career United States Auto Club midget race, taking the checkered flag at Placerville Speedway. [5]

Scelzi during ARCA West qualifying at Evergreen in 2020. Scelzi Qualifying Evergreen 2020.jpg
Scelzi during ARCA West qualifying at Evergreen in 2020.

Scelzi started his 2020 season by racing at the Chili Bowl in Tulsa, Oklahoma. [1] On January 13, Scelzi announced a partnership with Guy Forbrook to run a limited number of sprint car races in the Midwest United States, saying that he wanted to scale back his sprint car efforts for the year. [6] On January 14, Scelzi was confirmed for a full ARCA Menards Series West schedule for Bill McAnally Racing, driving the organization's No. 16 entry. [7] A midwinter trip to Australia to race sprint cars was cancelled when Scelzi left Indy Race Cars, the team he drove for in 2018 and 2019, to join Forbrook. [8] He won his first Pro Late Model race at New Smyrna Speedway on February 9, capitalizing on a last lap crash/penalty combination that took the top two cars out of contention. [9] In June, Scelzi returned to his family sprint car team for some All Star Circuit of Champions races [10] and also joined Tucker Boat Motorsports for some sprint car races during Indiana Midget Week. [11] Scelzi scored a career-best ARCA West finish of second at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring in September. [12] In the following race, Scelzi executed a bump-and-run maneuver on Taylor Gray during the penultimate lap to claim his first ARCA win. [13] He would finish the season 5th in points.

In 2023, Scelzi joined the World of Outlaws full time, pursuing Rookie of the Year honors. [14]

Personal life

Gio is the son of former drag racing driver Gary Scelzi, and is the younger brother of sprint car driver Dominic Scelzi. [1] He attended Clovis Online High School in a blended learning model with in-person and online instruction. [15]

Motorsports career results

ARCA Menards Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Menards Series results
YearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314151617181920AMSCPtsRef
2020 Bill McAnally Racing 99 Toyota DAY PHO
10		 TAL POC IRP KEN IOW
11		 KAN TOL TOL MCH DAY GTW
13		 L44 TOL BRI WIN MEM ISF KAN 33rd98 [16]

ARCA Menards Series East

ARCA Menards Series East results
YearTeamNo.Make123456AMSECPtsRef
2020 Bill McAnally Racing 16 Toyota NSM
13		 TOL DOV TOL BRI FIF 35th31 [17]

ARCA Menards Series West

ARCA Menards Series West results
YearTeamNo.Make1234567891011AMSWCPtsRef
2020 Bill McAnally Racing 16 Toyota LVS
10		 MMP
3		 MMP
4		 IRW
14		 EVG
3		 DCS
4		 CNS
3		 LVS
2		 AAS
1		 KCR
9		 PHO
27		5th560 [18]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Bonkowski, Jerry (January 13, 2020). "Gio Scelzi hopes to use Chili Bowl as springboard to NASCAR". NASCAR on NBC. NBC Sports. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  2. ↑ Bemis, Scott (April 3, 2017). "High School Hot Shot: Giovanni Scelzi". Your Central Valley. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Fresno 16-year-old Gio Scelzi youngest winner in Outlaws sprint car history". Fresno Bee. September 29, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  4. ↑ Wright, Bill (July 28, 2019). "Gio Scelzi Becomes Youngest Knoxville Winner". Speed Sport. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  5. ↑ Pryson, Mike (January 13, 2020). "NHRA Legend's Son Gio Scelzi Finds Sprint Cars to be Anything but a Drag". Autoweek. Hearst Autos. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  6. ↑ Fenwick, Adam (January 13, 2020). "Forbrook & Gio Scelzi Chasing Wins in the Midwest". Speed Sport. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Gio Scelzi Set to Drive Iconic No. 16 for Bill McAnally Racing; Jesse Love, Gracie Trotter, and Holly Hollan Round Out Four-Car BMR West Series Lineup". ARCA Menards Series. January 14, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Gio Scelzi Out Of Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic". Sprint Car & Midget. January 16, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  9. ↑ Allen, Richard (February 10, 2020). "Gio Scelzi making quick progress on pavement as he looks toward NASCAR". Inside Circle Track. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  10. ↑ Miller, Shawn (June 3, 2020). "Gio Scelzi To Wing It With All Stars". Speed Sport. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  11. ↑ Miller, Shawn (June 24, 2020). "Giovanni Scelzi Flashes Speed During Sprint Car and Midget Starts". MyRacePass. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  12. ↑ Staff reports (September 26, 2020). "Gracie Trotter Makes History With Las Vegas Victory". ARCARacing.com. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  13. ↑ Haislop, Todd (October 24, 2020). "Gio Scelzi Earns First ARCA Menards Win With Aggression At All American". ARCA Menards Series. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  14. ↑ Graziano, Nick (2023-01-20). "Giovanni Scelzi, KCP Racing Joining World of Outlaws Tour Full Time in 2023". World of Outlaws. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  15. ↑ Levins, Matt (August 21, 2017). "Scelzi sprints to Invaders victory". Dallas County News. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Gio Scelzi – 2020 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Gio Scelzi – 2020 ARCA Menards Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Gio Scelzi – 2020 ARCA Menards Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
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