12/18/2017
Inside Line Promotions
Giovanni Scelzi Progresses Throughout Second Career Midget Race
Inside Line Promotions – DU QUOIN, Ill. (Dec. 18, 2017) – Giovanni Scelzi became reacquainted with a different kind of race car last Saturday during the Junior Knepper 55.
Scelzi, who has spent the last two seasons racing a winged sprint car, made his driving debut with Clauson-Marshall Racing during the USAC National Midget Series event at the Southern Illinois Center, where he made his second career start in a midget.
“It was definitely a learning night,” he said. “It was good to be physically in a midget. We got some laps and that’s the most important thing I got out of it. It was a different feel than I’m used to, but the Clauson-Marshall Racing cars are so nice and handle so well it helped with the transition.”
Scelzi started fifth in his heat race and he was forced to rebound from an opening-lap incident, which restarted him at the back of the field, to finish fifth. He then advanced from ninth to seventh place in a qualifier.
“It’s a really small track,” he said. “Everyone was fighting for the bottom at the start of the heat and a couple of cars got together. I think we got better each time we got on the track. We moved forward after restarting at the back of the heat and then picked up a couple of positions in the qualifier.”
Scelzi continued to move forward in a B Main as he rallied from eighth to fifth place before being caught up in a late-race crash. Scelzi was vying for the fourth-and-final transfer position into the main event when a car spun in front of him.
“It’s so hard to pass at that place,” he said. “I got more aggressive in the B Main. I was up to fifth and with one lap to go the guy in fourth spun in front of me and I nailed him. Stuff happens quickly on a small track like that and we had nowhere to go.”
The race ended with a DNF, but Scelzi said he is happy with the progress made throughout the night.
“We got better each time out and I felt more comfortable each time out,” he said. “I can’t thank Tim Clauson and the Marshalls enough for the opportunity. Also, I want to thank everyone on the team for their help.”
QUICK RESULTS –
Dec. 16 – Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, Ill. – Heat race: 5 (5); Qualifier: 7 (9); B Main: DNF (8).
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.GaryScelziMotorsports.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GioScelzi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gary-Scelzi-Motorsports/225890834113599
VIDEO –
Here is a link to a highlight and promotional video: https://youtu.be/RjDQszUzoe0
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Simpson Race Products
Simpson Race Products is an American motor sports parts business that supplies gloves, helmets, harness systems, driver’s suits, head restraints, shoes and more ranging from racers at local tracks to international teams. For more information, visit http://www.SimpsonRaceProducts.com.
“We run Simpson Race Products helmets because they are the best thing out there,” Scelzi said. “It’s a light helmet that is not only safe, it’s really comfortable.”
Scelzi would also like to thank Whipple Superchargers, Carlucci Transport, Panella Trucking, Red Rose Transportation, Inc., Scelzi Enterprises, Roth Motorsports, Fuel Delivery Services, Inc., NAPA Auto Parts, Todd Jorgensen, Red Line Oil, Schoenfeld Headers, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, FK Rod Ends, Weld Wheels, Sparco, K&N Filters, Worldwide Bearings, Blast Tech, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Meridian Steel, Kenny’s Components, Auto Meter, Allstar Performance, DJS Safe Seats, Arctic Cat and Southern Pacific Farms for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.
To meet the media relations needs of your program by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
Article Credit: Inside Line Promotions
Submitted By: Shawn Miller
