Inside Line Promotions – LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. (May 29, 2019) – Giovanni Scelzi enjoyed the type of weekend most race car drivers dream of during Memorial Day Weekend.

Scelzi and car owner Bernie Stuebgen won the opening night of the Patriot Nationals on Friday, rebounded from a late-race flat tire to finish fifth in the Patriot Nationals finale on Saturday and captured a third-place outing on Monday during the Memorial Day Spectacle presented by KOI Auto Parts. All three races were with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, giving Scelzi four top fives and eight top 10s in 14 World of Outlaws races this season.

“Bernie and I work really hard to have a fast race car,” he said. “When you have a weekend when everything goes your way it brings your confidence up. When you have a confident race car driver and crew chief you’re in a great position going into every race.”

The Patriot Nationals began last Friday at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C. Scelzi qualified eighth quickest out of 31 drivers before a run from third to second place in a heat race earned a spot into the dash.

“I didn’t qualify great, but we did our job in the heat to make the dash,” he said. “We drew a good number and gained a spot in the dash to start second. The track was really, really slick in the feature. I rode around the cushion. Then it took rubber right in the middle of the track with about eight or nine laps to go. (Kyle) Larson was searching. He got loose off turn two and I took advantage.”

Scelzi pounced in traffic to take over the top spot and lead the final six laps to score his second career World of Outlaws win.

“I think that one solidified me as not just a fluke winner,” he said referencing his World of Outlaws victory last year. “The track was slick. This was a win where you had to run a good race. To pass Larson, too, that was a pretty big deal.”

Scelzi returned to the 4/10-mile oval on Saturday. He qualified 11 th quickest before winning a heat race to again make the dash. A third-place run in the dash started him on the inside of the second row for the main event.

“I fell back to seventh and ran there,” he said. “I was probably the third guy to blow a tire when ours went out with a few laps to go. Everyone started blowing tires and we charged back. They were all fighting for the bottom and we had a 25-lap fresher tire so it was good circumstances for us to rebound.”

Scelzi overcame the late-race blow tire to charge from the back of the field to a fifth-place finish.

The team ventured to Lawrenceburg Speedway on Monday. Scelzi qualified sixth quickest out of 31 drivers, placed second in a heat race and ended fifth in the dash to start the main event on the inside of the third row.

“That track is hard to get comfortable at because its so gnarly and wide open, but I did the right block moves and made the right decisions and we came out with a podium,” he said.

Scelzi battled inside the top five throughout the race before he garnered a third-place finish.

The team now focuses on the $100,000-to-win Sprint Car World Championship this Thursday through Saturday at Mansfield Motor Speedway in Mansfield, Ohio.

“Last year it was the first race with Bernie,” he said. “We had a good run going and broke a birdcage. It’s a gnarly race track. It rained a bunch last year and was rough and wide open. I’m not sure what it will be like this year, but I’m confident going into this weekend.”

QUICK RESULTS –

May 24 – The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C. – Qualifying: 8; Heat race: 2 (3); Dash: 2 (3); Feature: 1 (2).

May 25 – The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C. – Qualifying: 11; Heat race: 1 (4); Dash: 3 (1); Feature: 5 (3).

May 27 – Lawrenceburg Speedway in Lawrenceburg, Ind. – Qualifying: 6; Heat race: 2 (2); Dash: 5 (6); Feature: 3 (5).

SEASON STATS –

23 races, 4 wins, 7 top fives, 14 top 10s, 16 top 15s, 17 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Thursday through Saturday at Mansfield Motor Speedway in Mansfield, Ohio, for the COMP Cams Sprint Car World Championship

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://vimeo.com/216772925

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Indy Race Parts

Indy Race Parts specializes in new and used sprint car, midget and mini sprint parts. For more information, visithttps://www.facebook.com/indyraceparts/ .

“Bernie and Betsy Stuebgen have become really close friends since I’ve gotten to know them,” Scelzi said. “They’ve always given me a fast race car and it’s been a lot of fun driving for their team. I really appreciate the opportunity they’ve provided.”

Scelzi would also like to thank Whipple Superchargers, Scelzi Enterprises, Roth Motorsports, Fuel Delivery Services, Inc., Red Rose Transportation, Inc., Panella Trucking, Red Line Oil, NAPA Auto Parts, Schoenfeld Headers, Meridian Steel, FK Rod Ends, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Weld Wheels, KSE Racing Products, K&N Filters, Sparco, Simpson Race Products, Worldwide Bearings, Todd Jorgensen, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Kenny’s Components, Auto Meter, Allstar Performance, DJS Safe Seats and Arctic Cat 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[email protected] . For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.

*PHOTO BY TRENT GOWER PHOTOGRAPHY*