a main FEATURE
SPRINTS
DOMINIC SCELZI CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’
Photo: Paul Arch
By Alex Nieten
WHEN IT WAS FIRST announced during the off-season that Dominic Scelzi would be scaling back his racing to the west coast, many assumed this meant he would be taking his foot off the gas. With the news of his first child on the way and an elevated role in his family business, the sprint car would take a backseat. Paychecks and diapers would have to be priority over winner’s checks and trophies, right? Well, not exactly. While balancing these added responsibilities, the 24 year old has still managed to have a career-year, and he doesn’t plan on slowing down. Scelzi’s 2021 campaign kicked off in January’s Wild Wing Shootout at Arizona Speedway. While the team didn’t earn a win at the three-night show, a trio of top-10s including a runner-up in the finale announced the beginnings of what has been a dominant season. The 41 car has since tallied 21 victories, all in California or Washington. Scelzi credits his extensive experience with racing across the country and the team’s addition of crew chief Jimmy Carr for shaping this year’s performance.
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“This is my tenth year driving a sprint car,” Scelzi said. “I’ve been racing sprint cars for such a long time. I know what to expect and I know what’s expected of me. I know how the races turn out. I’m not a young kid anymore. In a lot of ways, I’m a veteran. I’ve got an understanding of how these races unfold and I’ve got an understanding of what it takes to win. And then you throw on top of it, which I think is more important than anything else, is the fact that the guy I’m working with has won everything there is to win in sprint car racing. When you got a guy like Jimmy Carr in your corner who has had so much success with so many different drivers at Roth Motorsports and Tony Stewart Racing and all of these places, how do you not grow success?” While the bulk of his recent racing that has conditioned him as a driver has been nationwide, this Fresno native’s heart lies with the west coast racing circuit. Scelzi carries an appreciation for the history of his home region and holds personal ties to many of the prestigious events on the left coast. The connection has made a few
DIRT EMPIRE MAGAZINE • ISSUE 06 - 2021
Photo: Paul Arch
