06/03/17  – Antioch, CA …  Gio Scelzi became the first repeat winner on the King of the West-NARC Fujitsu Sprint Car Series with his impressive victory in the 30-lap headliner at Antioch Speedway Saturday night.

Scelzi, piloting the potent Roth Motorsports H&R Livestock Transportation KPC sprint car, started sixth in the grid and quickly sliced his way past Kyle Hirst, Bud Kaeding and Cory Eliason to slide into the runner-up position after only a single lap.

The 15-year old driver proceeded to reel in race leader DJ Netto and the pair battled wheel-to-wheel for a couple of circuits.  Scelzi secured the point for good getting under and past the leader on the fourth circuit.

Netto, in the AG Netto/Tri-C Machine sprint car battled back, but quickly had his hands full holding off the aggressive advances of Eliason.  Those two battled inches apart, as they cut through slower traffic.  Eliason actually passed Netto twice, only to lose the advantage seconds later.  With this battle going on behind him this allowed Scelzi to extend his advantage to about 10-car lengths and gain some lapped cars as interference.

A caution flag with five laps remaining set the stage for one last charge at the leader, but Scelzi took no prisoners and ran away to secure the $3000 victory.  The final checkered waved at 9:32 p.m.

Netto crossed the checkered in the runner-up spot.  Eliason, in the Antaya Motorsports Fuel Curve-sponsored mount, finished in the show position.  Scelzi’s teammate Hirst secured fourth in the other Roth Motorsports entry.  Hirst started on the pole after winning the Hoosier Tires Dash.  Willie Croft, who made several serious runs at Hirst, rounded out the top five in his Amerikote Powder Coatings ride.

Tenth starter Mitchell Faccinto, Bobby McMahan, championship point leader Bud Kaeding, Sean Watts and Billy Alton rounded out the top 10.  Kaeding was reeled into a three-car skirmish on the third circuit and had to restart at the back of the pack.

With Kaeding’s misfortune and top finishes by Scelzi and Eliason, the KWS-NARC point standings are now log jammed at the top.  The top three are separated by only six points.  Kaeding holds a slim 347-343 point advantage over Eliason.  Scelzi sits in third with 341.

Heat races were picked off by Hirst and Netto.  Eliason set quick time around the 3/87 mile oval with a 12.245 second run.

RACE RESULTS:

KWS-NARC Fujitsu Feature Event (30 laps);   Gio Scelzi, DJ Netto, Cory Eliason, Kyle Hirst, Willie Croft, Mitchell Faccinto, Bobby McMahan, Bud Kaeding, Sean Watts, Bill Alton, Shawn Arriaga, Buddy Kofoid, Nathan Rolfe, Mathew Moles, Brent Bjork, Jarrett Soares

Lap Leaders:  Netto 1-3, Scelzi 4-30

Hoosier Tires Dash (6 laps):   Kyle Hirst, DJ Netto, Bud Kaeding, Cory Eliason, Bobby McMahan, Gio Scelzi

Fast Qualifier (3/8 mile clay oval):  Cory Eliason 12.245

Heat 1 (10 laps):   Kyle Hirst, Cory Eliason, Gio Scelzi, Sean Watts, Bill Alton, Mitchell Faccinto, Mathew Moles

Heat 2 (10 laps):   DJ Netto, Bobby McMahan, Bud Kaeding, Michael Kofoid, Willie Croft, Jarrett Soares, Brent Bjork, Shawn Arriaga