Gio_Scelzi

Gio Scelzi

Gio Scelzi

American auto racing driver

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.

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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 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]


In 2023, Scelzi will join the World of Outlaws full time. He will go after Rookie of the Year honors with the World of Outlaws.[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.)

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ARCA Menards Series East

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ARCA Menards Series West

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References

  1. [1]
    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. [2]
    Bemis, Scott (April 3, 2017). "High School Hot Shot: Giovanni Scelzi". Your Central Valley. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  3. [3]
    "Fresno 16-year-old Gio Scelzi youngest winner in Outlaws sprint car history". Fresno Bee. September 29, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  4. [4]
    Wright, Bill (July 28, 2019). "Gio Scelzi Becomes Youngest Knoxville Winner". Speed Sport. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  5. [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. [6]
    Fenwick, Adam (January 13, 2020). "Forbrook & Gio Scelzi Chasing Wins in the Midwest". Speed Sport. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  7. [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. [8]
    "Gio Scelzi Out Of Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic". Sprint Car & Midget. January 16, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  9. [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. [10]
    Miller, Shawn (June 3, 2020). "Gio Scelzi To Wing It With All Stars". Speed Sport. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  11. [11]
    Miller, Shawn (June 24, 2020). "Giovanni Scelzi Flashes Speed During Sprint Car and Midget Starts". MyRacePass. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  12. [12]
    Staff reports (September 26, 2020). "Gracie Trotter Makes History With Las Vegas Victory". ARCARacing.com. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  13. [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. [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. [15]
    Levins, Matt (August 21, 2017). "Scelzi sprints to Invaders victory". Dallas County News. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  16. [16]
    "Gio Scelzi – 2020 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  17. [17]
    "Gio Scelzi – 2020 ARCA Menards Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  18. [18]
    "Gio Scelzi – 2020 ARCA Menards Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
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