BARBERVILLE, Fla.: Gio Scelzi was in a bit of a mental quandary as he exited his trailer after Saturday night’s DIRTcar Nationals finale. It was almost like he was an NFL quarterback who threw four interceptions, but his team won the game.
The difference is that Scelzi didn’t enjoy the frontstretch confetti bath. There was no climbing on the wing. And he certainly didn’t cash the $20,000 first-place check. That was the four-interception part of this story.
Big picture … Scelzi won this week without holding one checkered flag at the end of the night. He showed speed at a place he’s struggled mightily at in the past and was one of the fastest cars in the pit area over the four-day stretch recording three top-five finishes and four top 10s.
So why does Scelzi want to throw a chair? It’s back to that winning thing again, which is why the California native is a part of this sport in the first place.
“I’m not trying to be a Negative Nancy, but it sucks when you are in a position like that being on the front row two nights in a row and not winning,” Scelzi said. “it’s hard being in the place you want to be … you have to capitalize on those moments. That is what I feel I didn’t do last year. I had plenty of front row and second row starting spots and threw them out the window.
“It’s maturity, using your head a little more, and not getting overwhelmed when your car doesn’t feel good early. You have to let it come to you. I don’t know if I over-thought it and tried to be too methodical or what.”
Continued Scelzi, “I know we’re good enough to win. I know I’m good enough to win these races. I just have to put a whole night together.”
Scelzi seemed to do everything right to start each night, unlike last year when he got in an early hole with bad qualifying times and failed to crack the top 10 during DIRTcar Nationals competition.
This time around, he qualified well, made it through his heat race, and earned his way into the Dash all four nights. From there, he polished off three fourth-place finishes and a seventh for an average result of 4.75 for the four-race stretch.
But Scelzi didn’t win. And initially, that was his focus after Saturday’s finale in which he led the first 10 circuits of the 30-Lap feature.
“I didn’t feel good on the top or bottom,” Scelzi said. “I felt tight on the top and too free on the bottom, and I felt if I could’ve maintained and got to traffic first, I would be able to maneuver really well.
I don’t know. I felt dominant on the bottom and thought it would throw all of those crumbs to the middle, which it did. The top was so big and tricky, I didn’t think you could make speed, so I stuck to the bottom.
“In open air, Macri could just rip the top, and he got around me. Buddy passed me, and I went to the top and jumped the cushion. I went back to the bottom and almost got back to third, and I probably should’ve just stayed there.”
Scelzi’s displeasure is warranted, and it’s not as simple as being an intense competitor. He won once with the World of Outlaws a year ago and still finished fourth in the point standings … as a rookie.
It means Scelzi is close to winning a bunch. He knows it and so does his team. And when you get opportunities to close the deal against this group of drivers, you’ve got to follow through and do it.
Once Scelzi has settled down and starts critiquing KCP Racing’s overall week, he will be pleased. He leaves Volusia Speedway Park as one of the fastest cars on the circuit and second in points, 10 markers behind David Gravel.
“It was a good week,” Scelzi said. “It’s hard to be upset. I just hate that I didn’t get passed by Gravel [the last night]. He did what he had to do and is a smart racer. It just sucks that I was in position to win the Big Gator and feel like I handed it away.
“I’m proud of everyone on the team and with Bob Curtis being a new edition. He’s fit into the team really nice, and I hope we can keep it going all year.
“How can’t I be optimistic. We ran two different motors, and they both ran really well. I will probably have a pouting session tonight and throw something in the hotel room, but I will get over it. Tomorrow is a new day, and we will watch the Niners beat the Chiefs.”