RPW Column: Racing’s Always Been Fun For Zach Sorrentino; Now, 54S Motorsports Is Ready For More

Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – LEE, MA – Fun.

That’s the name of the game for 2022 DIRTcar Pro Stock Rookie of the Year Zach Sorrentino and his team as they enter this new season.

Then again, it’s been the name of the game since Sorrentino first powered a race car onto a speedway many, many years ago.

Since then, he’s been getting to live out a dream.

Coming off a career year which saw the Lee, MA driver pick up his first career DIRTcar Pro Stock win at Lebanon Valley on August 13th, finish fourth in track points and get top rookie on the entire DIRTcar circuit, Sorrentino is poised to have another great campaign driving his family-owned #54s.

In doing so, he’s going to continue just as he has for every season before 2023.

“We’re just going to have fun,” Sorrentino said. “We pride ourselves on having fun and this is a good strong family. Every race we can get to and the more fun we have, it’ just better for us.”

What are the goals heading into 2023 for 54S Motorsports?

“We’re going to hit every race at Lebanon Valley and hopefully keep the car in one piece,” he said. “We’re going to be racing every Saturday night at the Valley and towards the end of the season we’re going to travel around a little bit more.”

Does the team have a schedule set for this season, outside of their home track?

“We’re not sure yet,” he said. “We may hit some DIRTcar Series races so we can get more experience at other tracks.”

Over the last few seasons, running his Pro Stock, Sorrentino and company have ventured out on occasion, running events at tracks like Fonda, Oswego and Port Royal. As stated earlier, he’s looking to get to even more so he can gain that valuable experience, but what has it meant so far to him as a driver?

“First and foremost, it’s given me more stress and anxiety,” he said with a big laugh. “You have to plan camping, ticket prices, travel and vacation time.”

All joking aside, Sorrentino absolutely loves visiting other speedways as he tries to become a better driver.

“Honestly, it’s so cool,” he said. “You go to these different tracks, you get to see different racing surfaces…the way they take rubber or don’t take rubber and where the lines are.”

He also knows what it means for his sponsors.

“It’s just great to be able to get out to different places and bring our partners out,” he said. “It’s just tremendous to showcase all of the people who support our team at as many tracks as we can get to.”

No matter the facility, it seems as if Zach Sorrentino and his team are successful wherever they go.

“I love Fonda,” he said. “I’ve absolutely loved Orange County when we ran there with the Street Stock. Port Royal was the best dirt track facility I’ve ever seen on TV or in person, but going to other tracks and seeing different conditions can only help me as a driver.”

It’s that experience that has Zach itching to get back on the road in 2023.

“You don’t necessarily learn a lot when it comes to set-ups because you only see a place once and a while, but you do gain notes,” he said. “It’s not just that. It’s also the experience of checking a track off the bucket list to say I raced there. I’ll keep traveling as much as possible.”

Even though their schedule isn’t set in stone, there’s one race circled on the 54s Motorsports calendar at the end of the season.

“We’re looking to go to Charlotte in October,” he said. “We want to go down and hopefully have a shot at winning the World Short Track Championship Pro Stock main event. That would be huge for us.”