Column: Scelzi Steals Knoxville Nationals Night One With Late Pass On Allen & Grabs Point Lead
News Director 
Column By: ALEX NIETEN / WORLD OF OUTLAWS – KNOXVILLE, IA – “Hot Sauce” is hungry. Giovanni Scelzi is a Californian by birth but now calls Iowa home. KCP Racing, the team he competes with, is located roughly an hour’s drive from Knoxville Raceway.
The pairing have won the 360 Nationals. They’ve sat on the pole of the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s. They’re hungrier than ever for a Knoxville Nationals.
And they made a big step toward that goal on Wednesday’s BRANDT Professional Agriculture Qualifying Night at “The Sprint Car Capital of the World.”
Scelzi lined up sixth for the 25-lapper and put on a show with a charge to the front. After an uneventful first half of the race for the Fresno, CA driver, Scelzi got up on the wheel to move forward. On Lap 17 he took over second. Then he sealed the deal with a daring move between leader Jacob Allen and a lapped car entering Turn 1.
Emotion flowed in Victory Lane. Scelzi yelled with joy as he rose atop the wing, and the crowd joined him with a roar.
“I don’t even know what to say. I’ve never run a prelim night. I’ve run second. This definitely sets us up good for Saturday,” Scelzi said. “Living just outside Des Moines now in Grimes, this is kind of a home for me. The first time I came here in I think 2016 or 2017 I got to work for Aaron Reutzel. And you know, Danny Lasoski being my idol was one that was obviously super successful here. And I think sometimes when you really put your mind to something at a place you want to be successful at, it makes you work harder to really do that. It’s the best racetrack in the world. Best fans in the world. There’s no question. Best racing surface you get all year long. Whether the track is a little bit wetter like it was tonight or it’s super dry, you almost have three lines of racing every time you come here. My guys did an incredible job. Hats off to Adam (Clark), Bob (Curtis), and Aaron (Beiler).”
Scelzi’s victory was his first in a 410 at Knoxville since topping a local show in 2019. But perhaps more important than the prelim win itself is where it’s currently slotted him for championship Saturday. A tally of 471 points has him atop the table after the opening night, nearly guaranteeing he’ll be starting in the first couple rows for the 50-lap finale.
The NOS Energy Drink Feature was led to green by Jacob Allen and Justin Peck. Allen inched ahead of Peck and narrowly led the first circuit. Peck built up momentum on the top and looked as if he may challenge Allen for the top spot in Turn 1 on Lap 2, but Allen got the bottom rolling and scooted away.
Allen checked out as the opening portion of the race unfolded. Back behind Scelzi looked to begin his march forward but met a tough challenge in the form of Brent Marks. The Myerstown, PA native fended off several attempts from the No. 18. Even when Scelzi got by him the first time, the yellow flag flew before the lap was completed, giving the spot back to Marks.
Scelzi finally managed to escape Marks on the 11th circuit, and then the real fun began. Two laps later he drove right by Chase Randall to grab third. And then in four more rotations he wasted no time wheeled around Justin Peck for second.
Then the pursuit of race-long leader Allen began. Up front the Shark Racing No. 1A navigated heavy traffic which allowed Scelzi to close in. The first attempt at the top spot was thwarted by Allen as he protected. But only a few laps later Scelzi made a magnificent move for the lead.
A big run off the exit of Turn 4 allowed Scelzi to dip under Allen heading down the front straightaway. With Allen to his outside, the 22-year-old was also faced with a lapped car directly ahead. Scelzi had just enough momentum to clear Allen entering Turn 1 and slice ahead of him to get to the cushion and clear the traffic in the set of corners.
And that was all she wrote. The KCP No. 18 was dialed in with a motivated driver in the seat, and Scelzi set sail on his way to the checkered flag.
“What an incredible job by my guys,” Scelzi said. “Normally yellows are my kryptonite. And I just got by Brent Marks and the yellow came out of course. But man, the bottom got easier and easier to run as all of those crumbs got thrown up in the middle. Thank you, fans, for coming out. This is the busiest I’ve ever seen a Wednesday night. I hope everyone goes to Dingus because they can serve all of you.”
