RPW Exclusive: Year 2024 Was Like A Dream For Phil Vigneri; Now He Wants That Again In ’25

Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – ELBA, NY – The 2024 racing season couldn’t have gone any better for Phil Vigneri.

Vigneri placed his DIRTcar 358-Modified in the top 10 in points at his Friday night home, the Ransomville Speedway with two top 5’s and eight top 10 finishes.

However, it was his prowess at the friendly confines of Genesee Speedway in the Sportsman division which proved to be a monstrous year for him.

Vigneri went nearly perfect at the Batavia, NY oval, only finishing out of the winner’s circle on one occasion. In fact, in that race, he came home second. It was total domination for the Elba, NY driver as he brought home the 2024 track championship.

“I didn’t know what to except going into this past season,” Vigneri said. “We were coming off of a handful of good runs in 2023 and were able to roll it right into 2024.”

That would be an understatement. Very few have had a winning percentage like the one Vigneri had in 2024.

“This was a dream season for myself and everyone on the team,” he said. “We clinched the title with a week left in the season. I truly couldn’t have imagined a better campaign to be honest.”

The success that Vigneri had during the points chases this past season helped to build his confidence for several other shows throughout ‘24.

“At the Topless Nationals for the Sportsman, we qualified quickest in our group for both nights,” he said. “We finished third the first night and ended up with a DNF on night two after getting a flat tire while leading.”

It also translated to the Modified.

“When the Pinnacle of Power Big Block / Small Block Series came to Genesee, we finished fourth in the June event,” he said. “We then finished second in the August race after leading 31 of 40 laps.”

Did those experiences and racing Friday’s at Ransomville with the Modified help Phil’s performance on Saturday’s at Genesee?

“Yes, absolutely,” he said. “Running against guys like Mat Williamson, Erick Rudolph, Gary Lindberg and Ryan Susice really requires you to push yourself and your team to the next level as a whole. Getting that valuable seat time was key.”

How much could be translated from the big sweeping Ransomville Speedway and a narrow track like Genesee.

“Ransomville is a much larger track that tends to slicken up often,” he said. “Genesee’s a much shorter and narrower track where things get tight. One thing about Genesee is that it’s the kind of track where fast cars always make their way to the front. There is a lot of passing if you have speed and luckily we had that in 2024.”

Even with the success Vigneri and his team had last season, they’re not resting on their laurels looking ahead to 2025. They know that for them to repeat, they have to do their homework.

“I try not to put too much pressure on myself,” he said. “I’m very fortunate to be able to race as much as I do and to have the success that we’ve had (championships in ‘22 & ’24 plus 30 Genesee wins – 45 total wins). With that said, naturally, there’s some pressure when you’re at the top of your game and want to stay there so we’re working hard to make that happen.”

That doesn’t mean this team aren’t enjoying their time together.

“I just try to have fun with it,” he said. “We have a team rule that I’m not allowed to think about or even know about the points until the last couple weeks. It helps us focus keeping things as one race at a time.”

Looking ahead to ’25, it appears as if Phil and his teams will be running a similar path as this past season.

“As of right now, we plan on running a similar schedule,” he said. “Ransomville on Friday nights, the Dirt Track at Genesee on Saturday’s and doing some other traveling with my Outlaw Modified. I also have an outdoor TQ Midget that I run once in a while that I hope to get out five or six times throughout the summer.”

For Phil Vigneri and his team to have another dominant season in 2025, they need to buckle down and make sure the performance is there. They need to make sure their equipment is in tip-top shape.

Is there anything to indicate that they won’t be ready? If you see any, let it be known because this team is ready to repeat.

In Phil’s own words…

“I have to thank all of our amazing sponsors for their continued support. They include Twin Hickory Golf Club, Wraptile Graphics, Diverse Technologies, Professional Drainage Systems, Scalia’s Landscape, Batavia Fence Co., Bella Mora Pets and Pink Carburetors.

I also have to give a very special thanks to the people that work hard to keep our team up front, including my Dad, my Uncle Pat, Ray & Jamie Smith, Cale Rice & Brandon Michaud. This team wouldn’t be where it is without all of the great support it has.”