Racing Legend Gary Scelzi Has Two Sons Who are Hard to Beat on the Track

Gary Scelzi dominated the Top Fuel Class of NHRA drag racing. In 2005 he defeated John Force and Robert Hight to win the NHRA Funny Car Championship. It was the first time in 13 years a team other than John Force Racing won the NHRA Funny Car Championship.

Dominic Scelzi is following in his father's racing footsteps as a force to be dealt with on the track
Dominic Scelzi is following in his father's racing footsteps as a force to be dealt with on the track

Lemoore and Visalia, California tracks are the next stops on the Scelzi racing circuit
Lemoore and Visalia, California tracks are the next stops on the Scelzi racing circuit
Scelzi is also the second person in NHRA history to win championships in both Top Fuel and Funny Car. He is also the only NHRA driver to have wins in Top Fuel, Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car. His NHRA Drag Racing Stats fill the record books, but Scelzi is happily retired, if you can call it retirement.
The youngest Scelzi on the Mini Sprint track poses with a trophy almost as big as he is
The youngest Scelzi on the Mini Sprint track poses with a trophy almost as big as he is

Gary Scelzi's son Giovanni is only 7, but has won his last four races
Gary Scelzi's son Giovanni is only 7, but has won his last four races

He helps run Scelzi Enterprises, a custom truck body design and manufacturing family business in Fresno, California. He is also a proud Papa. His two boys, Giovanni and Dominic have inherited their father’s racing genes.

Giovanni Scelzi is 7 years old and Dominic is 12. Both race Restricted 600 Mini Sprints and both know how to drive. “My boys are winning like crazy,” said Scelzi. “Giovanni, aka Hot Sauce won his fourth straight in Lemoore, California. He is beating kids who are 10, 11 and 12 years old.”

The Scelzi’s moved Dominic up to the men’s division at Lemoore. “We did it because we are leading in points and are undefeated in Visalia,” he said. “Visalia is a 600cc restricted division. To our surprise he qualified 5th out of 20 cars and had to start in the back of the 30 lap main event. Dominic made it to 12th in 10 laps. On lap 26, he did not have the strength to go one more lap so he pulled in. We are very proud of him for doing that and he received high marks from all the older competitors.”

Scelzi said he bought Dominic a go kart when he was only 5-years-old. “I was always home on Wednesdays because I had to go race on Thursday,” said Scelzi. “Dominic was always out of school at noon on Wednesday and I would take him to the track and he would drive lap after lap. Game On!”

Scelzi is a big believer in K&N. “K&N filters are great,” he said. “We support the company and the product.” Next race for the Scelzi’s will be in Lemoore and Visalia this weekend.

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