STOCKTON, Calif. — Championship weekend for both the NARC-King of the West Sprint Cars and Sprint Car Challenge Tour signaled another step toward the end of racing season on the West Coast.
On the NARC side, Dominic Scelzi cruised to the title needing only make a qualifying run Saturday night at the Stockton Dirt Track to secure his first series championship. Though, his night ended in a crash, nothing could spoil the celebratory mood of Scelzi and his No. 41 team.
Scelzi engineered a dominant year. Over the 20-race season, he tallied six victories (most in the series since 2016), 13 podiums (most since 2013) and 16 top-five finishes (most since 2010).
As a precursor to lifting the championship trophy on Saturday, Scelzi won Friday’s non-sanctioned 360-sprint car event at Stockton. It was his national-best 22nd sprint car triumph of the year.
• Corey Day came out on top of Saturday’s NARC feature after leading all 30 laps, marking his second career victory with the series.
Day positioned himself in good company with the victory. Prior to him, the most recent driver to earn both their first and second NARC-KWS wins in the same season was another 15-year-old — Gio Scelzi in
Rico Abreu and Tim Kaeding, driving a Quaker State No. 11 Steve Kinser tribute car, completed the podium.
• D.J. Netto threw a late slider on Sean Becker to finish fourth in the NARC finale. The pass was enough to slot him second in series points, one point ahead of Tim Kaeding.
• Shane Golobic won the SCCT event to widen his lead on the series’ all-time winners list, while Ryan Robinson wrapped up the championship with a fourth-place effort.
Completing the top three in points were Colby Copeland and Justyn Cox.
• Down south the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars invaded Perris Auto Speedway for the 25th edition of the Oval Nationals.
Last-lap drama was the story of the two opening nights with a pair of final-lap passes providing a first-time winner and allowing a three-time USAC champion to inch closer to a fourth title.
Thursday saw Jake Swanson make a memorable move as he threw his car to the outside of Kevin Thomas Jr. in turns three and four, tapping the wall on the front stretch and beating “KTJ” to the line by inches for his inaugural series victory.
On Friday an issue with California native Justin Grant’s car slowed him as he entered turn one with the lead on the final circuit. Brady Bacon won after passing Grant heading to the checkered flag.
In the finale Kevin Thomas Jr. joined the exclusive group of three-time Oval Nationals winners after outdueling Grant for the $10,000 top prize.
Thomas is now seated next to Bud Kaeding, Damion Gardner and Dave Darland in the club with three victories in the prestigious event.
• Thunderbowl Raceway and Keller Auto Speedway will conclude their seasons this weekend.
Thunderbowl will host the Kings of Thunder 360 sprint cars on Friday, with the series heading to Hanford and Keller Auto Speedway the following night.
Third-place finisher in World of Outlaw NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car points, Carson Macedo, is scheduled to compete at Keller Auto Speedway in his former California ride, the Tarlton Motorsports No. 21.
Saturday’s show at Hanford will also include a make-up Kings of Thunder 360 feature that was cut short in October.
• Next week the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget West Coast swing will start strong with a demanding four races in five nights schedule, beginning Tuesday at Bakersfield Raceway.