WATSONVILLE, Calif. — Dominic Scelzi won his first Johnny Key Classic, securing his first Sprint Car Challenge Tour victory of this season at Ocean Speedway on Saturday night.
The Fresno, Calif., native drove his familiar red and white No. 41 Scelzi Motorsports owned car to victory leading all 35 laps after starting from the pole.
Defending Key Classic winner Shane Golobic challenged Scelzi the last half of the event, but had to settle for a close second. He was followed by Mitchel Faccinto in the Tarlton Motorsports No. 21.
Justin Sanders, who started on the outside pole, finished fourth and he was followed by the previous night’s feature winner Bud Kaeding.
The field was brought to the green by Scelzi and Sanders with Scelzi taking the early lead going into the first turn. It only took five laps before the leaders came up on the rear of the field and lapping began. The first of many cautions waved on the ninth circuit when Luke Hayes spun into the infield in the fourth turn.
Scelzi would pick the bottom lane over Sanders on the double-file restart but it would be Golobic who would make his move into second. Scelzi would once again quickly run up on the slower cars allowing Golobic to close in. The next caution flag would wave as the cars of Kaleb Montgomery and Jake Andreotti slowed on the track with damage as they both tried to exit the track off turn one.
With a lap-16 restart, it would Scelzi who would pick the outside lane for the double-file restart. The leader would rip the cushion for several laps as Faccinto would pass Sanders to take over third.
Both SCCT title contenders Tony Gomes and Ryan Robinson would end up jumping the first turn cushion but either driver would bring out a caution.
However, Dylan Bloomfield spun in the third turn and both J.J. Ringo and Sage Garcia would end up spinning to avoid the parked Bloomfield. Shortly after the race’s final caution, the track would begin to take rubber and the lap speeds slowed and any passing was eliminated. The leaders would go into a tire conserve mode and Scelzi would go on to win.
The finish:
Dominic Scelzi, Shane Golobic, Mitchel Faccinto, Justin Sanders, Bud Kaeding, Joel Myers Jr., Ryan Bernal, D.J. Netto, Joey Ancona, Ryan Robinson, Max Mittry, Toney Gomes, Rickey Sanders, Andy Forsberg, Isaiah Vasquez, Nick Parker, Kurt Nelson, Gauge Garcia, Dylan Bloomfield, Luke Hayes, J.J. Ringo, Kaleb Montgomery, Jake Andreotti, Landon Brooks.