PORT ROYAL, Pa. — Giovanni Scelzi ended a 110-race, 16-month drought with an unforgettable victory Sunday night at Port Royal Speedway.
Driving past Chase Dietz, Tyler Courtney and Brent Marks, and surviving a frantic finish through lapped traffic, Scelzi ended his long-drought with a thrilling triumph in the Bob Weikert Memorial presented by Greencastle Livestock Market.
Starting from the inside of row two in the 40-lap finale, the Fresno, California native bided his time through the opening half as Dietz, Courtney and Marks all placed their own bids for the top spot. When the open red-flag fuel stop on Lap 20 allowed future Hall of Fame crew chief Eric Prutzman to tune on the Chili’s Grill & Bar No. 77 is when everything changed.
Throwing his name into the four-car battle once racing resumed, Scelzi immediately made his presence felt as he rolled into second and then drove by the best car in the state, Dietz, to lead Lap 28.
Over the final 12 laps, he maneuvered through traffic and survived a couple of close calls as the trio behind him stayed hot on his heels before crossing the line with a 1.165-second margin of victory.
The win marked Scelzi’s first score since March 14, 2025, 110 races ago when he topped a World of Outlaws event at Kennedale (Texas) Speedway with his former team, KCP Racing.
This one delivered the first victory for Spire Motorsports’ sprint car operation, spearheaded by Prutzman, Cole Neuhalfen and Kinzer Dussel.
For the kid they call “Hot Sauce,” it was the largest payday of his career as he lifted a $100,000 check high. Surprisingly, it was also his first triumph at Port Royal’s “Speed Palace.” His two career victories with Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing have now occurred in big-paying races with a $50,000 score at Lakeside (Kan.) Speedway in 2023 and now this six-figure win three years later.
Chasing Scelzi to the line after leading 22 of the 40 laps was Chase Dietz, matching his career-best finish with Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing. It was a strong runner-up finish for the Stehman Motorsports No. 23 team, which still lead the nation with 17 victories this season.
Closing out the podium was early leader Tyler Courtney aboard the Clauson-Marshall Racing, NOS Energy Drink No. 7bc.
After starting from the pole and staying at the front all race long, Brent Marks finished in the fourth spot in his No. 19 machine. Behind the dominant foursome of this race was Ryan Smith with an incredible 24th-to-fifth run aboard the Kreitz Racing No. 69k.
With championship leader Rico Abreu forced to utilize a provisional for the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing No. 24, the \standings tightened dramatically with Aaron Reutzel and Ridge & Sons Racing plus Giovanni Scelzi and Sprie Motorsports able to make up ground.
The finish:
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 77-Giovanni Scelzi[3]; 2. 23-Chase Dietz[4]; 3. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[2]; 4. 19-Brent Marks[1]; 5. 69K-Ryan Smith[24]; 6. 29-Danny Dietrich[6]; 7. 9-Daison Pursley[5]; 8. 39M-Anthony Macri[14]; 9. 26-Justin Peck[9]; 10. 87-Aaron Reutzel[18]; 11. 71-Parker Price Miller[20]; 12. 55W-Logan Wagner[7]; 13. 13-Tanner Holmes[13]; 14. 8-Lance Dewease[12]; 15. 42-Sye Lynch[8]; 16. 17GP-Brock Zearfoss[17]; 17. 1A-Cameron Smith[16]; 18. 9R-Chase Randall[19]; 19. 24D-Danny Sams III[10]; 20. 11-TJ Stutts[23]; 21. 21-James McFadden[21]; 22. 47K-Kody Lehman[11]; 23. 24-Rico Abreu[25]; 24. 55-Kerry Madsen[27]; 25. 10-Matt Campbell[15]; 26. 5K-Jake Karklin[22]; 27. 11T-Mike Thompson[26]; 28. 11A-Austin Bishop[28]
