DES MOINES, Iowa — The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is adding another top talent to their roster for this season as Gio Scelzi plans to tackle the full tour with KCP Racing.
The Fresno, Calif., native has piloted the No. 18 since mid-2020. The pairing found success focusing on a “true-outlaw” style schedule over the past two-and-a-half years, making next year’s move to go full time with WoO the natural progression.
“The biggest thing for me was I think the only way I’m going to make the next step as a race car driver is by racing against the best drivers in the world on a weekly basis, and that comes with racing the World of Outlaws full time,” Scelzi told SPEED SPORT. “The World of Outlaws are synonymous with the highest level of sprint car racing because it is the highest level of sprint car racing.
“If you meet somebody in an airport or somewhere random that knows about sprint car racing, they know the World of Outlaws. I think running that series full time really means something.”
Also motivating Scelzi and the team’s decision was the financial side. On top of every event offering a lucrative purse, the WoO recently introduced a new bonus program that rewards teams for their exclusivity to the series by greatly elevating their possible earnings based on where they finish in points.
“Another big factor was cost,” Scelzi explained. “We spend more money not running the Outlaws than we would if we ran with them full-time, so financially it makes more sense for us … I think when you run a true-outlaw schedule like we have in the past, to make it even somewhat comparable to the Outlaws, you have to win the Kings Royal or the Tuscarora 50 or the Knoxville Nationals — one of those big-paying races to make up for that $100,000 or $150,000 you’re losing in point money.”
Ever since first climbing in a sprint car, many anticipated that the Californian would one day reach this level.
Back in 2017, Scelzi, only 15 years old at the time, competed with the West Coast-based NARC 410 sprint cars, winning a trio of races and finishing second in the standings — a mere point away from champion, Bud Kaeding.
Just a year later Scelzi became the youngest winner in World of Outlaws history by topping a National Open prelim at Williams Grove Speedway, a record that still stands. Since teaming with KCP in 2020, Scelzi has added plenty of notable accomplishments to his resumé.
In August of 2021 at the famed Knoxville Raceway, Scelzi won his prelim at the 360 Nationals and followed it up by winning the 360 Nationals title the next night. Just a week later, Scelzi put the KCP No. 18 on the pole of the Knoxville Nationals and led 10 laps of the sport’s most prestigious race before finishing a solid fourth.
This season, Scelzi tacked on two more Outlaw victories, both on home turf in the Golden State. The 21-year-old also made trips to victory lane in South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Iowa and New Jersey in regional competition.
Scelzi is happy to be entering his first WoO season with a team he’s accrued some longevity with.
“It’s huge,” Scelzi said of the importance of team dynamic. “Not only with your crew guys but the ownership and management of the team also matters. In that aspect, I think we’ve essentially grown as much as we can possibly grow as a team without running the full-time Outlaws. I think it’s pretty obvious that’s the next step for us. I think in order to build our brand, KCP Racing and Gio Scelzi, and build everything together like we have over the past two-and-a-half years we need to run the Outlaws.”
KCP Racing has found success on the Outlaw tour in the past with Ian Madsen in the seat for a pair of full WoO campaigns (2018, ’19). Madsen claimed Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year honors in ’18. With Scelzi’s success to this point in his career, KCP proving their potency and the two building a strong dynamic, Scelzi has high expectations but also aims to maintain a practical outlook.
“I could say I’m out there to win the points, which obviously I am, but I think you have to set a realistic goal so you have something you can truly reach,” Scelzi said. “If I can run top five in the points, that would be a stellar year. Looking at it realistically, Brad Sweet won (in 2022), David Gravel was second, Carson (Macedo) was third, Donny (Schatz) was fourth, Sheldon (Haudenschild) was fifth, and (Logan) Schuchart was sixth.
“So, essentially you have to beat two of those guys in points, which they all have over five or six years on the Outlaw tour, some of them are multiple time champions,” Scelzi continued. “I think it’s a huge goal to reach, but I think, personally, top five is where I’m looking.”
Though the 2023 WoO field isn’t finalized, a top five in the standings would nearly guarantee Scelzi the rookie-of-the-year award. Being the series’ top rookie would place his name alongside drivers such as Brady Doty, Donny Schatz, Brad Sweet and more legends of the sport.
Even with his experience as a five-time Outlaw feature winner, Scelzi is aware that taking on the full season invites a measure of pressure. However, the pragmatic driver is confident that if he and the team stay focused and perform at the level they’re capable of, the season should be a success.
“I think it comes down to if you do your job night in and night out and you have the results you should have or expect to have, then I should win the rookie of the year,” Scelzi said. “I think if you start getting in your own head and having some problems and worrying more about points than just racing every night, I think that’s where you might encounter problems, but like I said I think if I just do my job, my crew guys do their job, and we all just don’t miss a beat, we’ll be good.”