Giovanni Scelzi, Landon Crawley and Michael "Buddy" Kofoid at World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Media Day, Racing at Volusia This Week

Giovanni Scelzi, Landon Crawley and Michael “Buddy” Kofoid at World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Media Day, Racing at Volusia This Week

By Rhonda Beck, WISNC Creations/BeckRacingMedia

2-7-2024

On Tuesday, February 6, 2024, the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series drivers were at Volusia County Speedway for a practice night at the DIRTcar Nationals. They are competing there the next four days, February 7-10, 2024.

Last Friday, the 2023 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Rookie of the Year, Giovanni Scelzi of Fresno, Cal., and 2024 Rookie contenders Landon Crawley of Benton, Ark. and Michael “Buddy” Kofoid of Penngrove, Cal., answered questions at a Media Day in Concord, N.C. Here are some highlights from their panel session.

Giovanni Scelzi, KCP Racing, #18

Giovanni Scelzi won Rookie of the Year and finished fourth in World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series points in 2023. He talked about going into his sophomore season after having a lot of success last year.

“I think one year under your belt is obviously different no matter how many sprint car races you’ve run. ?Keeping the same crew chief means a lot. There’s a lot of guys here, obviously with Don and Gravel and Schuchart and Sheldon, and they’re all going to step their game up. I feel like we almost got away with one last year. Sheldon, Logan and Donny had some mediocre years, a lot of DNFs. But like I said, this is a season long points series. It’s something where you have to finish races. I feel like last year we had a lot of top tens, finished almost every race, podiums and wins, capitalizing on those good nights,” said Scelzi.

Although he had a lot of top tens in 2023, he will be looking for ways to turn them into more top-five finishes and wins.

“I think just growing as a team. Figuring out your engine package is huge. With Brian Morrison building our stuff, it takes time to figure it out.”

He said the engines all run differently.

“No matter how similarly you build them, they have a different feel. Same car as last year, same shocks as last year, same wings, so that kind of stuff.”

He realizes that building a program doesn’t happen overnight.

“You look at the great teams like the Brad Sweets that won last year and the Donny Schatz’s; these guys have been together 5, 10, 15 years. And for the newer teams and the young guys like us, it’s tough to build something like that over such a short period of time. I feel like now really every team in the World of Outlaws and beyond have all the same equipment. We all have good motors. We all have new cars, new tires, the whole nine yards. So having that relationship with your crew chief is really kind of what can set you aside to win five or ten races a year, instead of just running in the top 10 every night.”

As far as advice he might give to Crawley, Kofoid and any other rookies, Scelzi talked about a few things.

“Like Landon said--I don’t know much about his career--but leaving the bad nights behind you. Because we’re all going to have bad nights. You’re going to crash. You’re going to want to ram your head through a wall at the end of the night or want to quit too. The biggest thing you gotta look at is it’s an 85-90 race schedule and your goal is to get back here at Charlotte in November and get here in one piece,” said Scelzi.

Finishing fourth in points in his first year in the series meant a lot to him.

“It’s hard to recognize it at the time when you’re doing it, ‘cause you’re not worried about where you finish in points or how the year’s really going to end up until it is over. But yeah, obviously you want to improve.”

He sets personal goals and it’s not always the end of the world if he doesn’t meet those goals. It’s important that he sees improvement throughout the team, like with his driving and decisions made by him and his crew chief. He doesn’t focus on the negatives or that he maybe just won one race.

“We did a lot of good stuff. I think we made every single feature. I think me, Carson and David Gravel made every feature throughout the year. It’s not a highlight to make a feature, but when you make 75 or 80. And just staying positive, because it is difficult at times. And not to get down on yourself and want to quit. But looking at those small wins really helps you throughout the year.”

Although he started competing in sprint cars six year ago at age 16, he said it’s pretty crazy to look at how time has flown and all the racing he’s done.

“I feel like I’ve raced everywhere, and I’ve raced a lot. But compared to the Donny Schatz’s and the David Gravels, they have won more races than I have ever run in my life. So to see those guys and see the motivation they have to still go out and win races makes me feel a little bit better.”

The World of Outlaws series has been around for a while, coming up on its 50th anniversary in 2028. Scelzi talked about watching his first races in the series and the driver he may have cheered for the most.

“I believe my first World of Outlaws race was Tulare in probably 2004 or ‘05. Always those kind of tracks. Kings Speedway, Tulare, Chico were always close to me. Obviously routing for the dude Danny Lasoski was always my go-to guy,” said Scelzi.

Scelzi knows that fan support makes the series and that was part of his reason for developing the Ultimate Fan Experience.

“It’s a unique program, for sure. It’s called the Ultimate Fan Experience. Before I was driving the car, when Ian still drove the car, there’s 10 to 12 partners at the time that were a big part of the race team. What they did is they built three of our race cars, the 410s the whole nine yards, and they put bigger seats in for those guys to go make laps around Knoxville. Anyway, they still talk about it to this day and that was six years ago, I believe. There’s a lot of stuff going on now with raffles and wing panels and winning helmets and stuff because it sounds cliché, but fans are the only reason we get to do this and race for as much money as we get to race for.

“So just thought about what we could do differently to give back to the fans and my car owner said ‘Why don’t we’—he asked me, ‘What do you think every fan wants to do?’ And I kinda sat there quietly and I said, ‘I guess drive a sprint car, right?’ and he said, ‘Let’s do it. Why can’t we?’ So we talked to Knoxville and talked to the guys that are with the World of Outlaws at Charlotte last year and kind of had a brainstorming session of their ideas and our ideas and came up with this Ultimate Fan Experience idea. It’s free and on my website. Go to gioscelziracing.com and every piece of merchandise you buy online gives you another entry. So we have tons and tons of entries so far. The entry date closes May 1st I believe, so it will be the Sunday of the June Outlaw show, so the same day as the NASCAR race earlier in the day. You’ll get tickets to the races you’ll get air fair out there, hotel rooms. It’s cool, just something different to give back to fans because you meet some absolutely diehard fans out here with sprint cars. They love us and they love the sport and have been around it forever, so to have a chance to strap behind the wheel of a sprint car is something they’ll remember forever.”

Finally, he talked a little about the many drivers from the West Coast joining the series. Historically, many of the drivers have been from the Midwest, states like Indiana and Pennsylvania. Now racers from California have been stepping up nationally.

“I feel that the 360 scene in California is probably as tough if not tougher than the 410 racing in California. So I think 360 is kind of on its own island out in California, with SCCT and a lot of local tracks. The Macedos, Carson and Cole Macedo have come from the West Coast scene and all the guys that run 360s out there also run 410s. So that’s something unique about that region. I don’t know if it’s so much crazy that Californians are coming in and doing well out here. I think it’s just the base they have of micro circuit racing with 360s. Then once they get to the 410 level race and full years like Corey Day has done, they make the step up to Midwest,” said Scelzi.

Landon Crawley, Sides Motorsports, #7S

Landon Crawley turned 16 years old in January and will be racing for Jason Sides this season as a Rookie on the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series tour. He was recently at a Southern Shootout 360 race to help prepare him for this week at Volusia Raceway Park.

“Yeah, we ended up having some issues on Thursday that we ended up working out. So that was a really important week for me getting some laps at Volusia and just having an overall weekend with the team. That on top of the previous races we ran last year has really helped build some confidence for this next week,” said Crawley.

He feels the biggest thing he can do his first year on the tour is stay out of his own head.

“You sort of beat down on yourself when you have a couple of bad nights and that will really dig yourself a hole. So keeping the right mind space. And staying positive after having a couple of those bad nights, I think that’s going to be the biggest thing. It’s tough racing with some of the best guys in the country and they’ve been doing this a lot longer than I have. We have plenty to learn and just got to keep my head up.”

He said the opportunity to race with the series came as a bit of a surprise.

“I ran a race for Jay in November and at that time had no expectation of running with the Outlaws or really doing anything this year. But everything kind of fell into place. It took a minute for it to set in and realize like, ‘Yeah, this is my life now. I’m gonna go run 100 races next year.’ It definitely came as a shock and it’s a little bit overwhelming for sure.”

Crawley had won a race with the USCS last year when he was just 15 years old. He spoke about that series.

“Yeah, raced with Pete (Walton) and them a fair amount, probably 20 or 30 races and was able to pick up a win with them last year. I ran the race at Volusia with them last week so it’s a great group of guys, one of my favorite series to run with and I look forward to racing with them every year. Kind of disappointed I’m not going to get to run with them much, but I’m definitely looking forward to if I can hopefully get some races in with them this year.”

Crawley lives pretty close to his new car owner Jason Sides and talked about that relationship.

“Everything’s been really good. We’ve been getting to his shop some. We were actually there yesterday, and fired one of the cars up, so I feel like me and Jason are going to work very well together. I feel like we have some things in common. I think we’re going to have a good year together. I feel like we’re going to work really well and just gonna have to push through it and see how it goes.

“We have some very strange things in common. We all kind of eat the same food and we kind of operate the same. We have a lot of similarities; I definitely think we can work some things out and definitely put together a solid year.”

He said that one of the first World of Outlaws races he remembers attending was in Arkansas and Sides won.

“I’m pretty sure my first World of Outlaws race was at I30 and actually Jason Sides won, and he got $1600. That was one of them. But that night I think I was cheering for Brady Bacon. I think that was one of those nights he ran really good, and I’m pretty sure that’s who I wanted to win,” said Crawley.

Michael “Buddy” Kofoid, Roth Motorsports, #83

Michael “Buddy” Kofoid is a two-time USAC National Midget champion (2021-2022) and already has three World of Outlaws wins, including one last year at Placerville with Roth Motorsports. He talked about joining the tour for 2024.

“Yeah, that’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. Run quite a bit of Outlaw races and that was on the side of my midget racing at the time. So to finally make the step to do it is exciting. But to get some races last year with Roth, I think helped going into this year. To do it my first year for is exciting and I’m happy with the people that I have around me and I think it’s going to be fun,” said Kofoid.

Although he has been successful with other series, Kofoid agreed with Scelzi on the things he will need to do during the year to be successful on a World of Outlaws national tour. ?

“It’s kind of like Gio said. You gotta finish all the races. And you gotta stay out of trouble and you gotta run up front and put yourself in position to be able to try and win, starting with qualifying. And get through a heat race. And getting in the Dash is important. I feel like it’s guys who make that have the best chance to win, especially against the Outlaws. I got to run USAC for three years, and I feel like that helped me figure out how to put together a full season with your eyes forward on chasing a championship. And just trying to, like I said, stay out of trouble. When to push and learn when to make certain decisions that maybe you wouldn’t even think about if you weren’t racing for points. I think those three years were pretty crucial and it paid off for us. You can take a lot of that into any form of racing if you are chasing a championship.”

Kofoid talked about some of the first World of Outlaws races he attended and which driver he wanted to win.

“I grew up going to the Gold Cup (at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Cal.) with my family. That was our vacation every summer so I was probably five or six maybe younger, I don’t know. But Steve Kinser was always my guy. I’d say probably Gold Cup was probably my first one and I was cheering for Steve Kinser, for sure.”

Kofoid is also part of the Toyota pipeline and recently was down in Charlotte with NASCAR Cup drivers and other types of racers doing a photo shoot. He talked about some of the other opportunities that being part of Toyota provides.

“I’ve said it since I signed with them, I guess the end of -19, beginning of ‘20, that was with KKM at the time. But the whole thing changed my life and my career as far as what I thought I was going to do as compared to what I get to do now. I mean, it’s come full circle. I moved to Ohio when I was 17 to race sprint cars and had no idea that I’d race a midget, let alone be with Toyota. And then the next year I was moved to Indiana and was racing midgets full-time.

“But that just opened the door for me. I’ve gotten to run pavement late models and gotten to run a couple truck races and ARCA races and do cool things like we just did the Mobile 1 announcement for their 50th anniversary last week. I’ve gotten to see things outside of the car that I thought I never would have. That’s pretty much because of Toyota. I can’t thank them enough for everything they have done for me and what they continue to do for me. But like I said, it came full circle now. We got back to racing sprint cars since I moved to the Midwest, but now to do it with Toyota and to help them further their program and their goals.”

He also is aware of all of Roth Motorsports’ history and success. It’s the team owned by Dennis and Teresa Roth.

“I think they have something hanging in their shop and it’s got every driver, I think every driver that’s won for them. So it’s cool to kind of look around and just see the history there. You got the Beef Packers Kasey Kahne car, Beef Packers Danny Lasoski car. So to see all that, I appreciate that and the history. And even when we won Placerville and one of the prelim nights at Gold Cup, getting to see a check with my name on it was pretty cool to me.”

Last year, Kofoid was also fourth in points with the Outlaws at the beginning of the year and has experience with his current team. He said he feels good right now and hasn’t put a lot of pressure on himself yet.

“I raced with Roth the last six or so months since June. So to have that racing that we did, I think it’s really crucial. Even if we didn’t know what we would have been doing now, those races I feel like, is going to help us. And still with Dillon and have Gage again and Nate is now our new car chief. I worked with Nate at KKM, and I get to work with people I have worked with before and people that I enjoy being around. I feel like I’ve learned the last few years that being with people that you trust and that believe in you as much as you believe in them, is how you can be successful, especially in a grueling long series like this.”

Like the other drivers on the tour, he is aware of the success of drivers coming out of California in recent years.

“I agree 360 racing in California is our 410 racing. That’s the biggest thing, by far. I think the first SCCT race had 71 cars. I think they average—I don’t pay attention to it as much as I should anymore—but I still think they average 30-40 cars and that will be at two or three different tracks on a Saturday. So there’s just a lot of sprint cars that just race in California in general and you can kinda pick your poison, wherever you want to go.”

He said that helped him get the opportunity to race wherever he wanted, in 360s or 410s at tracks like Chicos or Calistoga or Stockton.

“We had a variety of medium, big, small, whatever. Guys that are good in 410s, guys that are good in 360s, or guys that can do both. I feel like that that just prepared you well. I don’t know if I’d say it made it that much easier, but easier to find some success and pick up on it. I wasn’t a micro kid; I went right from karts into sprint cars. But the micro scene in California is huge. Gio would know it better than I would. But I’d say it’s one of the biggest micro scenes in the country as well. There’s just a lot of cars and a lot of people and a lot of money in California. And people that want to race,” said Kofoid.

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