Anthony Sergi Set for Speedweeks After a Pair of Top-Five Runs at Pete Orr Memorial 100

16-Race Speedweeks Schedule Next Up

When Anthony Sergi sailed under the checkered flag in the 25-lap Pro Late Model race on Saturday night at the Pete Orr Memorial, he was already thinking about next week. 

Even though he came up just a few feet short of victory in the Pro Late Model and had a strong fifth in the Orr Memorial Super Late Model race at New Smyrna Speedway (FL), the fact that he finished the night with a pair of top-five finishes meant both cars were ready for the team’s full assault on the 46th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, which begins Friday.

"It would have been nice to have more laps to maybe come away with a victory," said Sergi of his Pro Late Model runner-up finish in the Pro Late Model.  "That's what everybody says in racing.  I was happy with what happened.  We finished second and we can head into Speedweeks with no wrecked cars.  I wish we had that one extra lap, but it's worth having two cars ready for next week."

Sergi will run all eight Pro Late Model races during the nine nights of Smyrna Speedweeks. If all goes well the plan is to run all the Super Late Model events as well after Sergi finished fifth in the Pete Orr Memorial 100.

It was not all fun and games for Sergi in the 100 lapper as he and NASCAR star Mike Skinner were like oil and water on the race track. 

"We were trying to get by Mike Skinner and it was a racing deal.  I got in there too hard, he held me down and I spun," explained Sergi.  "We made a pit stop to get the car tighter for the rest of the race and that seemed to help it out a bit."

Later more trouble found the two when Skinner lost a motor.

"The second go-round happened when we got into Skinner's oil after he blew up late in the race," said Sergi.  "We managed to keep going after a second spin and dodged a stack up on the restart to get up into the top five and post a good finish."

As the youngster prepares for more Super Late Model action this season he is aware at what he has to learn inside the cockpit of his MJS Concrete Port City machines.

“I know I am still getting used to having all this horsepower," said Sergi.  "I have run the Crate Motors in the past, but now I have lots of extra power with a Super Late Model engine.  Once I get that figured out I feel we can run with the top guys."

Efforts are looking strong for the Smyrna World Series as crew chief Rick Knecht has both cars ready to rock as Ronnie Skipper, Gunner Peterson and the Sergi family and friends make up the rest of the pit crew that will look to capture that Speedweeks magic.

Action will begin on Friday, February 17th at New Smyrna Speedway (FL).  Both Super and Pro Late Models will be in action that night and Sergi will be behind the wheel gunning for victories.