Anthony Sergi Preps for College After Bright House Challenge Schedule

18-Year-Old to Start Taking Classes at UCF in June

Anthony Sergi was certainly disappointed with his most recent finish after he was 18th in the most recent Bright House Challenge Series race at New Smyrna Speedway (FL).  After having a solid fourth-place qualifying run Sergi ended up out of the show early after contact from another car left him up against the outside wall.

"It was a rough night," said Sergi.  "We knew we could have had a better finish, but now we are back to the basics of getting the car ready for the next race."

Sergi works on the car after school as he is a senior at Oviedo High School in Oviedo, FL.  Things will be changing this summer as he will continue that method, but now he will be a student at the University of Central Florida.  

"Racing is a lot of fun and that's led to what I want to do in schooling," said Sergi.  "I have been accepted at UCF and  I will actually be starting some summer classes to get ahead in the program.  I am going in for Mechanical Engineering.  I wanted to take summer classes to not be overloaded  in the fall so we can prep for the Governor's Cup 200 and other big races." 

For the longest time the driver has been one of the hardest ones to find when heading over to the 20 MJS Concrete pit.  Normally that's because he's under the car or has his nose in the engine looking and learning with the people that have helped him mature as a driver.

"I really came to the conclusion that Mechanical Engineering was for me when we started working on the race cars and trucks that we have driven," said Sergi. "I always like to have my hands on the car and learning what I needed to do to keep the car maintained or how things worked."

Sergi was quick to point out that NASCAR driver Ryan Newman has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University.  Sergi would love to follow in his footsteps, but will be pleased with the education opportunity. 

"Having an education will be important," said Sergi.  "If my racing career never advances past the Super Late Model level then I will have something to that can keep me doing what I love.  If I could do both then that would be like a dream come true."

Back on the race track Sergi will run the rest of the Bright House Challenge schedule with his next race coming up on May 10th at Desoto Speedway (FL).  There are also some plans for the Florida teen to run with the Southern Super Series in select events later this summer. Sergi has run at both Five Flags and Mobile in the past.

"We did win the NASCAR track title at Orlando Speedworld (FL) in 2013," added Sergi.  "Orlando is kind of like Desoto in a way and we have been working on getting better.  Race tracks have characteristics and the bump in turn three has been our challenge at Desoto.  I think we will have right the next time we go."

Before he can do that he'll have his nose in the books to finish one round of education and prep to start another.