After a vicious crash at Auburndale Speedway back in May, Anthony and the ACR81 team had high hopes for success. Returning back to the quarter mile bull ring for the first time since the incident, nothing was going to keep Anthony out of victory lane this weekend.
Campi knew his #81 Chevy Impala was fast after posting quick times for Friday night practice and all throughout the practice sessions Saturday.
“Friday and Saturday I felt all through practice we had the dominant car, “said Campi. “We went out and qualified 5th at a 13.59 and the pole was a 13.53, a good result that I was pleased with to keep us in the pill draw.”
As bad luck has plagued the team in the past, tonight luck and good fortune was on Anthony’s side the whole race. “We pulled a six for the invert so I knew I would have to be patient and just pick them off one by one, keeping the fenders on it and saving the tires is key here,” said Campi.
From the start of the race it was obvious Anthony had an awesome car. Taking the outside on the initial start of the race Campi gained a spot and secured himself in the top 5 before lap 4 was even completed. “I was really happy to get that spot so quick into the race, from there we just rode single file trying to save the car and click off nice clean laps.” Lap 46 Anthony passed the #75 to take 4th spot, eight laps later he charged by the #51 to move into the top 3 as the race was just over half way complete. With the two leaders in the distance, Campi quickly pulled to the bumper of 2nd place. “We got to third and caught the leaders from a half a straightaway back, but at about lap 70 the brakes completely faded and the peddle was to the floor. We fell a few car lengths off the leaders but still maintained a good striking distance,” said Campi. With a last lap spin by the leader, Anthony crossed the line and finished the 100 lap race in the second spot. After 2 hours of post race tech inspection the #77 event winner was disqualified for an illegal engine, making Anthony Campi the Bryan Wescott Sr. Memorial 100 WINNER.“
I have never won a race due to disqualification, but there is a first for everything and I will certainly take the win as if it was any other. We led most this race last year and came up short, so I was glad to come back and put this one in the record books.”
The next race for Anthony Campi Racing will be at Desoto Super Speedway (Fl) for the 7th race of the Florida United Promoters Series on Saturday October 8th.
Returning back to Desoto Super Speedway for the 11th race of the Florida United Promoters Series, the ACR81 team looked to sweep the two races at their home track after winning the Icebreaker 100 back in February.
Posting quick times in the morning and afternoon practice sessions gave Anthony and the team the confidence they needed heading into the race. “We unloaded pretty far off, but we went from front to back changing everything, after about four practices the car was on a rail,” said Campi.
When it came time to qualify, Anthony posted the 7th fastest time overall for the event. After the inversion of the top eight it placed Anthony and his #81 Chevrolet Impala in the third position for the 100 feature. “We don’t really have a good two lap setup for this place and never really have but we always race good so I wasn’t too worried about it, the car was just about perfect in qualifying”, said Campi .
From the start of the race Anthony quickly jumped into the second position. 7 laps in there was a huge wreck involving five cars on the backstretch. With double file restarts Anthony would line up on the outside when they went back racing. As the green dropped Anthony charged from the outside to take the lead from the #55. With the lead in hand, the #81 machine pulled almost a straightaway lead on second place. “I was so happy to get the lead and get clean out front, we started saving and slowing down setting the pace for the race with comfortable 10 or so car lengths”. A mid race caution bunched the field back up for the double file restarts, as Anthony chose the bottom groove to set the pace. Going into three Campi fired pulling the field coming to the flag stand, as the caution waived they black flagged the #81 for jumping the start, and was sent back to the 21th spot. “I don’t really understand what happened; I started the race at the same spot as the previous Florida United Promoters Series race that we won earlier in the year, I was at the drivers meeting and heard them explain the firing lines also, even if there was some misunderstanding, I’ve never heard of being put to the back after one try in my entire 16 years of racing”, said Campi.
Coming through the field 40 laps later Anthony found himself in fifth gaining 16 spots in a very short time. Battling hard with the top five cars the #30 late model contacted Campi in the left rear wheel, breaking the suspension in the rear of the car ending the night for the ACR81 team. “I really thought we had a good chance to come back through there and win the race from last, one or two more cautions and we would have been knocking on the door”.
The next race for Anthony Campi Racing will be at Auburndale Speedway (FL) October 22 for the final AMF chassis 100 lap event of the year. Anthony & the team have won two previous races at Auburndale this year and look to have another strong run to capitalize on the season.
Campi comes from the rear in dramatic fashion to find victory lane.
Heading back to the quarter mile bullring in Auburndale (FL), the Anthony Campi Racing team had momentum on their side. Winning the previous Bryan Wescott Sr. Memorial 100 lap race, Campi and the team set high expectations for the season finally at the speedway.
As the field lined up for qualifying the low climate temperatures set up a scenario for some quick laps to be set. With the new track record broke at a 13.28 second lap, Campi would find himself in the fourth spot after posting a 13.40 lap. After the invert the #81 Reno Power Chevrolet would line up for the 100 lap race in the 6th spot.
From the drop of the green, the #81 would quickly move into the 4th spot within the first ten laps. The race would bring various cautions and many tore up cars. Through the first 85 laps, Campi would be sent to the back three different times for being tangled up with the #42 each & every time. “I did the best I could to try and pass everyone clean, but some cars you just can’t get passed. I thought the team was going to be disappointed, but they really kept me pumped and digging all 100 laps,” said Campi.
A late race restart would show the #81 latemodel in the fourth position with a green white checkered finish. The white flag would wave & Anthony would charge gaining two spots in one lap crossing the line second. Post-race activities and various race violations by the #07 would deem Anthony Campi the race WINNER about 30min after crossing the stripe.
The 100 lap event would mark Campi’s fourth win of the season & third win at Auburndale Speedway out of five races at the quarter mile track. The Anthony Campi Racing team will be back in action _ Citrus County Speedway (FL) Nov. 5th for the final Florida United Promoters Series race of the year.
Citrus County Speedway was all about learning for Campi and the ACR crew. “This was our first race there in a latemodel and it was definitely an up-hill battle the whole weekend for our team,” said Campi.
Anthony would go on to qualify ninth, missing the eight car inversion by two-one thousandths of a second. Starting fifth row inside in the 25 car field, Campi would find himself in the seventh place after the 100 lap feature was completed. “I felt like we had a top 3 car but with some setbacks mid way through the race and not having the track position we just couldn’t get there. We have a great baseline for the next time and I can’t wait to go back to the challenging track,” said Campi.
The final stop in 2011 for the Anthony Campi Racing team will be at New Symrna Speedway Nov.19th for the Governors Cup 200. “With not much experience at the high banked half mile, I’m really looking forward to having a good solid run and completing all the laps to gain valuable experience.”
Arriving at New Smyrna Speedway on Thursday evening the ACR81 team tested for two days at the speedway in preparation for the big race. With little experience and notes for the high banked half mile Campi and the team struggled to get a handle on the track. “We were just lacking overall speed all weekend, the car wasn’t too far off, but the times weren’t where they needed to be,” said Campi.
Qualifying would result in Campi finding himself in the 23rd position out of the 35 car field for the 200 lap event. “We just missed the setup this weekend, but we did learn that what we had in the car would not work there in the future,” said Campi.
The race would bring multiple cautions and wrecks. Through the first 65 laps Campi would find himself anywhere from 17th to 28th position, making pit stops in between each caution to adjust on the ill handling car. With 12 laps to go before the halfway mark of the race Anthony was wrecked racing side by side with another car. “I was really disappointed not to finish the race, I did not push any issues and was extremely cautious so we could complete all 200 laps with a solid finish, but somehow we still ended up with a wrecked racecar,” said Campi. The result was 27th place for the ACR81 team to cap off the season finale.
“Even though we didn’t come out with the finish we would have liked to end the season, we still had an awesome year making it to victory lane four times and gaining valuable knowledge to carry into 2012. I cannot thank my crew guys & sponsors enough for all their hard work and support throughout the season,” said Campi.
Check back soon for a complete 2012 schedule!
Sept.24th - Campi Wins Bryan Wescott Sr. Memorial 100
Oct.15th - Strong run goes "South" at Seafest
Oct.22nd - Campi comes from the rear in dramatic fashion to find victory lane
Nov.5th - Solid Seventh place run at Citrus County..
Nov.19th- Governors Cup 200
