With their backs against the wall and championships hopes hanging by a thread, Giovanni Scelzi and his Spire Motorsports, Chili’s Grill & Bar #77 stepped up to the plate with a never say die attitude and no fear to be found – the result: an epic 7th-to-1st drive at Texas Motor Speedway on Friday night.
Entering Friday’s opener of the All-In Championship Weekend down by 45pts to Rico Abreu and Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing, Scelzi and Spire knew that a big-time performance was needed to keep them in the title fight – especially considering that Abreu had won three of nine High Limit events at TMS.
Starting from seventh in the 25-lap feature, Scelzi was already behind the eight-ball as Abreu rolled from P3 and ripped into second right out of the gate. In fact, for 11 of the 25 laps, Scelzi would have been mathematically eliminated from title contention had the checkered flew as they ran with Abreu in front of him by multiple spots.
However, the kid they call “Hot Sauce” dug deep for his clutch gene and found another gear – storming into third on Lap 14, taking second on Lap 16, and then ripping right by Abreu himself to take the lead on Lap 18.
Scelzi would lead the final eight circuits in arguably the best High Limit race held at Texas Motor Speedway – holding on to secure back-to-back series victories and send him into Saturday’s season finals 36pts behind Abreu and TSR with a chance at the 2026 Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing championship.
The clinching scenarios are simple for Saturday’s finale in Fort Worth:
– Abreu 16th or better – he wins championship
– Abreu 17th/18th – Scelzi has to win to take championship
– Abreu 19th/20th – Scelzi has to run 1st/2nd to take championship
– Abreu 21st/22nd – Scelzi has to run 1st/2nd/3rd to take championship
– Abreu 23rd – Scelzi has to run 1st-4th to take championship
– Abreu 24th – Scelzi has to run 1st-5th to take championship
While Scelzi enjoyed his third trip to Whiskey Myers Victory Lane this season, Tyler Courtney chased him to the stripe as Rod End Supply Hard Charger honors for an 11th-to-2nd run capped his chaotic night that began with an engine change for his Clauson-Marshall Racing, NOS Energy Drink #7BC.
After leading laps 13-17, Abreu fell back to finish third aboard his Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing, Carquest Auto Parts #24. While it wasn’t a championship-clinching night, the defending series champion still controls his own destiny in pursuit of a second-straight title on Saturday.
Rounding out the top-five on Friday night was Tanner Thorson aboard the JST Motorsports #88 and Daison Pursley in the Kasey Kahne Racing w/ Mike Curb #9.
Closing out the top-10 in Texas was Brent Marks, Chase Randall, Tanner Holmes, Brady Bacon, and Ryan Timms.
THE ALL-IN NOTEBOOK (Friday, October 16, 2026)
Texas Motor Speedway (Fort Worth, Texas)
All-In Championship Weekend
Dirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps – Justin Peck (13.316)
Capitol Custom Trailers QuickTime (Flight A) – Rico Abreu (13.151)
Capitol Custom Trailers QuickTime (Flight B) – Giovanni Scelzi (13.124)
TJ Forged Heat One Winner – Tanner Holmes
DMI Heat Two Winner – Brady Bacon
BR Motorsports Heat Three Winner – Kasey Kahne
Rod End Supply Heat Four Winner – Brenham Crouch
FK Rod Ends Dash Winner – Tanner Holmes
Winters Performance B-Main Winner – Justin Peck
DURST Dice Roll Driver – Kasey Kahne (8th-to-15th)
Jake’s Golf Carts Fastest Lap – Tanner Holmes (14.319 on Lap 1)
Rod End Supply Hard Charger – Tyler Courtney +9 (11th-2nd)
Whiskey Meyers Victory Lane Visitor – Giovanni Scelzi (4th of career)
CASM Win Sticker – Spire Motorsports (3rd of season)
Lap Leader(s) – Tanner Holmes 1-12; Rico Abreu 13-17; Giovanni Scelzi 18-25
Interstate Batteries A-Main Results (25 Laps): 1. 1. 77-Giovanni Scelzi[7]; 2. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[11]; 3. 24-Rico Abreu[3]; 4. 88-Tanner Thorson[5]; 5. 9-Daison Pursley[2]; 6. 19-Brent Marks[10]; 7. 9R-Chase Randall[12]; 8. 13-Tanner Holmes[1]; 9. 55-Brady Bacon[6]; 10. 10-Ryan Timms[16]; 11. 17GP-Kerry Madsen[13]; 12. 5-Brenham Crouch[4]; 13. 88W-Austin McCarl[19]; 14. 26-Justin Peck[21]; 15. 4-Kasey Kahne[8]; 16. 21-Brian Brown[15]; 17. 11-Roger Crockett[9]; 18. 22M-Rees Moran[23]; 19. 42-Sye Lynch[17]; 20. 24D-Danny Sams III[14]; 21. 3-Ayrton Gennetten[24]; 22. 45X-Ashton Torgerson[22]; 23. 44-Chris Martin[20]; 24. 12X-Landon Crawley[18]
NEW Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing Championship Standings (After 53/54 Races):
1. 3,125 pts – Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #24 (Rico Abreu)
2. -36 pts – Spire Motorsports #77 (Giovanni Scelzi)
3. -98 pts – Ridge & Sons Racing #87 (Aaron Reutzel)
4. -212 pts – Clauson-Marshall Racing #7BC (Tyler Courtney)
5. -278 pts – Rudeen Racing #26 (Justin Peck)
6. -360 pts – Chase Briscoe Racing #19 (Brent Marks)
7. -382 pts – JST Motorsports #88 (Tanner Thorson)
8. -414 pts – Buch Motorsports #13 (Tanner Holmes)
9. -528 pts – Vermeer Motorsports #55 (Brady Bacon)
10. -590 pts – Kasey Kahne Racing w/ Mike Curb #9 (Daison Pursley)
11. -921 pts – Chase Randall Racing #9R (Chase Randall)
12. -977 pts – CJB Motorsports #5 (Brenham Crouch))
13. -1,076 pts – Mosites Lynch Racing #42 (Sye Lynch)
14. -1,160 pts – Randerson Racing #24D (Danny Sams III)
15. -1,219 pts – Michael Dutcher Motorsports #17GP (Kerry Madsen)
WHAT’S NEXT: The 2026 Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing season will conclude on Saturday, October 16 as the All-In Championship Weekend pits Rico Abreu vs. Giovanni Scelzi for the right to be a champion at Texas Motor Speedway. Tickets are available for purchase at HighLimitRacing.com, or you can watch every event live on FloRacing.
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