Dylan Zampa Earns Monumental Win at Irwindale Speedway

Bakersfield, CA – There have been many successful father and son combos in the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series. The Belletto’s, Harry and Steve, the Strmiska’s, Ron Jr. and Ross, the Kanke’s, Mike and Cale. But none of those tandems have seen both the father and son in Victory Lane in SRL competition. But that all changed Saturday night when Dylan Zampa joined his father, Joey Zampa, as an SRL winner in the “RJ Allen Inc. 100 presented by San Dimas Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse” at Irwindale Speedway.

The accomplishment was not realized immediately. But as the night wore on, it became a source of pride and joy for the younger Zampa.

“Well, actually after I crossed the line, all I could think was that “wow we just won”, Zampa recalled. “I think it was maybe a couple hours after the race I heard my dad talking about he and I being the only father/son duo to win in the SRL. I said, “really?” He was looking at the series stats and going through it all. He was saying “yes nobody else has”. But to know we are the only father/son duo to win in such a prestigious series, it means a lot to me and to my dad.”

Dylan continued regarding his relationship with his father, “Without him, I wouldn’t be racing, and I wouldn’t have gotten into racing when I was only five years old, learning so much from him over the years. He has taught me so much. Knowing this achievement that he and I have accomplished, is something far bigger than anything I have accomplished in my years of racing. This one is something for the record books for sure.”

The win was a fulfilling one for the Zampa, having to hold off two-time series champion, and the winner of three consecutive races, Jacob Gomes over the last 25 laps. Gomes closed on Zampa’s rear bumper, after running him down from a two second deficit, after dropping Austin Herzog to third on lap 65. He tested the rookie repeatedly to the inside. But the 2022 Kulwicki Driver Development Program champion was up to the task, battling side-by-side and nose to tail, beating back those advances. After 100 laps, Zampa joined his father Joey as a winner in the series.

Zampa beat Gomes, Austin Herzog, Nickolas Cooper, and John Moore to the finish line. The next event for the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series is at Kern County Raceway Park on June 17 for the second round of the “JM ENVIRONMENTAL, INC. Wild West Shootout” and Round #5 for the series.