Dylan Zampa Looks to Double Up at KCRP After Irwindale Victory
Bakersfield, CA – Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series Rookie-of-the-Year championship leader Dylan Zampa is coming off the biggest win of his young career, after grabbing a $7,500 victory in the “RJ Allen Inc. 100 presented by San Dimas Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse” at Irwindale Speedway (CA). The 2022 Kulwicki Driver Development Program champion will now make his way to Kern County Raceway Park (CA) for the $10,000-to-win “JM ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.. Wild West Shootout – For Those About to Rock 107” on June 17th, looking for back-to-back victories in the series. He will seek to become only the second rookie in series history to score two wins in his rookie campaign, tying Ryan Foster in 2003.
Zampa has racked up impressive numbers in a Late Model since taking to the asphalt ovals of California in 2017, at the age of 13. As a 14-year-old, he grabbed three wins in the Madera Speedway (CA) Junior Late Model program in 2018, competing against drivers such as Jesse Love, Tanner Reif, Tyler Reif, and Joey Iest. He finished outside the top-three only twice that season. In 2019 he moved up to the Pro Late Model division earning another win and a third in the Nut-Up Pro Late Model championship. 2020 found Zampa in Victory Lane again at Madera, before moving to the newly formed Spears Pro Late Model Series presented by Sigma Performance Services in 2021.
Zampa finished second in the championship that first season behind Jeremy Doss, earning two more victories. At ALL AMERICAN SPEEDWAY – ROSEVILLE CA he ran a partial schedule in the Pro Late Model division, earning a season high five victories. He returned to All American Speedway in 2022 winning the track championship, and 11 of 13 events. In the Spears Pro Late Models, he grabbed a season high four wins, finishing second in the championship once again. That year brought him the Kulwicki Driver Development Program championship, the greatest honor of his career to date.
The 2023 season finds Zampa competing for Rookie-of-the-Year honors in the Spears SRL Southwest Tour, as well as in the JM Environmental Super Late Model Division at All American Speedway. At AAS he has won the first two events of the season, to lead the standings. After four events in the SRL, he sits third, after grabbing the win at Irwindale Speedway. As the series moves to KCRP on the 17th, Zampa will seek his second victory and biggest career payday. But he will have to beat multi-time winners such as Jacob Gomes, Jeremy Doss, Buddy Shepherd, and Blaine Rocha to grab the $10K win.
“Competing against Gomes, Doss, and Shepherd for $10,000 dollars is a big deal”, Zampa explained. “Me, just only being a rookie, and competing for wins against these guys, is something I never thought would be said at the beginning of this year. But having the right people behind me and having amazing parents and an amazing crew makes us able to be in contention for wins.”
But with the tough competition and the big money, Zampa will approach the race just like any other, as he stated.
“Going into this race against these guys, is just gunna be just another race for me, and nothing will change on how I prep for the race. All these guys in the SRL are the real deal, and they are hungry for that big win. We will be even more hungry after the last race, knowing we can win in this series.”
The “JM Environmental Inc. Wild West Shootout – For Those About to Rock 107” for the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series will take place on June 17th and will be a single day event for the Super Late Models, Spears Modified Series, and the Spears Pro Late Models presented by Sigma Performance Services. The Super Late Models will race for $10,000, with $800 to start and $1,200 for those on the Spears Frequent Flyer Program. The starting lineup will be set through a Heat race, which will pay $1,000 to the winner, thanks to H&S Body Works and Towing. The Heat lineup will be based off practice times for the series, with a redraw or invert at the front of the field. The LiUNA Local 220 “Feel the Power” Fireworks Spectacular will also be a part of the evening.
Celebrating its twenty third season in 2023, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series is a regional stock car series competing on paved ovals in the southwestern portion of the U.S. “The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series…Where the Champions Race”.
PC: Sal Sigala Jr.
