Popular West Coast Racer Prepared For Pro Mod Debut

By Shane Tecklenburg
FASTMotorsports.com

June 20, 2001

Madison, IL – Long time West Coast Pro Modified racer John Scialpi, and his
steel bodied 57 Chevy Bel Air, will make their NHRA Pro Modified debut at
this weekend’s Sears Craftsman Nationals near St. Louis. Scialpi, 41, from
West Covina, California, has been riding the crest of a wave that began back
in March when he won the Nitro Coupe category at the Pomona Super Chevy
Show. That win hit close to home literally as Scialpi lives just 5 miles
from the fabled racing facility. Since then, Scialpi has been runner up at
the first West Coast Pro Modified Association event in Boise, Idaho; and
more recently won the second event last weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah.

“I have been running pretty well and not breaking anything,” stated Scialpi.
“I probably have been lucky too. Winning Pomona was good because I was in
front of my friends plus I was interviewed by Big Daddy,” he said.

Scialpi and his “Worlds Quickest and Fastest Real 57 Chevy” are competing in
St. Louis with the intention of securing a berth in the U.S. Nationals Pro
Modified Exhibition.

“I don’t think I can go out there and blow everyone’s doors off,” said
Scialpi. “But I do hope to qualify solidly and play the role of the spoiler.
That way we can go to Indy.”

Scialpi’s full bodied 57 Chevy Bel Air features steel roof and quarter
panels, and even sports real California license plates. Dubbed “Woppado” the
car was purchased from his Dad in the early eighties and has progressed up
through the ranks to Pro Modified. A racecar fabricator and engine builder,
Scialpi is well known on the West Coast for his powerful yet parts friendly
tune-up. He supplies engines to many of his competitors in the West Coast
Pro Modified Association. The Woppado crew is made up of high school
classmates Curt Moore and Doug Stewart with Scialpi’s wife Jane and sons
Johnny and Kenneth rounding out the crew.

The Woppado will hit the track on Friday June 22, at 3:30 p.m. and again at
7:00 p.m. when Pro Mod qualifying begins in St. Louis.