Tom’s Racing

For current racing updates please visit:

http://www.tomcapizziracing.com

Mid-Ohio Raceway – W2W Porsche (Apr 10 & 11, 2021)

First race for me in a Porsche GT4 at Mid-Ohio raceway on April 10 and 11th.  A double 8 hour enduro — 8 hours Saturday and 8 hours Sunday with teammate and team owner, Mark Martin, and driver, Coach Cameron Lawrence! A great first experience as these guys gave me a lot of seat time. I raced over 4 hours each day of the 8 hour race! With the practice day, I drove over 9 hours in 3 days and loved every minute I was in this amazing W2W racing machine named Ruby! We came in 7th on race 1 and 5th on race 2 after teammate Mark Martin was punted off the track by a competitor in the first stint of the morning, putting us back to 21st place! We fought back to  finish 5th — not bad considering! Thank you Mark, Cameron, and all the crew at W2W for making this first Porsche experience a great one!

Below – My fasted lap of the weekend and fasted lap turned in the car for the weekend!

https://youtu.be/NLLgfrzj5-Q

SRO World Challenge Championship Season Kick-Off (Mar 6 & 7, 2021)

Sonoma race weekend (March 6th & 7th) –  I didn’t get a good qualifying lap and had to  start  10th on grid but had a great race and moved up to finish in 5th place and turned the 3rd fasted lap time in  during the race affording me to start 3rd on grid 2nd row for Sunday’s race 2.

BUT race 2 — I had a great charge into the first turn until a three-way contact at 100mph — doesn’t always work out! Ended my race before making it to turn 2! Not the weekend I wanted. Live steaming link shows plenty of the replay!

Below:  On board footage of contact at start of race 2

Sonoma Raceway – First Race Weekend of 2021  (Feb 27 & 28, 2021)

First race weekend of 2021 at Sonoma Raceway and first time driving and racing a TA2 Camaro in SCCA GT2 class. Great first with Mike Skeen coaching me for my introduction to this amazing car! Qualified on the pole to start race 2 with a 1:39:8 lap time — finished in 2nd. Led the race for about 10 minutes then fell into 2nd for the remainder of the race, chasing Tim Lynn, TA2 driver. Race 1 — qualified to start 3rd and finished P-2. Overall a great weekend. Big thanks to Charlie Hayes of CHM Motorsports for the opportunity to race the car!

Porsche GT4 Clubsport – First Time Practice (Feb 18, 2021)

Sonoma Raceway —  first time practicing in the SP Motorsports GT4 Porsche Clubsport! A beautiful machine! Big thanks to Paul and John from SP Motorsports for the opportunity! Turned a 1:46:31 lap.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway  (Oct 2020)

Indianapolis Motor Speedway, an iconic track for our 2020 season finale.  Not the weekend that I was looking for…Race 1, qualified to start 10^th on grid and battled up to finish in 7^th place.  Race 1 had more incidents and wrecks between competitors than any other race I can recall.  Luckily, I made it through it all unscathed — Race 2, not so much.  On lap 1, turn 1 – multi-car contact and off-track excursions, I ended up with some damage, but was able to finish the race in 10^th place.  The Big Picture, High Note was that in my 2^nd year Pro Racing, I came in 5^th in championship points for 2020!  Looking to improve upon that in 2021!

Circuit of the Americas (COTA) (Sep 2020)

Started off great – qualified to start in 4th out of a 15 car line up for Race 1 – my best qualifier yet!  I got into 3rd place right after the race started until an out of class car turned into me, causing suspension damage and ending my day on Lap 1!  A big thank you to the AutoTechnic racing team for working late to get the car fixed in time for Race 2.  You guys are so committed!  And, a HUGE shout out to my coach, JCD, who qualified 2nd, finished 3rd, and turned the fasted lap time in the race!  That’s why he’s my coach!  So proud!

No points and no time posted on Race 1,meant starting 15th at the back of the grid for Race 2.  I got into 10th place in Lap 1 and worked my way to 9th place for most of the race, with 3 laps to go, fell to finish in 10th.  A tough weekend to come back from  My coach JCD (JOhn Dubets) won the race on saturday!! Epic weekend for him and Autotechnic!!

Road America (Aug 2020)

Three races this weekend!  Qualified 7th and came in with a 4th, 5th, and a 7th place finish which moved me up to 5th in the championship points. But not without a lot of drama. Race 3 at the start was a big wreck before even making it to turn 1 on Lap 1 and took out 3 cars.  See race 3 live video.  So sorry for my friend, Johan Schwartz, who got the worst of a multi-car wreck at the start of Sunday’s race.  My front end damage from contact through the wreckage was minor enough to continue to finish the race after the restart to end in 4th!  Got into 3rd place on the last lap
and lost it on the last turn to my teammate, Austen Smith, to come in right behind him!

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​This has to be a rare photo! During practice, left rear hub bolt broke mid-corner of turn 14 and put me into a spin into the grass, landing in the middle of the track facing the wrong way.  I just kept flashing my headlights as my 2 teammates that were door to door came through me splitting me down the middle! I will for sure be framing this for my man cave! All 3 autotechnic teammates in 1 photo shot!

SONOMA RACEWAY (2020)

4^th place finish at Sonoma Raceway!  The best finish so far this season!  Turned the best lap time in practice on Thursday.  Qualified 7^th and moved up to finish 4^th in Race 1!  It was a great battle with Chandler finishing 5^th and my finishing 6^th.  Would have liked a little better out of the weekend, but all in all went well, especially considering the bumping and banging as well as nearly being taken out by a competitor with 3 minutes to go, turning me sideways in turn 4 and ending my chances to move up a position that I was hunting for.

VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY (2020)

Finally back to racing after a 4-month shutdown due to Covid—19.  Three races this weekend including 1 to make up for Lime Rock being cancelled.  I came in 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th.  Very close racing this weekend with Phil Bloom and Joe Federl.  In Race 1, I was able to end ahead of them and race 2, just behind them!

CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS – COTA (2020)

Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX – March 7th and 8th.  It was a great first race weekend of the season for the SRO TC America series at a great track.  Qualified 6th and finished 6th in both races after some good battles.  Great having AutoTechnic team and JCD coaching this weekend.  Thank you mom and Stefani for coming out for the weekend and supporting!

Thermal Raceway (2020)

GOT THE WIN in the SRO winter series at Thermal Raceway Park outside Palm Springs, CA.

This was a great segue to the main event season at this amazing exclusive motorsports park.  We raced the January and February events and with AutoTechnic and new coach JCD (John Capestro-Dubets) out of 4 races, we won 2 races and had two 2nd place finishes!  First Pro race win and couldn’t be more thrilled!  Great having Cousin Jake and Natalie join us.

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​​Season Finale Racing Pirelli World Challenge Series (2019)

A solid season finale race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway — 5th place finish Saturday moved me up to finish 9th in championship points. Made progress through this first year and look forward to better results in 2020. So many people to thank!Thank you to AutoTechnic — Rob, Charlie,  Nick, Ken, and all the crew for a great season of support and a great car!  To Duncan Burke, for coaching and keeping me progressing with my drive all season.  Thank you to Jason Hart for starting me off this season with your coaching and advice into my first year!  JCD, Ryan and Mark at Dasboot Motorsports for many weekend of testing racing and coaching, preparing me for race weekends.  To our 2019 TC Champion, Johan Schwartz for inviting and including me on your endurance weekends to help elevate my racing craft!

I am so grateful to you all. It was great having Mary and best friends Kevin and Anne for this finale weekend including jumping off the 108th floor Stratosphere roof to celebrate together!

Sixth Weekend Racing Pirelli World Challenge Series (2019)

6th weekend racing Pirelli World Challenge series at Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI — One of my favorite tracks at 4 miles long!

Race 1 — qualified 7th out of 16 competitors.  I got into 5th during race with 2 laps to go but got checked up by a competitor spinning in front and finished 7th.

Race 2 was in the pouring rain and only lasted 5 laps.  With a competitor into the wall, race officials called the race for safety — finished 10^th — not enough time to get my rain race legs under me! Great having Mary along for this iconic track weekend!

Fifth Weekend Racing Pirelli World Challenge Series (2019)

5th weekend racing Pirelli World Challenge series at Watkins Glen International in NY

Race 1:  Great Qualify to start 6th out of 15 cars, but on Lap 1 made contact with another car and I was called out for a drive-thru penalty, setting my race way back to finish in 12th.

Race 2:  Great Start!  Won the Best Start Award.  Started 11^th and got into 6^th place until slight contact with competitor about 1/3^rd of the way through the race resulting in bent control arm and hindered car handling.  Still had a great battle, but lost positions to finish 9^th.  Made progress getting into 6^th on both races and had great starts, but not the finishes that I was looking for.

Fourth Weekend Racing Pirelli World Challenge Series (2019)

4th weekend racing Pirelli World Challenge series at Portland International Raceway in Portland, OR

The link below shows my racing page on World Challenge TC America and 2 awards won on Race 2.  Qualified 4^th and came in 8^th in Race 1 and 5^th in Race 2.

https://www.tcamerica.us/driver/21/tom-capizzi

Third Weekend Racing Pirelli World Challenge Series (2019)

3rd weekend racing Pirelli World Challenge series at Sonoma Raceway, California

I (along with Capizzi Home Improvement), received a ton of coverage and commentary this weekend, battling closer to the front of the pack, running in 4th place for most of race 1.  I made a big move in race 1, which didn’t work out and went off into the grass but bettered my position.  I finished 5th, but the race winner was disqualified, so I finished 4th.  Some of the hardest race and battles I’ve ever had, best finish so far.  The clip below is from race 2.

I was running strong until a competitor took me out and rolled his car several times.  I was running in 7^th place, but then limped into finish 10^th after the hit.  All in all, it was a great race weekend.  It was awesome having my best friend Kevin and the Gould family from Santa Barbara there along with my nephew Dan and his family from Oregon.

Race 1 Sonoma 4th Place Finish (after winner disqualified):

Race 2 Sonoma (Roll Over Crash):

Second Weekend Racing Pirelli World Challenge Series (2019)

It was a great 2nd weekend racing Pirelli World Challenge series at Virginia International raceway.

• Race 1 qualified to start on grid 10th and came in 5th place (highest finish yet).
• Race 2 started 6th on grid got into a strong 5th place, hunting down 4th, but got hit by a competitor and spun — put me back to 10th. Fought to finish 7th.
• Overall great for my 3rd and 4th race in the series! Race 1 ended under a long yellow flag. Race 2, a lot of good action — mostly green flag racing!

TC race airing this Sunday, May 12th 11 AM PST / 2 PM EST on CBS sports network. https://www.tcamerica.us/live/tv-schedule

Thank you Mom and Uncle Joe for being there! AutoTechnic was on their A -game as usual, giving me a great car and support! Thanks Duncan Burke for coaching, spotting and helping me find more speed!!!

Watch Race 1 on YOUTUBE:

Watch Race 2 on YOUTUBE:

Pro Race Debut with Pirelli World Challenge (March
2019)

In my pro-race debut with Pirelli World Challenge at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, I came in 10^th place.  The second race of the weekend, I came in 12^th after starting in 14^th.  For my first weekend and not knowing what to expect, bringing the car home clean and finishing a solid race – I’ll take it!  I’m good to build on it from here on through the rest of the season!  It was great having Mary by my side all weekend for support!  A huge thank you to the crew at AutoTechnic – Rob, Charlie, Ken, Nick, and Duke – you guys are the best!  Thank you to my coaches, Kris Wilson and Jason Hart, who helped me get Cota under my belt and to Duncan Burke, for being my spotter and giving me advice all weekend.  It was truly a team effort.  See race airing on CBS Sports Network channel soon.
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2nd Place at Circuit of the Americas SCCA Majors Event (February 2019)

2nd place at Circuit of the Americas SCCA Majors Event in both T2 races of the weekend. It’s great to be back on track after 3 years off!! Couldn’t have been a better return to racing than with the support of the Crew at Auto Technic and Jason Hart coaching to help me find my way back! Both races wet track. Race 1 qualified P-2, I went out on rain tires and Cooper Macneil went out on dry and I got around him twice to lead the race briefly then Cooper masterfully lead most of the race. Thank you, guys! I LOVE the new car!

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2 SCCA CHAMPIONSHIPS WON!

This past weekend finalized my 1st year racing ITR class in Pro IT and NARRC (North Atlantic Road Racing Championship). With several setbacks during the first half of the season, we were running 3rd and 4th in points. But, never giving up and working as a team with AutoTechnic fighting to always get me back on track, resulted in a turnaround for the 2nd half of the season, allowing me to climb the point’s ladder and win the championships. I cannot thank AutoTechnic enough – Rob, Charlie, and Luke for always working so hard! Especially, Charlie Scott, for putting in so much extra time and often working late into the evening (many evenings) to prepare my car! A big THANK YOU to my coach, Rob Slonaker, for keeping me focused and helping me find more speed!

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Race Weekend # 9– Pittsburgh International Race Complex (September 19th & 20th)

Great weekend at this newly renovated track – 3 wins! And, set the clock ticking on the ITR track record…let’s see how long it lasts. A spot on two days of racing with no mistakes, great car dialed in, and, as usual, AutoTechnic crew (Rob Driscoll and Charlie Scott) provided outstanding support!

Race Weekend # 8– Palmer Motor Sports Park (September 12th & 13th)

It was the first time racing at the challenging track at Palmer Motor Sports Park for most of us. Qualified on the pole Saturday with a time of 1:45:90 and came in 1st place in the race. Saturday’s race was interesting to say the least as we had a split grid with big bore cars. It got a little dicey and a few others had contact and spins. Sunday morning’s race, I only lasted 3 laps as my rear differential broke and ended my race. Sunday afternoon’s race, I started at the back of the pack in 19th place, had a great start passing 12 cars during the 1st lap to finish in 2nd place.

A 1st Place Finish, A 2nd Place Finish, And A “Did Not Finish” (Dnf)!

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Race Weekend # 7 – Pro It & New Jersey Regional Race – NJ Thunderbolt (Aug 15th-16th 2015)

A comeback weekend! Qualified on the pole for all 3 races and won all 3 races. I had some great battles with Anthony Serra and Bill Ball!

Track record is 1:31:09; I turned lap time 1:31:10 – a near miss to setting a new record!

Race Weekend # 6 – Narrc Event – Pocono Raceway (Aug 8th-9th 2015)

Used motor back in car was down on power and struggled with car handling; finished 1st place on race 1 and 2nd place on race 2.

Race Weekend # 5 – Pro It & Narrc Events – Watkins Glen, NY (July 18th-July 19th 2015)

The race weekend started out great – qualified on the pole the first race and came in second place.

On the second race, the race care overheated and I came in 5th place. The third race care overheated on the out lap – No finishing position – goose egg – 0!

Race Weekend # 4 Narrc Event – Thompson Speedway (July 11th – July 12th 2015)

Qualified on the pole and fought some great battles with Mark Ketenci and Stephen Blethen.

Finished 2nd place and 4th place for the two races of the weekend.

Race Weekend # 3 Lime Rock Park Narrc Event

1st ITR Class Win!

The # 23 back on track with temporary used motor. Qualified on the pole and won both races. In race 2, fell back to 3rd place, battling Anthony Serra and Mark Ketenci, but worked my way back to bring home a win. Turned fasted lap times in both races and came within 3/10ths of a second of the track record!

Thanks Rob, Charlie, & Luke at AutoTechnic – car is dialed in!

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Race Weekend # 2 Pro It & Narrc (North Atlantic Road Racing Championship)

We lost a valve in my #23 car motor during practice so we had to bring out the #52 backup car. I qualified for the 3rd starting position. During the race, while engaged in a great battle, I got into 2nd place and made a very bad mistake all by myself, as I tried to capture a little more speed through the fast turn 2 corner and dropped a wheel into the grass. The grass was soaking wet from having rained all morning, which resulted in my speed accelerating once on the grass and I wound up going head first into the wall. With no more cars left and the medic calling it an end to my weekend, I was very disappointed to say the least. But then, fortunately, Nick from Flatout Motor Sports, let me use one of his Mazda Miatas so that I could at least enter the 2 remaining races even though the car was not competitive in my class, I could still get points.

While sitting in the car on pit road about to start the race, the race steward approached me stating that I wasn’t medically cleared to race from the previous day. With a little back and forth and some consulting with others, he allowed me to proceed and I finished 4th in both races. It’s never a good sign when it takes 3 cars to get through a weekend.

2015 Race Weekend # 1 Pro It New Jersey Motorsports Thunderbolt Track

My 1st weekend racing of the 2015 season ITR class race 1, I came in 2nd place, just a couple feet off Rob Nimkoff’s bumper through the checkered flag.

Race 2, I qualified on the pole running in 2nd place until motor blew up on front straight dumping oil and sending me into a spin.

The good news for the weekend, I turned the fasted lap times of the weekend in both races and in qualifying. My best time was within 3/10ths of a second of the track record.

Last Race Weekend Of 2015

Long shot to win 3rd championship for NERRC (New England Road Racing Championship). Came into the weekend 4th in points and had to win the first 3 races of the weekend to have a shot at the championship. I won all 3 and set a new track record. All I had to do was finish ahead of 1 competitor (the point’s leader) and at least finish 5th place to come home with championship. I led the entire race after getting around Mark Ketenci, the point’s leader in lap 1, then the unthinkable happened – with 3 laps left to go, I had contact with another car, spinning us both out with damage and resulting in my limping along with severe tire rub to the checkered flag, finishing in 8th place. Championship was 3 minutes away – then lost. That’s racing.

2014 Season

Awards

Tom Capizzi Named One Of The World’s Most Successful BMW Race Drivers Of 2014

Munich, Germany – December 5th, 2014 – BMW names AutoTechnic driver, Thomas Capizzi, as one of the world’s most successful privateer BMW race drivers of 2014, with a third place podium finish. This year’s BMW Motorsports International competition included over 6,000 race results from 1,400 drivers in over 25 different countries; all were tracked by BMW with 283 participating drivers. The top 25 of the 283 participating drivers received invitations to this year’s awards ceremony in Munich, Germany.

Besting more than 280 BMW racing drivers across the world AutoTechnic driver Thomas Capizzi was awarded a third place 2014 BMW Sports Trophy. The Cape Cod business owner accepted a check in the amount of 21,500 euro ($27,000 U.S.) Friday from the BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt at the annual award ceremony, held at the new BMW Driving Academy location in Maisach, Germany. Also this year, Capizzi won the SCCA NARRC North Atlantic Road Racing Championship.

“To a certain degree, the BMW Sports Trophy epitomizes the DNA of BMW in motorsport,” said Jens Marquardt, BMW Motorsport Director. “For over 50 years these competitions have allowed us to acknowledge the most successful privateer teams and drivers, who enjoy success around the world with BMW racing cars, thus making them excellent ambassadors for our brand.”

“I certainly didn’t expect a podium 3rd place finish and it’s by far the highlight of my racing career. I was thrilled to be on the podium with Turner Motorsports drivers Markus Palttala and Dane Cameron who took the 1st and 2nd spots,” commented Thomas Capizzi. “To top it off, my team, Auto Technic, made the top 10 team invitation list out of 58 teams competing. They earned it! They worked very hard in 2014 to keep me racing and with great results!”

In 21 total races during the 2014 season, Capizzi garnered 9 victories, four 2nd place finishes, six 3rd place finishes, one 4th place finish, and one 7th place finish. 90% of Capizzi’s races in the 2014 season resulted in a podium finish. Capizzi also managed to qualify on the pole starting position for 8 of those races and set a new track record at Watkins Glen International.

Click Here For more information about the BMW Motorsports Awards

Pro It Series Race Weekend At Watkins Glen International (July 18th-20th)

Started good, qualified on pole and won Saturday’s NARRC race; Sunday, qualified 2nd in class for PRO IT and had a great battle with P1 holding on to 2nd position, but with 5 minutes remaining, my left rear wheel hub broke off mid corner, last turn (11) onto front straight.

The tire folded under the car, launching it, all four wheels, airborne and into a spin, causing the first impact with the wall. Big hits, big mess! The old 23 car is now a parts vehicle. Better race weekends are to come!

Thompson Speedway, Ct (July 12th)

The highs & lows of racing can be VERY HIGH! And VERY LOW!

At the inaugural race of the reopening of Thompson Speedway in Connecticut, we double-dipped in the AutoTechnic 52 car with 3 poles, 3 wins, and started the clock ticking on setting 2 track records in the ITR & STU class.

Pro It Series Race Weekend At New Jersey Motorsports Park (June 27-29th)

The AutoTechnic crew was amazing last weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park as they managed to pull off a miraculous feat. We lost power in 1 cylinder Friday during practice, so over the next 24 hours the guys worked hard and were able to replace the motor in time for Sunday’s race. Charlie drove back to Connecticut at midnight to pick up the motor and Rob, Jared, and Charlie worked until midnight the next day to complete the motor change! They tell me it’s the first time having to swap a motor at the track. You guys are awesome!

I finished in 3rd place Pro IT Sunday and came in 1st place New Jersey Regionals on Saturday using the #52 ITR car!

Narrc Race Weekend At Lime Rock Park, Ct (June 20th & 21st, 2014)

I took home a pair of wins after qualifying on the pole starting position. Having my “pit babes,” Mary and River dog, with me this weekend gave me that little extra edge to take the checkered flag 1st! I had a minor incident on race 1; I was the 3rd car in a 3-car chain, we came up on a slower car in another class, causing all of us to slam on the brakes and caused me to hit the car in front of me, spinning him into the wall.

Watch A Clip Of The Incident Below:

View All My Racing Videos On My YouTube Channel

Pro It Race Weekend At New Jersey Motorsports Park

The second race weekend had a little more drama at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

The first race on Saturday I qualified 4th and finished in 3rd place.

The second race on Sunday, right at the start of the race after the green flag dropped I got hit broadside while going over 100 MPH turning me into a spin and just missing the concrete barrier wall and other cars. I managed to get back on track in 28th place after getting into 3rd place initially prior to the hit. 45 minutes racing and I worked my way back to a 4th place finish!

Video below was taken by a spectator. I’m the white BMW sliding back and forth across the track after the green car turns into me.

Pro It Season Opener Race Weekend At Pocono Raceway, Pa

• Two 3rd Place Finishes
• One 2nd Place Finish

Racing for position took a little too much of the apex curb and got up on two wheels resulting in a cracked front sway bar. The Auto Technic team had it welded up before the next race. Didn’t miss a beat! Those guys are great! Off to New Jersey Motor Sports next, sharing the weekend with SCCA Pro Trans Am Series and the Pirelli World Challenge Series.

Cape Cod Race Car Driver Tom Capizzi Honored By BMW Motorsports In Munich, Germany

Cotuit, MA (December 20, 2013): Tom Capizzi, Jr., a Cotuit-based home contractor and a leading amateur race car driver, has been named one of the “Top 25” BMW race drivers worldwide by BMW Motorsports. Capizzi traveled to Germany in December for the 52nd annual BMW Sports Trophy award ceremony at BMW headquarters in Munich.

A total of 259 drivers, both amateur and professional, competed for the award, with 25 finalists invited to Germany for the BMW Sports Trophy award ceremony. Based on performance results, Capizzi placed 12th among the finalists, receiving a trophy and $11,500 prize. Capizzi was one of only four US-based drivers to make the finals of the competition. The overall winner was Tom Coronel of The Netherlands.

“I was thrilled to be included among this elite group of very accomplished drivers, the world’s best racers,” said Tom Capizzi, Jr. “Making the top 25 as a finalist was amazing. Then attending the ceremony in Munich, and placing 12th, was over the top. I was on cloud nine!”

Capizzi credits Jeff Henderson, Rob Driscoll and the AutoTechnic racing team for car and race support during both the Pro IT and NARRC (North Atlantic Road Racing Championship) Series. Capizzi placed second in both championships. In 14 races during the 2013 season Capizzi garnered six victories, eleven podium finishes, and six pole positions, and set a new track record at Watkins Glen International Speedway in New York.

“BMW Motorsports has an amazing platform to support those of us racing not only with their great cars, but with the BMW Sports Trophy program, recognizing its ambassadors and once again proving their total commitment to us, their brand, and motor sports,” said Capizzi.

For more information about the BMW Motorsports Awards Click Here

Tom Capizzi, Jr. is the owner of Capizzi Home Improvement in Cotuit, MA. For more information visitwww.capizzihome.com/tomcapizziracing.

Tom Capizzi Receiving Trophy & Check

(Far Right: Jens Marquardt, BMW Motorsport Director; Center: Tom Capizzi; Left: Augusto Farfus, BMW Works Driver in the DTM Series)

2013 Racing Season Stats

2013: Improved Touring (ITS) BMW/Mazda – North American Road Racing Championship (NARRC) and Pro IT.

• Entered 14 races
• Finished 11 out of 14 races on the podium (80% of races entered, placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd)
• Won 6 out of 14 races.
• Set a new lap time record at Watkins Glen International Speedway ITS class.
• Qualified on the pole starting position 6 times.
• Won the PRO IT season finale race at Watkins Glen International Speedway.
• Raced in 3 different classes & series – coming in 1st Place Championship NARRC ITE Class; 2nd Place Championship points in the NARRC ITS Class; and 2nd Place in the PRO IT Championship ITS class.

Tom Capizzi Wins Season Finale Sports Car Race In The AutoTechnic BMW Race Car At New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Cotuit, MA (September 24, 2012):

On September 8, 2012, Cape Cod contractor, Tom Capizzi, Jr. raced his way to victory winning in the season finale of the North East Regional Division (NER), while driving the AutoTechnic BMW race car at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The NER is a 12-race series sponsored by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). This past year, Capizzi entered 10 races in the Improved Touring (ITS) BMW/Mazda. Capizzi split his races evenly between the BMW and the Mazda, resulting in four 1st place finishes, one 2nd, and one 3rdplace finish, as well as qualifying “on the pole” 5 times. Capizzi turned the fasted lap times in 6 races and came in 2nd in the ITS Series Championship.

According to Capizzi, “I owe a great deal of thanks to Nick Leverone, owner of Flatout Motorsports, and his team, for keeping the Mazda and me supported all season! A big thanks to Jeff Henderson and Robert Driscoll of AutoTechnic, for providing me with their BMW race car for the second half of the season and the tremendous amount of support at the track, all of which helped bring their car to a first place victory 4 times this season!”

Unfortunately, on Sunday, a blown motor took the BMW out of the championship. “We will have to settle for 2nd in Championship points this year,” added Capizzi.

Tom Capizzi, Jr. is the owner of Capizzi Home Improvement in Cotuit.

Tom Capizzi Wins All 3 Races At New Hampshire Motor Sports

Cotuit, MA (August 2012): Cape Cod home improvement contractor Tom Capizzi, Jr. won all three races at New Hampshire Motor Sports, in his first time racing the Auto Technic BMW in the ITS class on August 4th and 5th. Two race cars for two classes in one weekend proved challenging, but extremely rewarding.

On the first lap of the first race, going into turn 3, an incident caused three competitors in front of Capizzi to lose control, forcing Capizzi off line as he narrowly missed the wall while going between another car and the turn 3 tire-wall; as a result, Capizzi was pushed back to 7th place. Amazingly, Capizzi managed to work his way back and bring home the checkered flag in his first ever run with a BMW race car. The BMW proved well as the two Sunday races resulted in solid wins for Capizzi as well.

Double dipping in his Mazda race car, Capizzi turned a solid 5th place on Saturday and 4thplace on both of Sunday’s races.

The weekend was one of the hottest in recent memory as temperatures exceeded well over 90 degrees with unbearable humidity, making his double dipping in two different cars all the more challenging. The weekend had an unusual amount of wrecks and crashed cars along with tempers flaring; other than a handful of minor contact with competitors Capizzi managed to escape from all the carnage.

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Tom Capizzi Wins Race At Watkins Glen International Speedway

Cotuit, MA (July 2012): Cape Cod home improvement contractor Tom Capizzi, Jr. finished in first place out of a massive forty-two car run group on July 21, 2012. After qualifying to start on the grid in 7th position, Capizzi worked his way through the pack on the very fast 3.4 mile track in New York and with only two laps to go, passed series points leader, Ken Quartuccio, down the back, straight into the bus stop. The two battled for the remaining two laps bumper to bumper, with Capizzi bringing home the checkered flag.

Capizzi attempted to double dip by entering in the Pro IT race, qualifying to start in fifth for the morning race, but unfortunately, mechanical problems forced him to come into the pits three times during the race.

An incident between Capizzi and Mark Gregory during Sunday morning’s race caused the two vehicles to have contact and sent Capizzi head first into the wall going through turn 9, totaling the front end of his car as well as taking out three other competitors. Gregory initially filed a protest against Tyler Munroe, but after reviewing the videos from several racers, the protest was dropped and no action was taken by the SCCA race stewards, resulting in a no-fault race incident. As a result of the crash, Capizzi’s day was ended and resulted in a DNS (did not start) for the afternoon race.

What started out as a promising weekend for Capizzi to move from third in season points to a possible second, ended in an unfortunate wreck putting Capizzi in fourth currently for the season.

​

Tom Capizzi Finished 3rd In Overall Season Points In Sports Car Club Of America Racing Series.

Cotuit, MA (February 23, 2012): Cape Cod home improvement contractor Tom Capizzi, Jr. captured third place in the overall season points standing in the 2011 North American Road Racing Championship (NARRC). Capizzi was honored at a season-ending banquet held in Rocky Hill, CT.

In his inaugural season in the SM2 Mazda Division Capizzi and his modified Mazda race car had four first place and five second place finishes, set three new track records, turned the fasted lap times in 10 races, and qualified on the pole starting position five times.

The NARRC is an 11-race series sponsored by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). The series began in early May and ended with championship races in October. During the season NARRC races were held at Pocono International Speedway in Pennsylvania, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Watkins Glen International in New York, New Jersey Motorsports Park, and Lime Rock Park in Connecticut.

Capizzi Takes Poles And Podiums At New Hampshire Motor Sports

Written by Steve Ulfelder

Wednesday, 13 July 2011 17:05

July 8-10 was a big split weekend for Flatout; company president Nick Leverone and ace crewman Nick Ustin hauled to Watkins Glen for an SCCA double National, while Theresa Condict and Adam Desrosiers crewed for a driving school and Regional race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

At NHMS, Arrive & Driver Tom Capizzi grabbed as much track time as possible by taking the school. He was joined by renters Ernesto Jurado and Andrzej Wegrzyn. All of the pupils did a flawless job, setting up a weekend of great racing.

Capizzi capitalized on his driving-school track time with an amazing series of runs: a pole in the SM2 class; a win in the SM2 qualifying race; second-place finishes in nearly every other race of the weekend (Tom double-dipped, running both SM2 and SM); and fastest lap in every Sunday event! Wow.

Our other drivers also put together strong weekends, as Ernesto competed in the ITA class and Mark Piekarski ran in both SM and SM2.

A few hundred miles west, the WGI contingent had a ball too. Leverone took third in both Spec Miata races. Jon Farbman qualified in the top ten both days. He had a great race Saturday and was running up front Sunday when mechanical failure knocked him out. Arrive & Driver Bob Varca also enjoyed a solid weekend in his number 92 Miata.

Despite damaging his car, Capizzi managed to limp across the finish line in sixth place. Following the race, Capizzi was issued a written reprimand by race stewards.

Tom Capizzi, Jr. is the owner of Capizzi Home Improvement in Cotuit, MA, one of Cape Cod’s most prominent home improvement contractors.

Poles and Podiums At Lime Rock!

Posted by: flatout05 on Jul 05, 2011

We opened up the Fourth of July Weekend with a little racing, as SCCA’s Mohawk-Hudson Region hosted a one-day event at Lime Rock Park. The story of the morning was Pole City. Flatout drivers competed in three different race groups – and took the pole in all of them! Team driver Steve Ulfelder took top spot in ITR, posting a 1:00.8 in his Honda S2000. Rising Spec Miata star Dylan Murcott took the SM pole (1:02.4), while fellow Miata pilot Tom Capizzi, who has immediately established himself as a hot shoe, pulled a 1:03.2 in the SM2 class.

Ulfelder finished second in the day’s most exciting race, a four-way battle that never let up. Murcott finished fifth in an eventful (and then some!) SM race. With Arrive & Drive ace Jon Farbman taking third, Capizzi (who double-dipped) fourth, Craig McHaffie sixth, and renter Russell Gee eighth, Flatout accounted for half of the top ten!

In the SM2 race, Capizzi’s day was cut short when a competitor missed a yellow flag and creamed him. Russell was also double-dipping, and he notched an extremely impressive third-place finish in the competitive class. (Gee’s qualifying times and race results are catching a lot of attention from the Miata crowd – he’s a bona fide shoe!) The Gees are also making a family affair out of the class: Ethan Gee, like his father, double-dipped in the SM and SM2 races. Ethan logged smooth, clean laps all weekend and dropped his lap times dramatically.

As the dog days of summer set in, there’s no rest for Team Flatout: this weekend, we split up to tackle SCCA National racing at Watkins Glen and a school and Regional at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Written by Steve Ulfelder

Monday, 20 June, 2011

In this ongoing lousy economy, it behooves organizations of all stripes to think creatively. We applaud SCCA’s New England Region on this score: during the weekend of June 17-18, NER managed to put on a successful driving school and offer competitors a solid serving of track time. The trick was to run the school Friday the 17th while blending in qualifying sessions for non-school racers. That left Saturday open for two races per entrant. Bravo!

Of course, what was good for the racers and pupils made life rough for the Flatout Motorsports crew. Nick Leverone, Andrew Burke, Adam Desrosiers, and Nick Ustin did their usual magnificent job of keeping everybody on track and on schedule. How busy were they? During the Spec Miata race, Flatout had 11 cars on track!

Our renters for the school were Doug Hertz, Ernesto Jurado, and Andrzej Wegrzyn. All three did a terrific job, never putting a wheel wrong and earning high marks from their instructors. We hope to see them again!

When qualifying time came, so did some pleasant surprises. Tom Capizzi, a new Arrive & Drive client, put his Miata on the pole for the SM2 class. Fellow A&D ace Attilio Albani was alongside Tom, qualifying second in the STU class. Whit Gregg wasn’t far behind – P6 in SM2. Whit had a pair of great races, including a podium in Saturday’s last hurrah. For his part, Capizzi took two seconds. Impressive!

In the weekend’s only sour note, Albani got spun by a competitor, then hit multiple times in his SM race, cutting short his day. Before that, however, he notched a third-place finish in the STU class.

The jam-packed SM sessions featured three Flatout cars running up front all weekend: Craig McHaffie, Dylan Murcott, and Jon Farbman never dropped out of the top 10 and in fact spent most of their time in the top five! Craig and Dylan wrapped up the weekend finishing second and fourth in the final 15-lapper. Double-dipper Capizzi wasn’t far behind; neither were Amy Mills and Ken Payson – one of the nation’s top SM drivers, who was running a Flatout ’99 Miata to get acquainted with the newer car.

Renters David Pettigrew, Domenico Leuci, and David Weiss hopped in our fleet of rental Miatas, handling both themselves and the large field with grace and class.

A&D clients Keith Hammitte and Ann Lamport Hammitte skipped qualifying to make the race a one-day event. That meant they each got to put on a show in their qualifying races. And they did! In addition to the family Miata, they each drove a BMW. Keith took a pair of seconds in the EP class, with Ann making the podium in ITR.

Also in ITR, Steve Ulfelder qualified his Honda S2000 on the outside pole and brought home second-place finishes in both races.

No rest for the weary! We’ll turn everything around and head down to New Jersey Motorsports Park for another race this weekend.

Tom Capizzi, Jr. Racing Bio

Personal

Hometown: Centerville, Massachusetts Marital Status: Married

Occupation: Owner of Cape Cod Home Improvement Contracting Company

Career Highlights

2006:

• Skip Barber Race Series, open-wheel formula (the largest open-wheel amateur championship in North America)
• 5thOverall in series
• 1st Year Racing

2007:

• Skip Barber Race Series, open-wheel formula
• 1st Place Master’s Championship Eastern Division
• All Top 10 Finishes
• Three 3rd Place Finishes

2010:

• 1st Late Model Stock Car Race at Irwindale Speedway, California
• 1st Place in “Heat Race”
• 2nd Place in #99 Lowe’s car in Drive Tech Series
• One “Feature Race”

2011:

• (SM) Spec Miata – North American Road Racing Championship (NARRC) and North East Region Division (NER)
• Entered 18 races
• Won 4 races
• Five 2nd Place finishes
• Set 3 new track records (in SM2)
• Turned the fastest lap times in 10 races
• Qualified on the pole 5 times
• Came in 3rd in SM2 Series Championship

2012:

• Improved Touring (ITS) BMW/Mazda – North American Road Racing Championship (NARRC) and North East Region Division (NER)
• Entered in 10 races, half in the BMW and half in the Mazda Miata
• Won 4 races
• One 2nd Place finish
• One 3rd Place finish
• Qualified on the pole 5 times
• Turned fastest lap in 6 races
• 2nd in ITS Series Championship
• (SM) Spec Miata – North American Road Racing Championship (NARRC) and North East Region Division (NER)
• Entered 12 races
• One 1st Place finish
• One 2nd Place finish
• Three 3rd Place finishes
• 4th in SM Series Championship
• Turned the fasted lap in 2 races

2013:

• Improved Touring (ITS) BMW/Mazda – North American Road Racing Championship (NARRC) and Pro IT.
• Entered 14 races
• Finished 11 out of 14 races on the podium (80% of races entered, placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd)
• Won 6 out of 14 races.
• Set a new lap time record at Watkins Glen International Speedway ITS class.
• Qualified on the pole starting position 6 times.
• Turned the fasted lap time during 5 races.
• Won the PRO IT season finale race at Watkins Glen International Speedway.
• Raced in 3 different classes & series – coming in 1st Place Championship NARRC ITE Class; 2nd Place Championship points in the NARRC ITS Class; and 2nd Place in the PRO IT Championship ITS class.
• Placed 12th out of Top 25 in BMW MotorSports Sports Trophy Program: A total of 259 drivers, both amateur and professional, competed for the award, with 25 finalists invited to Germany for the BMW Sports Trophy award ceremony. Based on performance results, Capizzi placed 12th among the finalists, receiving a trophy and $11,500 prize. Capizzi was one of only four US-based drivers to make the finals of the competition.

2014:

• Improved Touring (ITS) BMW– North American Road Racing Championship (NARRC) and Pro IT.
• Entered 21 races.
• Finished 19 out of 21 races on the podium (90% of races entered, placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd)
• Won 9 out of 21 races.
• Qualified on the pole starting position 8 times.
• Turned the fasted lap time during 5 races.
• Won the PRO IT season finale race at Watkins Glen International Speedway.
• Finished 1st North Atlantic Road Racing Championship ITS.
• Set a new ITS track record at Watkins Glen International.
• Placed 3rd out of Top 25 in BMW MotorSports Sports Trophy Program: A total of 283 drivers, both amateur and professional, competed for the award, with 25 finalists invited to Germany for the BMW Sports Trophy award ceremony. Based on performance results, Capizzi placed 3rd among the finalists, receiving a third place 2014 BMW Sports Trophy and $27,000 prize.

2015:

• ITR Class BMW– Entered Series: Pro IT, NARRC (North Atlantic Road Racing Championship) And NERRC (New England Road Racing Championship)
• 1st Place Championship In Both Pro IT And NARRC Series And Came In 3rd In NERRC Championship.
• Entered 30 Races.
• Finished 20 Out Of 30 Races On The Podium (66% Of Races Entered, Placed 1st, 2nd, Or 3rd).
• Won 12 Out Of 30 Races (40% Of Races 1st Place).
• Qualified On The Pole Starting Position 14 Times.
• Turned Fastest Lap Times During 11 Races.
• Set New ITR Track Record At Pittsburgh International Race Complex And New ITR Track Record At Thompson Speedway.
• Currently Hold 3 Track Records Including ITS Record At Watkins Glen International.

TRAINING

2006:

• Three-Day Race Training Spring Mountain Advanced Driving School Nevada

2007:

• Two-Day Advanced Racing School Skip Barber Numerous Coaching & Training days with Jim Pace, professional race car driver and coach Numerous track days & training with the “Racing School with Mark Ebert” as well as Drive Tech Racing

Be A Race Car Driver For A Day!

Ready to feel the powerful engine resonate through your bones? Want to enjoy the thrill of being pushed back into your seat as you accelerate out of the pits? Hear the squeal of rubber as you hold a tight turn through the corner? Have you eyes water from the rush of air at 100+ mph?

You can strap on Tom Capizzi’s purpose-built SCCA Mazda race car for a day of high speed adventure!

Tom’s Mazda is available for half day or full day rental on an as-available basis, at a rate of $450 for a half day or $850 for a full day. This includes:

• Use of the car (2-approximately 25 minute sessions in a half day; or 4-25 minute sessions in a full day)
• Fuel for the period of time on the track
• Instructor to work with you while you drive the car
• Reserved slot at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, CT, or New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, NH

Or maybe you want to ride along? To experience the speed and exhilaration but not actually drive? For only $199, we’ll drive while you enjoy the thrill of high speed racing action.

Call Tom directly to discuss your race car rental at 508-428-9518, or e-mail tomjr@capizzihome.com.

Thanks to our generous sponsors for supporting our never-ending quest for speed and glory!