“Digging Deep With Denise” is a semi-regular question and answer feature with local racers and racing personalities produced by RaceDayCT’s Denise DuPont
NEW SMYRNA, Fla. – Anthony Bello from Newton is doing double duty this week, driving both a Tour Type Modified and a Pro Late Model during World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway. Bello travelled to New Smyrna Speedway to start the new year with seat time in both a Modified and a Full Fender car.
So far, Bello has two ninth place finishes and one 11th place finish in the No. 25 Pro Late Model. Bello finished the first night of competition for Tour Type Modifieds on Monday in eighth. On Tuesday he had his sights for a top-five Modified finish when he was involved in an incident on lap 35 with Jimmy Blewett. Both cars left the track on the hook.
What are your 2024 Pro Stock Goals?
“We came down to New Smyrna with the expectation to run good. We decided to come down to run the week and get some experience. When we go back up north, we are going to run part-time [with the Granite State Pro Stock Series] and part-time [with the Pro All-Stars Series]. I am really excited to run with these guys. It is a new deal for me. Sunday (Feb. 11) was my sixth Late Model race ever. I have now run three Pro Late Model races. Last year I ran an [American-Canadian Tour] car for DJ Shaw and that went good. Then we came here and ran well two top-10’s and a top-15 against literally the biggest Pro Late Teams in the country. We did good but we are lacking a little bit of horsepower compared to other motors here. We have a 604-bottle cap motor and lack a little horsepower. We have done good with what we have. My crew chief TJ Brackett has been on point and has given me everything I needed. And the car has just gotten better and better.”
What about running a Modified at New Smyrna Speedway?
“This is, I believe, my third year here with the Jensen’s in the No. 179. In total this is my fourth year in a Modified. Modifieds are home to me. I love the Modifieds. Coming down here and running for five nights straight, not many people get to do it. I am very thankful for the team and obviously the funding behind me to be able to come down here and run. It is not cheap anymore to do it. I am just really thankful to the whole team: John Jensen, his son Glenn Jensen, crew chief – Timmy Jordan, and my father. It goes both ways. They put someone in the car to get the job done and I have people outside the car that can get the car where it needs to be for me.”
What are your 2024 Modified Goals?
“Racing at New Smyrna Speedway gets me going for the year. Running five nights straight really gets me ahead of the competition compared to the guys up north that do not run from October to April. That is a big gap. This keeps me going. It gets my skills honed while keeping me in the car. It keeps my momentum going from here to the momentum up north.”
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