{"id":1576681,"date":"2023-09-05T15:00:45","date_gmt":"2023-09-05T19:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1576681"},"modified":"2023-09-05T15:00:46","modified_gmt":"2023-09-05T19:00:46","slug":"stephen-mallozzi-nascar-dream","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/stephen-mallozzi-nascar-dream\/","title":{"rendered":"Stephen Mallozzi Continues Living NASCAR Dream, but With Major Partner Announcement, Now Possibly Looking to Extend It\u00a0\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This past year, Stephen Mallozzi has been living the dream<\/a> as a small-time racer, competing multiple times in the NASCAR Truck Series<\/a>. It's been a steady progression on the tracks, with his ultimate goal one day racing on a superspeedway like Daytona<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His next step is racing on September 14 at Bristol. But that's not the headline. His sponsor is. The 22-year-old, who has waited tables at Outback Steakhouse for a couple of years, will now carry the restaurant brand on his truck. And as you might imagine, it's an interesting story filled with disappointment, tears, and, ultimately, perseverance.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stephen Mallozzi makes his next move after Martinsville<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Stephen
Stephen Mallozzi at qualifying for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Toyota 200 on June 02, 2023, at World Wide Technology Raceway. | Photo by Keith Gillett\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Stephen Mallozzi made his second-ever career start and first of the 2023 Truck Series season at Martinsville, where he encountered battery issues and finished 36th. Despite that poor finish, the driver was eyeing his next race. He was looking to take the next step up to a 1.25-mile track. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gateway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, unable to find a primary sponsorship, Mallozzi had to make a tough decision. He opted to sell his 2021 Dodge Charger to fund the race. He replaced it with a 2012, 215,000-mile Nissan Altima with the bumpers falling off.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At St. Louis, unfortunately, things didn't go well as, once again, he encountered battery troubles. By the time he returned to the track, he was 13 laps down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite that disappointment, Mallozzi took some positives out of the race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I feel like I learned something,” he admitted. “I became comfortable in the seat. I didn't feel like I was hassled anymore. I didn't feel like every shift, I was holding my breath to make sure I didn't blow it up. I didn't feel like I was hanging on to the steering wheel. I felt like I was driving the car.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More drama at Pocono<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Stephen
Stephen Mallozzi (22) and Colby Howard drive during practice for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series CRC Brakleen 150 at Pocono Raceway on July 21, 2023. | Photo by Logan Riely\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With that new-found confidence, the young driver began targeting his next race. The next logical step was moving up to a larger track. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pocono. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, as has become the custom for a Mallozzi race, there was drama. Except this time, it came before the race when the sponsor bailed the Friday before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“That's bad because I've already sold my car. I don't have any assets,” he remembered. “I don't have any money. I'm a law student. I just started law school. Where the hell am I finding this money to go to Pocono?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent around 18 hours per day searching for a sponsor for the next several days. On Tuesday, just four days before the race and the deadline day for submitting graphics on a truck wrap, the driver decided to drive into the Pocono mountains and start making phone calls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His first call was based on a billboard he had seen for Great Pocono Homes<\/a>, which he described as an “eye-catching but poorly colored billboard.” After introducing himself and explaining his situation, the company owner was impressed to see the work ethic of the young driver.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“He's in awe. He's like, ‘You're the driver? You're cold-calling people as the driver?” Mallozzi recalled. “I'm like, ‘Mike, it is not as glamorous as you think being a small-time racing driver.' And without ever having to walk into a business, Mike, over the phone, cuts me a check and sends me the graphics details that day for the money that I needed.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That's how he described the moment. And it was. But it was about to get even better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lands deal with Outback Steakhouse<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

Even my team owner @joshreaume<\/a> is in on the @Outback<\/a> craze.

Guys, many of y\u2019all promised you\u2019d order some gosh dang outback if we got them back into nascar\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/NwKkTiY3oU<\/a><\/p>— Stephen Mallozzi (@DriverMallozz) April 27, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>