From learner’s permit to winner’s circle

By Sean Ammerman

Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008 | midnight

Going into his debut season racing late model stock cars at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Branden Giannini of Henderson thought his inexperience would be a problem.

Giannini had raced legends and mini stock cars on dirt tracks for three years, but as a 16-year-old who had a driver's licence just a few months, his experience on a paved track was slim compared to most of his opponents at the Bullring.

But by the end of the season last month, he had won the late model points championship and rookie of the year honors.

"The way our luck was going with the legends cars, I was very surprised that happened this year," said Giannini, a junior at Foothill. "My dad and all my family always raced on dirt and this was pretty much our first time with an asphalt track."

Giannini, who was at the youngest age eligible to race late models, won six features and finished in the top five in 15 out of 19 season races.

Much of his motivation came from his family and crew — Steven Giannini, his father, and Ed Giannini, his grandfather, both veteran drivers in their own right.

"It was amazing to see him do as well as he did at his age," Steven Giannini said.

Branden Giannini's success began with the season opening feature in March, while he was still relatively new to the half-mile track. He finished second in the race, but when the first place driver failed a post-race inspection, the young driver took over first place.

"We were very surprised I did so well on the first race," he said. "We would have been content with a second-place finish, and once we found out we won, it was even better. We had a very good beginning of the season."

Giannini developed a sizable lead in the points standings, and with two races remaining, he clinched the title. He ended up taking first with 859 points over second place John Spilotro, who had 756 points.

The young driver's dominance rubbed some of the older drivers the wrong way, Giannini said.

"I think a lot of them didn't like it because they have been doing it for longer," he said. "They think they should just be able to go out there and beat us."

His success continued after the Bullring merged the late model and super late model features in April. While the divisions were still scored separately, Giannini said the change created an extra challenge.

"It really affected how we had to race," he said. "It was just consistency in staying up front and being able to show up every week."

Keeping his car in top shape was another major factor, especially during the five-week stretch of racing weekends.

Marcus Nolasco was part of the crew helping maintain the car.

"It's been a total team effort for Branden," said Nolasco, a senior at Foothill. "We put that car together. We were friends before the season, but it has also been like a bonding experience."

Giannini looks to continue his success by racing in the more competitive super late model division next spring.

Sean Ammerman can be reached at 990-2661 or [email protected].