Nick Fillman, USAC ECSC.
Stony Point, New York driver Damon Paul came onto the scene in 2021 making his first ever starts behind the wheel of a sprint car on opening night at the Bridgeport Speedway. The veteran driver of Slingshots, Speedstr’s, and established winner of big micro sprint events, teamed up with legendary driver, and owner Lou Cicconi for the 2021 Season.
Paul and the Cicconi team came out of the gates swinging as they rattled off three consecutive top ten runs to start the season in the duo’s first three events together. From there, Damon and team had a bit of an up and down wave of events with finishes ranging from well outside the top ten, to podium runs, before the team ultimately broke through for their first ever win, holding off Alex Bright at the Winchester Speedway in July.
Cicconi and Paul again rattled off three consecutive podium runs beginning with the win at Winchester, and ending with nearly stealing the win from Alex Bright at the Selinsgrove Speedway in August as Bright had engine issues coming to the line.
The team did their best to finish out the season strong, but again found themselves in a streaky phase as four consecutive finishes outside of the top ten, were then followed with a podium and three fifth place efforts in a row.
The Cicconi Racing team ended the year finishing third in overall points, making twenty-two of twenty-three events, with sixteen top ten runs, nine top five runs, and one win coming at Winchester.
While 2022 plans for the team are not currently fully known for Lou Cicconi, it has been revealed that Damon Paul will not be back with Cicconi for the 2022 season as the two have parted ways. Damon will has begun more dedicated work to the family fiberglass company and will focus on micro sprint racing. Hopefully, a driver, and plans for the Cicconi Racing team are released within the near future.