Scott Gafforini, "The Wizard," the winningest driver in the history of the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, died Thursday after a short illness. He was 57.
Gafforini amassed 69 victories and seven track championships at the Bullring, as well as winning the first-ever race on the track after its re-configuration in 2000. Both his victory total and championships are Bullring track records for late models or super late models.
“Scott was a true racer’s racer,” said LVMS President Chris Powell. “He was a staple at the Bullring every Saturday night for 30 years. A lot of Scott’s triumphs came while competing against drivers who have raced at the highest levels of NASCAR. His name will be synonymous with the Bullring for many years to come. Our prayers go out to his parents, his children and his many fans.”
Born in Pittsburgh, Gafforini moved to the Las Vegas area when he was two years old. Gafforini began racing go-karts at age 13 at the old Craig Road Speedway before transitioning to late models at the Bullring in the mid-1990s. In 2006, he won the first of his seven championships. He would win six titles between 2006 and 2015.
He is survived by his parents, Roger and Barbara, daughter Sonja, and son Giovanni. A public service will be held on June 27, 2024, at 10 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi, 2300 Sunridge Heights Parkway, Henderson, NV 89052. The family has also set up a GoFundMe page to offset medical costs. That page can be accessed here.
