The Stock Car Racing League (SRL) boasts some of the most talented drivers driving the fastest late model cars on the short tracks of the Western United States. If you have had the pleasure of watching an SRL race you may have noticed that two cars, the 6 car and the 30 car, are quite often in the thick of it at the front of the pack. What you may or may not know is that these two cars belong to the Belletto brothers, Jeff and Steve respectively. The Bellettos come from a rich heritage of racing growing up at the race track from their early childhood days.
Jeff and Steve both remember growing up watching their father Harry at short tracks in California and especially their many Saturday nights at Stockton 99 speedway. Steve recalls being at the track as early as age 3, “meeting all the good people and having lots of fun”. Both remember the track rivalries their father had week to week racing against tough competition in Stockton.
Of course both also point to their father as their greatest inspiration that got them started in racing. After those many years of their youth spent at the track, both got the itch and jumped to into Kart racing in their early 20’s. Steve recalls racing for go-kart manufacturer Emmick Enterprises and both enjoyed great success in the Kart divisions.
As they approached their 30’s both Steve and Jeff found opportunities to move into the Late Model divisions. Jeff recalls starting his Late Model driving career at age 33 and Steve started at age 30. “I actually had some surprising success my first year driving a late model at Altamont. I finished 2nd in points and had 4 main event wins”, said Steve. Obviously the bar was set very high for both Jeff and Steve with early success and also trying to “follow in the footsteps” of their talented father.
When asked who else they admire, besides their dad Harry, both had different answers. Jeff said he has always admired Mark Martin going back to Martin’s ASA driving days. He said he “likes Martin’s style of driving and has a lot of respect for him.” Steve still holds strong admiration for two of his father’s contemporaries from the early days in Stockton. He recalls both Dan Reed and Norman David as drivers he admired not only for their skills on the track but also for early advise to him on what it take to be a good driver.
Both also remember the advice that their father gave them when they started out driving late models. Jeff remembers, “He told me at the beginning that the most important thing for me to remember is to complete the entire 100 laps and get the maximum seat time. You don’t want to have a bent up car by the time you figure out how to drive it!” What is refreshing to see in such a competitive arena is that both Bellettos are quick to pass on this advice and other tips to rookie drivers who are just getting their feet wet in the SRL.
Both are having a strong start to their SRL season. With the backing of their primary sponsor California HotWood, after four races they are both in the top 5 in driver points. They have adapted well to the new tire the SRL is using this year from American Racer. Both heed their own advice and try their best to avoid any trouble on the track. Steve said, “I pride myself in the area of Car Control. Another driver would have to really get into me hard to spin me.” Both eye an SRL Championship as one of their short term goals but for now they want to just win races. Steve would like to be the first 2 time SRL series champion.
They both are also very proud of an accomplishment that is unique in all of stockcar racing. Two times in one year they finished first, second and third, along with their father, in the same race. This is truly something that may never be replicated. Of course there is the possibility that the Bellettos could soon top their own accomplishment. Steve’s son is part of his pit crew and rumor has it that he may sometime soon be extending the Belletto racing legacy.
So what do the brothers Belletto do when their not burning up the track in the SRL touring series? Jeff’s time is filled with running his own Auto Glass business and spending time with his family. If he manages to have any time left after that and his racing, he enjoys sitting down and doing nothing, for a change of pace. Steve builds engines for Panella Motorsports, and when he is not working on his and his brother’s SRL engines, Steve enjoys camping with his family and riding their quads.
Steve and Jeff both are great ambassadors for the sport of short track racing and both are strong supporters of the SRL. They are looking forward to seeing the SRL continue to grow and think it will because of the great leadership the series has and the way the SRL values the drivers and their teams.
