On the drop of the green flag, the goal has always been to outrace the competition. Behind the scenes few teams will put forth the effort to outwork the Five-Zero Motorsports and its driver Alex Cuzzilla.

Recently crowned the 2022 Ontario Modifieds Racing Series champion, Cuzzilla and his crew have inherited a work ethic that has been passed down through the generations. Starting in the provincial karting ranks, the driver of the No. 50 machine is the latest racing titleholder in a lineage that dates back over half a century and the 50^th anniversary of the team’s last championship season by his grandfather – Tom Cuzzilla Sr. – at Toronto’s Pinecrest Speedway.

“The team and I spent many long nights and weekends in the shop and at the race track maintaining and adjusting for speed and at times, repairing damage to let us field the best car possible at every event,” Alex Cuzzilla said. “Our goal was to try to win every race and earn the championship by outworking the competition and honour my grandfather’s memory by following the ‘never say never’ attitude he was known for.”

The NAPA Port Perry, RKR Trucking, TNT Racing Products, P.D. McLaren Limited, RDR Manufacturing backed open-wheeled modified piloted by Alex Cuzzilla – a 19-year-old, 3^rd year millwright apprentice – is a small, low budget, self-sufficient family team, with every aspect of preparation based in the family’s home shop of Nestleton, Ontario. Maintenance and upkeep is handled by the driver, his father Tom Cuzzilla and younger brother Cameron. The team’s operation is dedicated to the memory of provincial short track icon Tom Cuzzilla Sr. who passed away in 2020, as well as engine tuner John King, who passed in 2019 and special thanks to long-time supporter Ron Moulds, who has been sidelined with health issues.

“The car is a mid 1990’s former Mosport modified that was re-clipped, reworked and rebuilt from the ground up by Dad and I,” the driver explained. “We used a collection of homemade and many used parts, including suspension components and body panels, with power supplied by a well-used but mighty series legal crate motor we call the ‘little engine that could.’”

Five-Zero Motorsports 2022 Season highlights:

Completed every lap during the 11 feature events

1 feature race win

5 runner-up finishes

2 3^rd place finishes

1 4^th place finish

1 5^th place run

1 6^th place effort

Tied for 1^st overall at the first double feature event of the year at Flamboro Speedway. Finished 4^th in the 2^nd feature Saturday, July 30^th at Flamboro, with a severely damaged racecar caused by contact with the front stretch wall while coming through the pack. Winning the opening segment of the Bill Pickford Memorial, tying for 1^st overall.

With the accolades for his 2022 Ontario Modifieds Racing Series added to his resume, Alex Cuzzilla would like to thank his girlfriend Abby Heffernan, his parents Tom and Cheryl Cuzzilla, Roland, Kristy and Katrina Reichl and his Grandmother Audrey for their support.

Follow the team through the Five-Zero Motorsports team on Facebook.