Sonny Canatella
Sonny Canatella (born July 29, 1986) is an American racecar driver.
Biography
Early life and education
Sonny Anthony Canatella was born July 29, 1986 in Shreveport, Louisiana to Ted Anthony Canatella and Pamela Marie Canatella. The Canatella family owns several car dealerships in northwest Louisiana.
At an early age, Sonny showed particular interest in cars and racing. Ted bought Sonny his first go-kart at the age of three. He graduated from Loyola College Prep in 2004 and continued his education at Louisiana Tech University, where he is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Racing career
Once Sonny turned fifteen, which was the minimum age requirement to race full size cars, they built him a street STOCK to move to the next phase of his racing career. His first year in the street stock class, he had several top ten and Top Five finishes which earned him The Title of Rookie of The Year.
During the team's second year, the class was changed to the Outlaw Southern Stock Car class. They competed in the southern stock division for two seasons. In those two seasons they won numerous races including the Louisiana State Dirt Track Championship, the Royal Purple Dash for cash, the Louisiana State Championship Quick six race, the Northwest Louisiana Championship, the Hot Chassis Track Championship, as well as over 30 race victories including fourteen in a row. In their first year of competition in the southern stock division they won the Frontstretch Radio Show Ark-La-Tex rookie of the year award, and they were featured live on the radio program to accept the honors. Furthermore the radio show selected them to accept the driver of the week award three times during their two seasons in the southern stock division, all of which resulted in live InterViews on the radio.
Upon completion of their second full season in the southern stock division, they decided to move up to the top racing level in the area. The team entered into IMCA Modified class, which is the largest sanctioned racing division on dirt in the United States. During their first year in the modified division they won numerous heat races. They also made the field in some rather large events their first year, including the Ark-La-Tex championship. Additionally the team posted a seventh place finish in the Ark-La-Tex speedway over all points, which was the highest finish for a rookie that year. Sonny enjoyed much of the same success in their second year of modified racing, winning numerous heat races and making several large events. Sonny made the field in events including the Turkey Nationals at Boothill Speedway, the Piney Woods Classic at Thunder Mountain Speedway, and the Ark-La-Tex Speedway championship, along with several others. Additionally they posted a tenth place finish in overall points.