FW: NHRA TRANSCRIPT: SCELZI, CAPPS AND FORCE DISCUSS POWERADE SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE

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From: "Anthony Vestal" 
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 18:59:31 -0700
To: "Anthony Vestal" 
Subject: NHRA TRANSCRIPT: SCELZI, CAPPS AND FORCE DISCUSS POWERADE SERIES
CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: NHRA Communications, (626) 914-4761
 
LAST MEN STANDING: SCELZI, CAPPS AND FORCE DISCUSS HISTORIC THREE-WAY FIGHT
FOR NHRA POWERADE SERIES FUNNY CAR CROWN
 
POMONA, Calif. ­ This seasonıs Funny Car points chase was destined for drama
­ and the final conclusion to the closest world championship battle in NHRA
history will finally be determined next week at the Automobile Club of
Southern California NHRA Finals at historic Pomona Raceway in Southern
California.
For the three men at the center of the story ­ Gary Scelzi, Ron Capps and
John Force ­ the week will be one of mixed emotions: fear, nervousness and
maybe even hope. 
Scelzi, who leads the standings by two points over Capps, his Don Schumacher
Racing teammate, is looking to become only the second man after the
legendary Kenny Bernstein to win world championship titles in both Top Fuel
and Funny Car. Capps is seeking his first world championship. Force
desperately wants to defend his title ­ but for perhaps the first time, the
odds are against the 13-time champ.
In this Q and A session, Scelzi, Capps and Force discuss their approach to
what will surely prove to be one of the biggest weekends of their lives.
 
Q: Gary, itıs been a hectic month for you. Describe your state of mind going
into the Finals.
SCELZI: ³Lost. Spun out. Going to therapy three times a week. No, Iım gonna
be just fine. Actually, Iım in Irwindale,  Calif. right now. Iıve got an
open-wheel team that Iım starting for next year with a Ford Focus (for the
Focus Midgit Series). Weıre down here to do some testing. Iıll try to keep
my mind off of drag racing for a week or two.²
 
Q: Ron, describe your state of mind going into the Finals.
CAPPS: ³You find ways to keep your mind off of it. The one cool thing is
that Gary and I, our trailers are connected. Itıs been that way all year.
Itıs kind of bounced back and forth as far as where weıve been in the
points. Weıve never led all year long, we just kind of hung in there. (Our
crew chiefs) have worked like long-lost brothers. Itıs made both of our
teams better. Obviously we want to win the race. We definitely would like to
win for Don Schumacher. But myself personally? Iım just going back to Las
Vegas tonight and doing some things over there to try to keep my mind clear.
I donıt know what else to do. Iıve been in this position before, but not
like this. Not like basically where whoever goes furthest this next race is
going to win the whole enchilada. Every time I think about it, it makes my
hair stand up. Iım going to just roll in there as if Iım a deer with
headlights staring at me and do what Iıve done all year long.²
 
Q: In most forms of racing, even though you have multi-car teams, they spend
very little time together. Itıs the opposite in drag racing. What will it be
like for the two of you to be near each other all weekend?
CAPPS: ³Itıs been that way before. Gary and I, we love racing anything, but
especially going off in the dirt and asphalt with an open-wheel car. Weıve
done that a lot in the last few years Š Us racing each other, itıs funny,
weıll joke with each other at these other events, wherever weıre out racing.
But again, too, we get in the car and I want to beat him worse than anybody
else out there. Iım sure he feels the same about me because itıs kind of
bragging rights. Weıve gone through this before. Now itıs up a few levels
and itıs bragging rights within the team, within our category, and itıs
everything weıve dreamed about. Gary has won a few championships in
dragster, so he knows that feeling. I donıt. Not that that means Iım any
hungrier than he is. I could still walk over Sunday morning and if I had a
serious question about the car, Gary would give me the best and honest
answer he could.²
 
Q: Are the three of you playing mind games with each other?
SCELZI: ³John is a really close friend of mine, on and off the race track.
Thereıs one thing that we donıt do ­ we donıt play games. In fact, I told
Ron going into the finals in Vegas ­ I said look, Iım going to take the
chump. Iım rolling this thing in on you. Iım taking every advantage I can
get. I wasnıt going to lie to him about it. We all get along really well.
Mind games? They donıt work. Iım not smart enough to play them. Theyıll end
up having a reverse affect on me.²
 
Q: Ron, Gary has a championship in his back pocket. Donıt you think itıs
your turn?
CAPPS: ³Yeah, thatıd be nice. No, I donıt expect it, especially with these
two guys Š After the race is over, you might not see us signing autographs
way late in the day on Saturday. More than likely weıre over together having
a beer and talking about things away from the racetrack. The other thing is,
you could be running next to Force (at qualifying), you could be pulling
into the back gate of the pit area next to him in a rental car, and you
still want to beat him. Heıs the champ, and no matter what happens this
year, heıs still John Force. Every time we read about him doing a contract
extension for another five years it makes me excited. I know it makes every
other Funny Car guy excited. Racing Force, racing Scelzi, it makes you get
up more than anybody you can think of. Iım up for the challenge.²
 
Q: John, you had a successful test session at Las Vegas after the event
there. Do you have some tricks up your sleeve for Pomona?
FORCE: ³Thereıs not magic. We found some consistency. Thatıs what weıve been
lacking. Weıll see what happens in Pomona.²
 
Q: How important is Thursdayıs qualifying going to be?
SCELZI: ³Itıs the same as any race. You want to try to qualify in the top
half of the field on the first run. To know that youıre in there solid. You
want to try to get a good run in early just in case thereıs weather, just so
you can sleep on Thursday night. Then on Friday you can step it up, and by
Saturday you can get after the thing, and if youıre not in the top half of
the field you can try to get in the top half.²
 
Q: With the points difference, the qualifying this week is particularly
important between you and Ron. Will that affect you?
SCELZI: ³The bottom line is to get in the show, and if you lose qualifying
points and Ron gets ahead of us after qualifying, then thatıs whatıs going
to happen. Weıre not going to change our whole game plan just over those two
points Š Weıre all going to look at it, Iım not going to lie to you, but if
it doesnıt, itıs not the end of the world. The important thing is on Sunday.
Weıre going there to try to win the race, just like we did in Vegas. We
almost did it. Whether that happens in Pomona, weıll see. I donıt have a
crystal ball, but weıre not going to change up our game plan and force
ourselves to blow it pulling in the gate.²
 
Q: What would it mean to join Bernstein as only the second driver to win a
world championship in Top Fuel and Funny Car?
SCELZI: ³I think itıs more self-satisfaction. Iıve got to kind of laugh when
they mention my name with Bernstein or Force or Amato - they used to do it
in the dragster ­ because I just donıt consider myself as one of those guys.
Those guys are legends. Theyıre going to go down in history in this sport. I
just donıt think that Iım in that league. Yeah, Iım racing against them and
I think I can hold my own against them, but I donıt think theyıre ever going
to mention Gary Scelzi and Kenny Bernstein in the same sentence. Not and
really mean it.²
 
Q: John, how tough is it to come back from a race like Las Vegas, when you
go out in the first round? How difficult has it been on you mentally to get
going again for this race?
FORCE: ³You just get back in your hot rod and you go out and you test it,
try to get your mind right. Our strategy is going to completely change
because we went into Vegas and we had a lead and we knew we got that because
of a destiny that took place in Dallas that put us out there. And we ran
well, but we canıt count on luck to win this race. Scelzi and Capps, they
have to fight it out the way theyıre going to fight it. We have to look at
the points structure, 28 points. We canıt count on them to make a mistake.
We have to beat them. In the process of that, if there was one car to race
against we might have a different strategy. One car might make a mistake and
be out, but not two of them. Theyıre too good. Weıre kind of watching the
weather man. Heıs kind of the key to this. Thatıs why we stayed and tested Š
We want to go into Pomona and try to set the national record because we
might need that if weıre going to win Š When we come out of the box, weıre
not going to just put it in the show. Weıre going to run as hard and push it
to the max of what that track will hold, and try to get the national record.
But thatıs all about weather. It could be there for all of us, but thatıs
the way weıre looking at this race.²
 
Q: Ron, would winning a world championship title be a validation of your
career?
CAPPS: ³Sure. Itıs funny, we kind of bounced around in the top five and
really thought we might have a shot at it, then after Dallas we really felt
like we may have opened the door too far and let Force back in, then we
rolled into Vegas and we said weıre going to shoot for the pole and weıre
going to win this race, and everything else will take care of itself. And we
did. We find ourselves with a legitimate shot at it, then all these thoughts
start rolling through your head. Iım laying in bed last night, and Iım
thinking, of all things, Iım thinking ³oh my god, Iım worried. What if we
win this deal? Iıll have to write a speech on Monday morning for Monday
night at the awards banquet. That to me is like homework and school, and I
donıt want to do that again. I was thinking about all this stressful stuff,
and I had to stop myself and say Œyou know what? Letıs just keep going like
Iıve been going and not worry about that.ı Ace did his cancer treatments
right after Vegas, so thatıs going to be good that he got them out of the
way and had the week to recuperate. Heıs already pumped about everything ­
and the way weıve been qualifying and running the last few races in a row,
Iım excited about going to Pomona. We know Force has been over there
testing. We know Force runs good at Pomona. Itıs a good track for him, as
well as Mike Neff and Ace have done well there. Everythingıs lining up to be
one of the most exciting races for the fans. I wish Sunday morning was here
now.²
 
Q: Gary, how is this championship race different from the others youıve won?
SCELZI: ³I think before, weıve always gotten it done by just going to Pomona
and qualifying. Itıs been tight like this, but only with basically one other
driver. Either Cory (McClenthan) or (Tony) Schumacher. Weıve gotten it done
early. This is down to three guys going at it basically all year round. No
oneıs been able to get away with anything. No oneıs been able to pad that
lead. Now timeıs run out. Thereıs no more mistakes for any of us. Weıve
gotta go and weıve gotta do well. One, I think is no matter what about the
Kenny Bernsteins or the Joe Amatos or the Cory McClenathans, this is John
Force. Heıs a 13-time world champion, and if you watch his organization,
everybodyıs tried to copy it, everybodyıs tried to duplicate it, and
nobodyıs been successful. I think that itıs the hardest itıs ever been on
him, or anybody else, the closest theyıve ever been. Itıs a different
scenario. Itıs a different feeling. Even though heıs a close friend of mine.
Heıs John Force, and once you pull onto the starting line, you better not be
coming with a knife to a gun fight, and you better be dead-on on your aim.
And you know that, so that just kind of raises everything too ­ the
pressure, the hair on the back of your neck. It raises the level of
everything, because this is a big deal.²
 
Q: John, is this the toughest year for you?
FORCE: ³Maybe I focused so much on Robert, Eric and Ashley and my two
littlest girls, I forgot to watch Scelzi and Capps. Iım hoping itıs not too
late. We do all we can do. (Scelzi and Capps) have earned a shot at this
title, and so have I. Weıre going to give our best shot. You can talk all
you want or get sick all you want, but bottom line, it starts on Sunday
morning. Weıre going to try to start it on Thursday, when we roll in the
gate.²
 
Q: John, Pomona has been very good to you. Do you have an advantage over Ron
and Gary?
FORCE: ³No, not really. I think Scelziıs the veteran, he knows the game, and
we all make mistakes, but he knows it better than any because heıs been
there three times and won the championship. Iım sure Scelziıs hungry, but
Capps is super-hungry because Capps has been there, heıs way over-due, and
heıs really good on that Christmas tree. I hand it to both of them for what
they do. I donıt think thereıs any advantage. Cloud cover could change the
course of a race. Itıs all about focus, the right parts, crew chiefs,
camaraderie, all three teams have this, and they have multi-car teams. In
the midst of all this, luck could be a factor here, but Iım not going to
count on luck to beat two of them. If I only had one, Iıd be playing the
consistency game and hope one of them would go down. Weıre just going to
have to flat beat them if we can. That means national records, I hate to
throw that out there, but itıs there Š the national record could be the
difference for me. It wonıt be for them. All theyıve gotta do is win, and
then itıs between them and itıs over for me. Iım gonna get me a beer and get
up in the stands. Truth is, I love them both. Iıll really struggle with who
to root for. Itıs a struggle for me, but the real bonus for me is 60
employees that want that bonus check that have worked hard for it.²
 
Q: You struggled through your final years with (previous owner) Don ³the
Snake² Prudhomme. What made you successful so quickly with (new owner) Don
Schumacher?
CAPPS: ³Itıs all the same parts, the same budget. Thereıs no difference. It
just happens to click. Iıve seen it a thousand times. Iıve seen teams that
ran good with no money, and then you get a big sponsor and all of a sudden
they canıt run good. Itıs just things that happen. Thereıs nothing bad to
say about the way Snake ran things. Ace and I were together there, we ran
well at the beginning there at Snakeıs. Itıs very hard to find a crew that
doesnıt have some kind of drama going on ­ where one guy doesnıt like
another guy, or doesnıt like the way he parts his hair. These guys live
together all the time. This is the first time ­ not ripping on anything in
the past ­ that Iıve had a crew where there is nothing like that going on.
Itıs been unbelievable.²
 
Q: Gary, how will you spend the week?
SCELZI: ³Iıll worry about it on Thursday. Right now itıs really gravy.
Thereıs no reason to get nervous. A lot of guys start getting pumped up
early, well, I fall out of the seat too soon. I canıt get pumped up until I
get in the car. When I get dressed and get my helmet on and I give my guys
the A-high ten and I get in that car, thatıs what drives me. Thatıs what
pumps me up, is the people around me. Right now nothing is bothering me. Iım
ready to go.²
 
Q: If you could go to Force to ask a question right now, what would you ask?
CAPPS: ³I would probably go to him and ask for some tickets for Pomona. Iıve
got to give out 40 tickets for my friends and family. Man, I donıt know what
Iıd ask him right now. Iıd ask him not to show up.²
FORCE: ³Iıve got some extra tickets, because after Vegas all my friends sent
them back!²
CAPPS: ³I donıt have an answer.²
 
Q: You once said that Scelzi and Capps would be champions one day. You said
you would hire them to drive for you. What did you see in them that told you
they would be champions?
FORCE: ³The same thing I saw in Eric (Medlen) and Robert (Hight). The
energy, how bad they wanted it. Everything was focused ­ everything was
going one direction. But really, the honesty. The honesty of these two
individuals. We (Force, Capps and Scelzi) stood in the staging lanes and we
talked about how nervous we were and that I was nervous too. I joked with
both of them ­ you know what fear is? When youıre young and youıre poor and
youıre sitting at the breakfast table, and you look across the table, and
your brother Louie is across the table and he wants that last piece of
sausage. Thatıs nervous. You reach for it, heıll put a fork in you.
Everything has perspective of what creates the pressure. These guys talk
about it. Theyıre going to tell you theyıre gonna beat you, or theyıll tell
you theyıre going to lose, but they donıt give you no bull.²
 
-30-
 


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