NHRA: Scelzi leads championship race, but realizes it's not over
24 October 2000
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Gary Scelzi emerged from the Top
Fuel mayhem at Memphis Motorsports Park with the Winston points lead. But
despite the ill fortunes of rivals Tony Schumacher and Larry Dixon, who
were
involved in separate spectacular crashes at the Tennessee quarter-mile,
the
two-time champ isn't chalking up the 2000 Winston crown as his just
yet.Schumacher's status for the Matco Tools SuperNationals is still being evaluated by medical officials, and may not be completely certain until qualifying begins on Friday, Oct. 27. Schumacher received a fractured left Fibula and a broken bone in his right ankle when his dragster went out of control and crashed during a qualifying attempt. Dixon suffered a fractured left ankle when his dragster suffered a blowover during his final round match with Scelzi and is planning to compete in Houston.
Scelzi left Memphis with a 126 point lead over Schumacher. Dixon is third, 223 points behind the leader.
"It would be nothing for Tony or Larry to come back in Houston and win, and I could go out in the first round," Scelzi said. "You just never know. We're not taking anything for granted. If those guys can get healthy, their cars are running well enough to win some races. As long as there's points left and races left, somebody else can win. I'm a realist, I understand what can happen."
Text Provided By Anthony Vestal
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