NHRA: Scelzi seeking second Big Bud Shootout at Pomona Victory
7 November 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
POMONA, Calif. -- Gary Scelzi will seek his third Budweiser Shootout at Pomona victory on Nov. 11 as the special event's top seed. Scelzi, entering his fourth career Budweiser Shootout at Pomona, won the bonus event in 1997 and last year. The winner of the 16th annual Budweiser Shootout at Pomona will earn $100,000. Any driver who can win the Budweiser Shootout and the Auto Club NHRA Finals on Nov. 12 will earn a $50,000 'double-up' bonus from NHRA.
Budweiser, the official beer of the NHRA, is providing an overall purse of $147,000 for the eight drivers participating in the Shootout. The Shootout runner-up will earn $15,000. The two semifinalists will earn $6,000 each and the four first round finishers $5,000 apiece.
Scelzi, from Fresno, Calif., qualified No. 1 at 10 of 23 NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series events, including last season's Finals.
The Budweiser Shootout at Pomona showcases the eight best Top Fuel qualifiers for the 2000 season. Drivers accumulated points at 23 events preceding the 2000 Auto Club NHRA Finals. Drivers started gaining points at the 1999 Finals.
Budweiser also awards $92,000 in bonuses to quick qualifiers throughout the Shootout series, with the low qualifier earning $4,000 at each national event leading up to the Budweiser Shootout.
Scelzi defeated Doug Kalitta for the 1999 Budweiser Shootout at Pomona victory.
Text provided by Anthony Vestal
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