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NHRA: Team Winston proves success over the years

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
July 18, 2001

Over the last five National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Winston Drag Racing seasons, few - if any - teams can claim the success Team Winston has enjoyed. Gary Scelzi and Angelle Savoie have literally done it all, winning national events, special events and most importantly, Winston Championships.

Scelzi is the senior member of Team Winston, having been with the Alan Johnson-owned squad since the beginning of the 1997 season. Savoie joined the team at the sixth national event of the 1998 season on her George Bryce-owned Suzuki.

Since the popular duo became teammates at Virginia Motorsports Park, Scelzi and Savoie have formed two of the best-performing teams in the series. In the 90 national events where each has competed under the Team Winston banner, either Scelzi or Savoie have held the top position in the NHRA Winston Drag Racing point standings at an amazing 61 races (67.8 percent).

Scelzi and Savoie have combined for 39 national event victories, three Budweiser Shootout crowns, a Winston Invitational title, 47 low qualifier efforts and 62 final-round appearances with Team Winston. They have a cumulative elimination-round record of 331-111 (.749 win percentage), and most importantly, four NHRA Winston Championships between them.

GARY SCELZI CAREER SUMMARY

  • * 1997, 1998 and 2000 NHRA Winston Top Fuel champion.
  • * 1997 NHRA Winston Drag Racing Rookie of the Year.
  • * Finished second in final 1999 NHRA Winston Top Fuel point standings.
  • * 23 career NHRA Winston Top Fuel wins, 36 final round appearances.
  • * Ranks fifth on all-time Top Fuel win list.
  • * 31 career NHRA Winston Top Fuel No. 1 qualifier efforts.
  • * Won a NHRA Top Fuel record nine national event titles in 2000.
  • * Won a NHRA Top Fuel record 54 elimination rounds in 2000.
  • * Made 11 final round appearances in 2000, a NHRA Top Fuel record.
  • * Named Top Fuel Driver of the Year at the 2000 Car Craft Magazine All-Star Drag Racing Team awards banquet in Indianapolis.
  • * 1997, 1999, 2000 Budweiser Shootout champion.
  • * Named to 1997, 1998, 2001 American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America First Team.
  • * Named to 1999 American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Second Team.
  • * 1997 Eastern Motorsports Press Association Driver of the Year.
  • * 1997 Motor Sports Press Association Drag Racer of the Year.
  • * In 1997, became the first rookie in NHRA Winston Drag Racing history to win his
  • first two races.

ANGELLE SAVOIE CAREER SUMMARY

  • * 2000 NHRA Winston Pro Stock Motorcycle champion.
  • * Third female champion in NHRA's 50-year history and only its second professional champion, joining the legendary Shirley Muldowney as the only women to hoist the Winston championship.
  • * 18 career victories, ranks fifth all-time among Pro Stock Motorcycle riders. Tied with Shirley Muldowney as the winningest female driver in NHRA Winston Drag Racing history.
  • * 16 wins with Team Winston.
  • * 31 career final rounds. 27 final rounds with Team Winston.
  • * 21 career No. 1 qualifying efforts. 16 career No. 1s with Team Winston.
  • * Savoie's five victories in 2000 equaled the most in a single season by a female competitor in NHRA Winston Drag Racing history. Savoie established the mark in 1999.
  • * Named Pro Stock Motorcycle Rider of the Year at the 2000 Car Craft Magazine All-Star Drag Racing Team awards banquet in Indianapolis.
  • * Finished second in final 1998 and 1999 NHRA Winston Pro Stock Motorcycle point standings.
  • * Finished fifth in final 1997 NHRA Winston Pro Stock Motorcycle point standings, her first full season.
  • * 1997 Winston Invitational champion (Rockingham, N.C.).
  • * Finished seventh in 1996 NHRA Winston Pro Stock Motorcycle points standings, competing in only six of 12 national events.
  • * Recorded her first career win at the 1996 Pioneer Electronics Keystone Nationals in Reading, Pa. in only her fourth NHRA Winston Drag Racing national event.
  • * One of only six women to win a professional event at an NHRA Winston Drag Racing national event. Others are Top Fuel drivers Shirley Muldowney, Lucille Lee, Lori Johns, Shelly Anderson and Cristen Powell.
  • * Only female driver to win a NHRA Winston Drag Racing Pro Stock Motorcycle event.

Text provided by Marie Mason

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