Cannon On the Road to Topeka with Oakley crew

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
Round 9 of 23
O'REILLY SUMMER NATIONALS
HEARTLAND PARK TOPEKA (Kans.)
Race Date: May 23-25

Contact: Judy Stropus 203-438-0501, cell 203-243-2438

CANNON ON THE ROAD WITH CREW TO TOPEKA

TOPEKA, Kan. (May 22, 2003) - Scotty Cannon figured if he hung out with his
crew on the road during this three-race sweep of NHRA POWERade Drag Racing
Series they'd be able to confer, discuss, perhaps even argue over how to
improve the performance of the Oakley Funny Car for the upcoming races,
including the O'Reilly Summernationals this weekend at Heartland Park
Topeka.

Although Cannon has qualified for each of the eight events so far and has
advanced to the second round once, the new team is still searching for
consistent performance.

Cannon went out in the first round at Englishtown, N.J., last weekend
against his Oakley teammate Gary Scelzi. "We tried to make an educated guess
on the clutch and we just didn't take enough off of it to compensate for the
motor we had," said the Mohawk-wearing 1999 NHRA Rookie of the Year. "We're
hoping we're on the right track and we're learning from the car. That's what
we've analyzed and what we think happened on that run. Were going to keep
the same train of thought at Topeka.

"We're just going to pick up where we left off, run it at the same pace and
see what happens."

With no testing following Englishtown and immediately embarking on a 24-hour
trip with his crew to Topeka, Cannon and "the guys" prepared the car in
Englishtown and headed to Topeka. "I'm used to traveling with my guys," said
Cannon, smiling. "But, I tell you, I'll have enough of that when this deal
is over, that's for sure, for a while at least.

"It's like going on vacation with your wife. It's fun to plan it, it's fun
to go, but you don't want to go all the time," he quipped.

With no pro nitro activity on the track until Friday, strategies were
planned and played out on the golf course once they arrived in Topeka, said
Cannon. "Me and Phil (Shuler, crew chief) and two of the crew guys went
golfing. I can't beat anybody else, but I can beat my guys. They'd better
let me beat them, if they want to keep their jobs," he laughed.

When asked what his handicap was, he responded, "I don't have a handicap, I
don't go that route. I'd rather just lose than get a handicap."

Pro Nitro qualifying for the Summernationals begins on Friday, May 23, at 5
p.m. and 8 p.m. On Saturday, May 24, Pro Nitro qualifying is at 12:30 p.m.
and 3:30 p.m. Final eliminations on Sunday, May 25, begin at 11 a.m.

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