Scelzi Ousted by Bazemore in Second Round in Seattle

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
CARQUEST AUTO PARTS NHRA NATIONALS
Round 14 of 23
Pacific Raceways
Kent, Wash.
Race Date: July 25-27, 2003

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

SCELZI OUSTED BY TEAMMATE BAZEMORE IN SECOND ROUND IN SEATTLE

KENT, Wash. (July 27, 2003) - After defeating Tim Wilkerson in the Funny Car
first round (5.195/287.96 for Wilkerson, 5.033/298.93 for Scelzi), Gary
Scelzi, in the Oakley Time Bomb Dodge Stratus, found himself in a match-up
against his teammate Whit Bazemore in the second round, having lane choice
over Baze. Scelzi's crew chief Mike Neff, along with Bazemore's crew chief
Lee Beard, agreed to select the left lane for Scelzi, who qualified No. 1 in
that lane Friday night, allowing Bazemore to run in the more favorable right
lane.

Scelzi launched first with an .080 reaction time to Bazemore's .119, but
smoked the tires at 300 feet, slowing to a 6.911/130.51 pass. Bazemore
streaked to the finish line in 5.123 seconds at 294.37 mph, taking the win.

"Both these cars are a team, crew chiefs make the decision of lane choice,"
said team owner Don Schumacher. "I talked to both Mike (Neff, Scelzi's crew
chief) and Lee (Beard, Bazemore's crew chief) before this round. Lee and
Whit are running for the World Champion, Gary and Mike are running to win a
race. We wanted to win a race for Oakley. Both were trying as hard as they
could. Gary left on Whit big time, had him at 60 ft. big time. It just
wouldn't hold on this track with the condition of this race track."

"It was up to Mike Neff and Lee Beard who got lane choice," said Scelzi. "I
understand; Baze is in the POWERade points chase and we raced. We gave up
lane choice to them and we raced. We went 4.96 in that left-hand lane on
Friday night. So actually the left lane was better for us. Yesterday we
didn't get down either lane. It's unfortunate. I think we learned a lot. And
we'll go to Sears Point and see what happens there."

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