Gray qualifies No. 8 at U.S. Nationals

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2005 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 18 of 23
50th ANNUAL U.S. NATIONALS
INDIANAPOLIS RACEWAY PARK
RACE DATES:  Sept. 3-6, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

JOHNNY GRAY QUALIFIES NO. 8 AT U.S. NATIONALS

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 5, 2004) - Johnny Gray qualified Don Schumacher's Wonder
Wagon Dodge Funny Car in the eight spot for the U.S. Nationals after five
qualifying sessions, but has struggled since posting his best run on Friday
night of 4.862/305.98.

"We stepped out and the car ran pretty decent the first night," he said. "We
qualified in the top half of the field, but since then we have something
amiss in the clutch or fuel management system. The whole deal is brand new,
and it takes time to get everything running smoothly.

"I have all the faith in the world that Dan (Olson, crew chief) and the guys
will find it. I feel like we'll go out and go rounds tomorrow."

The 2003 U.S. Nationals Funny Car runner-up will face his teammate Gary
Scelzi in the first round of eliminations on Monday, which begin at 11 a.m.

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