JOHNNY GRAY LOSES TO WORSHAM IN FIRST ROUND AT POMONA

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2004 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 23 of 23
AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NHRA FINALS
POMONA (Calif.) RACEWAY
Race Dates: Nov. 11-14, 2004





POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 14, 2004) - Johnny Gray had a unique opportunity today
to defeat his teammate Gary Scelzi's opponent for second place in the 2004
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car championship.

Driving Don Schumacher's Wonder Wagon Dodge from the 14th qualifying
position in today's Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, Gray
ended his six-event run in 2004 with Don Schumacher Racing losing in the
first round of eliminations to Del Worsham.

A victory against Worsham would have given Scelzi the chance to claim second
place behind John Force, as the driver who would go the most rounds today
would emerge the winner of that chase.

Gray jumped out first at the starting line with an excellent .068 (.000 is
perfect) reaction time to Worsham's .096, but rattled the tires early on the
R&D vehicle added by Don Schumacher late in the season. Worsham was there to
be had, however, as he also lost traction, yet collected the victory with a
relatively slow 4.993/285.17 to Gray's losing 8.589/100.84.

As it turned out, when Scelzi lost the semifinals, Worsham, who was
runner-up today, claimed No. 2.

"It just wasn't meant to be," said Gray. "It was just a hair aggressive and
it smoked the tires. We just stumbled and we should have had him.

"I knew I left on him, but I didn't how bad. I was trying to cut a good
light and give us the best chance to try to help Gary so he could end up
second."

FINAL FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS (wins in parentheses):

1. John Force, 1863, 1883 (4)
2. Del Worsham, 1586, 1606 (5)
3. Gary Scelzi, 1565 (3)
4. Gary Densham, 1405 (2)
5. Eric Medlen, 1375 (1)
6. Whit Bazemore, 1338 (2)
7. Tim Wilkerson, 1218 (2)
8. Tony Pedregon, 1192
9. Cruz Pedregon, 1188
10. Phil Burkart Jr., 1159

20. Johnny Gray, 190