Scelzi shakes off Pomona miscue, is ready to roll in Phoenix
DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2005 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES Round 2 of 23 CHECKER SCHUCK'S KRAGEN NHRA NATIONALS FIREBIRD RACEWAY CHANDLER, ARIZ. Race Dates: Feb. 25-27, 2005 SCELZI SHAKES OFF POMONA MISCUE, IS READY TO ROLL IN PHOENIX CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 22, 2005) - There's no more telling direction to receive from your crew chief than the words, "Shake off that first round deal, because it ain't no big thing. We're going to get them now." So said tuner Mike Neff to Gary Scelzi this week as the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Funny Car team regrouped following Scelzi's loss in the first round of the season-opening 2005 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event at Pomona Raceway two weeks ago. "I need to redeem myself," laughed Scelzi, who set his career-best Funny Car ET of 4.717 seconds in that round, and his overall career fastest speed of 331.35 mph, while losing on a holeshot because of his .154 reaction time. "Redemption is just five days away." In that run Scelzi established the fourth fastest Funny Car speed in NHRA history, and it was the 11th time since he joined Don Schumacher Racing full-time in the Funny Car class in 2003 that he set top speed in that class. There's no doubt that the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Funny Car's reputation as a rocket ship still stands. So what's the plan for this weekend's Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals, besides redemption? "We're going to go get this thing in the show in the first run, try for the pole Friday night and try to win the race - same game plan as usual," said Scelzi, whose last win at this track was in Top Fuel in 1997. January testing on Firebird Raceway's quarter-mile provided a benchmark for the team. "It should help," said Scelzi. "The Mopar/Oakley Dodge ran early-shut-off 4.75s numerous times, so we should have a very good combination. Chad Head of NHRA prepared the track for testing, and Chad Head will prepare the track for NHRA this weekend, so it should be in great shape. "The weather should be good. I'm ready. As far as I'm concerned, we can run every one of the 22 remaining races back-to-back. "Everything looks good. I talked to Zippy (Neff), and I asked, 'so the car will be able to repeat with this combination that we've got, because the car did not shake at all in Pomona, right?' And he had a big grin on his face and said, 'we're exactly where we need to be right now.' "We're ready to roll." SCHEDULE: On Friday, Feb. 25, professional qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3 and 6 p.m. On Saturday, Feb. 26, pro qualifying sessions are at noon and 3 p.m. On Sunday, Feb. 27, pre-race ceremonies begin at 10 a.m., followed by final eliminations at 11 a.m. TELEVISION: Saturday, Feb. 26, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 9 p.m. (ET). On Sunday, Feb. 27, ESPN2 will televise three hours of eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET). GARY SCELZI QUICK FACTS: * At the 2004 CSK Nationals, Scelzi qualified sixth, lost second round to Phil Burkart Jr. * Is first Funny Car driver to break the 330-mph barrier (330.55 mph at Route 66 Raceway in 2004) * Third in 2004 Funny Car points, with three wins in six final rounds * Qualified in top five nine times in 2004, No. 1 once * Age 44, born and raised in Fresno, Calif., where he lives with wife Julianne and sons Dominic and Giovanni * Runs Scelzi Enterprises, a custom truck body design and manufacturing business in Fresno with his two brothers * Is a three-time Top Fuel Dragster champion * Won his first Top Fuel crown as a rookie * Has four Funny Car wins, 25 Top Fuel wins * Sixth in 2003 Funny Car points, his first full season in that class * 2005 is his third straight season racing for Don Schumacher Racing * Is the only NHRA driver to have won in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car. He accomplished this feat at Infineon Raceway in 2003 * Is one of the few Funny Car drivers who have a winning record against the 12-time Funny Car champion John Force: 9-6. ***