FW: NHRA TELECONFERENCE WITH FORCE, CAPPS, SCELZI
Editors:
Here's an excellent release from John Force's p.r. camp (Dave Densmore),
providing all the stats you should need to help you during today's NHRA
teleconference which includes the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car
championship contenders: Gary Scelzi, Ron Capps and John Force.
It tells it all.
Thanks.
Judy Stropus
Don Schumacher Racing
------ Forwarded Message
From: Denswood@aol.com
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 10:56:04 EDT
To: Denswood@aol.com
Subject: NHRA TELECONFERENCE WITH FORCE, CAPPS, SCELZI
To All:
Just a reminder that the three contenders for the NHRA POWERade Funny Car
Championship -- John Force, Ron Capps and Gary Scelzi -- all will
participate in an NHRA teleconference today, Thursday, at 3 p.m., Eastern;
12 noon, Pacific time. The media number to access the teleconference is
1-800-793-6775 followed by the code 8964-7712. Once signed on, hit the #1
on your touch tone phone to ask a question.
QUICK NOTES:
*John Force has gone to the final round seven times this year and has won
two more races (five) than anyone else in the Funny Car division. However,
that performance has been offset by ten (10) first round losses. Until this
season, John never had lost more than seven times in the first round in one
season and never had won the championship after losing more than five.
*Following his latest first round loss, to Del Worsham in last Sunday's
ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals, Force tested for three days, a marathon that
ultimately resulted in a best of 4.728 seconds, quicker even than Scelzi's
current track record of 4.746 seconds.
*The last time John was in a points race this tight was 1990 when he beat Ed
"the Ace" McCulloch by today's equivalent of 43 points, slightly more than
two rounds. Ironically, McCulloch now is the crew chief on the Brut Dodge
Capps drives for Don Schumacher Racing.
*Another irony is that when Force won the 1998 championship, he did so by
winning just three races -- two fewer than Ron Capps, who finished second.
Those roles could be completely reversed this year insomuch as Capps has won
just three times; Force five.
*Force's goal at the season-ending Auto Club Finals at Pomona, Calif., is
(1) to break his own NHRA national record of 4.665 seconds; and (2) to
repeat as Funny Car champion. If he can do that, he'll win an unprecedented
14th championship. If the conditions won't support a national record run,
he'll have to count on some help in early rounds since, without the record,
he must advance two rounds further than both Scelzi and Capps.
*Force is encouraged by the national record possibility because he has
broken the 4.70 second barrier at each event contested at Pomona Raceway.
He ran 4.698 on the way to winning last year's Auto Club Finals and 4.697 in
qualifying for this year's Winternationals. He has won more NHRA tour
events at Pomona Raceway (11) than on any other track in the POWERade
Series.
*Force Racing has won the NHRA Funny Car championship 12 straight years.
* * * *
DRIVER BACKGROUND NOTES:
Gary Scelzi, 45, Fresno, Calif., current points leader (by two over Ron
Capps; 28 over John Force), Oakley Hemi Dodge Stratus. Crew chief is Mike
"Zippy" Neff. Best numbers: 4.697 seconds (Joliet, Ill., Oct. 2005), 331.53
mph (Pomona, Calif., Feb. 2005). Funny Car record: 12 final rounds, seven
wins, No. 3 in points in 2004. Other: Three-time NHRA Top Fuel Champion
(1997-98, 2000) while driving for Alan Johnson; 25 Top Fuel wins; 1997
Rookie of the Year.
Ron Capps, 40, Carlsbad, Calif., has earned more second half points than
either Scelzi or Force (700-676-593), Brut Dodge Stratus. Crew chief is Ed
"the Ace" McCulloch, former tour winner as driver in both Top Fuel and Funny
Car. Best numbers: 4.732, 329.02 mph (Joliet, Ill., Oct., 2005). Funny Car
record: 35 final rounds, 12 wins, No. 2 in points in 1998 and 2000. Other:
Also an event winner in Top Fuel; first season with Don Schumacher Racing
after eight years with Don Prudhomme; two-time winner of Skoal Showdown
Funny Car bonus race.
John Force, 56, Yorba Linda, Calif., bidding for 14th individual
championship, 15th for his team, Castrol GTX Start Up Ford Mustang. Crew
chiefs are Austin Coil and Bernie Fedderly. Best numbers: NHRA national
records of 4.665, 333.58 mph (Joliet, Ill., Oct., 2004). Funny Car record:
187 final rounds, 119 wins, 13 championships in the last 15 seasons. Other:
Has qualified for a record 368 consecutive NHRA tour events dating back to
the 1987 Finals; 12-time Auto Racing All-America selection; 1996 Driver of
the Year for all American motor racing.
* * * *
SEASON PERFORMANCE STATS:
1st Rd.
Finals Wins No. 1 Losses W-L
Scelzi 5 3 5 6 34-19
Capps 7 3 1 8 36-19
Force 7 5 1 10 34-17
VERSUS EACH OTHER:
Force Capps
Scelzi
Scelzi Career 9-8 5-4
--
Scelzi 2005 0-2 2-1
--
Scelzi Career Finals 3-1 1-1 --
Scelzi 2005 Finals 0-1 1-1
--
Capps Career 11-36 --
4-5
Capps 2005 4-3 --
1-2
Capps Career Finals 2-7 --
1-1
Capps 2005 Finals 0-1 --
1-1
Force Career -- 36-11
8-9
Force 2005 -- 3-4
2-0
Force Career Finals -- 7-2
1-3
Force 2005 Finals -- 1-0
1-0
####
------ End of Forwarded Message
