Scelzi earns quarterfinal finish in Pomona

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
ROUND 1 OF 23
CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals
POMONA (CALIF.) RACEWAY
RACE DATE: FEB 9-12, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438;
jstropus@earthlink.net

SCELZI EARNS QUARTERFINAL FINISH IN POMONA

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 12, 2006) - It's not something you would expect from
the very competitive 2005 NHRA Funny Car champion, but Gary Scelzi is a
happy man after his quarterfinal finish at the season-opening CARQUEST Auto
Parts Winternationals at the Auto Club Raceway.

It's better than the first-round loss he endured at this event in 2005 to
start off his championship season.

No. 3 qualifier Scelzi, who set a track record of 332.51 mph, his 20th top
speed since entering the Funny Car class in 2002, first disposed of Tony
Bartone in the initial round of eliminations, with a stellar 4.775-second
elapsed time at 324.05 mph to Bartone's 4.914/293.79, then lost to Bob
Gilbertson in the second round (4.880/283.19 to 6.908/131.88).

"We're one better than we were the year before," said Scelzi, who leaves
here in sixth position in the Funny Car class of the NHRA POWERade Drag
Racing Series (he left here in 12th in 2005). "We're just kind of a little
dumbfounded as to what happened. Everything looked exactly the same as first
round. It was safe and, all of a sudden, it's like the clutch grabbed the
motor and it shook the tire right off.

"We're a little confused right now, as to what really happened. It's a good
start, and it's great that my teammate Ron Capps went to the final round.

"We're better than we were. We're in the top 10 in points leaving here,
which we weren't last year, so we got a lot of positives to look forward to.
We just need to keep doing better than we did last year at the same places
and hopefully it will work out to another championship."

Next up is the Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals in Phoenix, Ariz.,
Feb. 24-26.

FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS (after one race)

1. Robert Hight, 112
2. Ron Capps, 92
3. Phil Burkart Jr., 72
    Bob Gilbertson, 72
5. John Force, 58
6. Gary Scelzi, 56
7. Del Worsham, 51
    Jim Head, 51
9. Tommy Johnson Jr., 37
10. Tony Pedregon, 35

***
2. Hight, 112 or 92
3. Gilby, Burkart, 72
5. Force, 58
6. Scelzi 56
7. worsham, head 51
9. TJ  37
10. TP 35
11. Medlen,Whit 34

Rikchie is ninth in PS