Scelzi finds humor in qualifying No. 8 in Chicago

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 10 of 23
CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals
Route 66 Raceway
Joliet, Ill.
Race Date: June 9-11, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

SCELZI FINDS HUMOR IN QUALIFYING NO. 8 IN CHICAGO

JOLIET, Ill. (June 10, 2006) - Reigning NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
Funny Car champion Gary Scelzi is famous for his sense of humor and quick
wit. That was evidenced once more today when the driver of the Mopar/Oakley
Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car qualified No. 8 for the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA
Nationals at Route 66 Raceway with a consistent string of 4.7-second passes
in the quickest Funny Car field in NHRA history, while the top six cars were
posting passes in the 4.6-second range.

Scelzi's quickest of those laps was a 4.742/329.50, set in last night's
second session. His other attempts included a 4.764/326.87 in the first
round, and a 4.750/329.50 in the third and final session. NHRA cancelled the
fourth round because of a long rain delay today.

"We're consistent," he laughed. "I told them down there (at the top end), I
said, People are out there running their personal-bests, 4.83s, jumping up
and down, and we're running a 4.75 and it's like somebody called our mother
a dirty name.

"It's got a governor on it. We'll be fine tomorrow, but it's kind of comical
that we ran a .76, a .74, a .75, and (in mph) a 329, a 329.

"Somewhere there's a little gremlin in there. Tonight we're going on a
gremlin hunt. We're going to kill that little bastard.

"We'll see what happens tomorrow. We're in the show, it's a tough field, and
anything can happen. Who knows what it's going to bring, but we're fine,
we're in good shape."

Scelzi faces Mike Ashley in first round of eliminations on Sunday.

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