Scelzi is semifinal finisher at Gateway

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 12 of 23
O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals
Gateway International Raceway
Madison, Ill.
Race Date: June 23-25, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

SCELZI IS SEMIFINAL FINISHER AT GATEWAY

MADISON, Ill. (June 25, 2006) - Gary Scelzi and the Mopar/Oakley Dodge
Charger R/T Funny Car team, who struggled early in the season, are coming on
strong midway through the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The
reigning Funny Car champion snared his second semifinal finish in three
events today (the other was a runner-up) at the O'Reilly NHRA Midwest
Nationals and has a renewed confidence in his team's performance.

Scelzi advanced to the semis under hot and humid conditions at Gateway
International Raceway by first defeating Cruz Pedregon with a solid
5.021-second elapsed time at 303.16 mph, then dismissed Robert Hight on a
holeshot advantage in the second round, winning with a slower 4.938/311.63
pass. 

Unfortunately, the four-time NHRA world champion washed out that holeshot
win by losing on a holeshot to Tony Pedregon in the semifinal stanza. Scelzi
posted a quicker 4.877/319.52, but lost to Pedregon's 4.886/317.57. Reaction
times: .107 for Scelzi, .090 for Pedregon.

"The good news is we had two semifinals and a runner-up in the three-race
swing, and we've been waiting for that for a long time," said Scelzi. "So,
now that we have a car that we know that can win, we just have to wait for
it to happen.

"For the problems we fought over in qualifying," added Scelzi, who qualified
eighth, "to come into the first round, be the first pair, have the car run
exactly what Mike wanted it to run - and we stepped it up each round -
speaks volumes of Mike's (Neff, crew chief) confidence. And for the car to
repeat and do what he wants it to do, is very encouraging. It's been able to
do things at three different types of race tracks, three different types of
conditions. 

"We're there. We're absolutely there. If this was Pomona (first race of
year) or three races into this thing, I'd feel really good about my chances
to repeat (as champion), but we're not.

"But we're going to move up (in points); we're going to be just fine. It's
doing what it's supposed to do. Now, if I could do what I'm supposed to do
every run we'll be in good shape."

Scelzi is seventh in Funny Car point standings, just 101 points out of third
place.

Next up is the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in
Denver, Colo., July 14-16, 2006.

FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Ron Capps, 975
2. John Force, 931
3. Robert Hight, 742
4. Tony Pedregon, 728 (winner today)
5. Eric Medlen, 692
6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 684
7. Gary Scelzi, 641
8. Whit Bazemore, 592
9. Del Worsham, 536
10. Cruz Pedregon, 530

***