With the 'elephant' off his back, Scelzi heads to Seattle
DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES Round 14 of 23 SCHUCK'S AUTO SUPPLY NHRA NATIONALS Pacific Raceways Kent, Wash. Race Date: July 21, 23, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438; jstropus@earthlink.net WITH THE 'ELEPHANT' OFF HIS BACK, SCELZI HEADS TO SEATTLE KENT, Wash. (July 21, 2006) - Now that Gary Scelzi has finally won a national event as the reigning NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car champion - at the Mopar Mile-High Nationals last weekend in Denver - he's ready to get back to earth at this weekend's Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals at Pacific Raceways and keep that momentum going. He's aiming for that third-place spot in the 2006 Funny car rankings. "I feel like there's an elephant off my back," he says after conquering Bandimere Speedway, one of the last three remaining NHRA dragstrips at which he's never won - the other two are in Gainesville, Fla., and Englishtown, N.J. "We're excited about getting to Seattle. Denver is always the one you worry about because of the altitude, and it's always hot, the track is slippery, and you always try to get out of there with your skin and get on to Seattle. "We had a great weekend in Denver, so we're really looking forward to Seattle, because historically we've run well here and I've won here in Top Fuel and Alcohol Dragster, and I've been No. 1 qualifier here in Funny Car. We heard it's going to be hot and that will make it even more exciting." After winning at over 5,800 feet, where power is at a premium, the series comes down off the mountain to sea level in Seattle. "Power has never been a problem," explains Scelzi, "it's just been controlling it, and it looks like we've been able to do that. We controlled our power in St. Louis, we controlled it in Englishtown, so we've been good on the hot, slippery race tracks. I don't foresee any problems in Seattle." The four-time NHRA world champion is within striking distance of third place in the Funny Car standings after struggling through most of the first half of the season and is now just 39 points out of that spot, and 251 out of first place. "We're just trying to close the gap between the leaders and hopefully work our way into third place in points. Then we'll evaluate where we are again after Sonoma (Calif., the race following Seattle). "The game plan's the same. We'll just evaluate it to see if if we have a shot or if we have to change our strategy or not." GARY SCELZI QUICK FACTS: * Sixth in 2006 Funny Car points after 13 events * So far, in 2006, his best results are a win in Denver, runner-up in Englishtown, N.J. and three semifinal finishes in Bristol, Tenn., Joliet, Ill., and St. Louis. Also has four quarterfinal finishes * Claimed the 2005 Funny Car championship, his first, by eight points over his teammate Ron Capps, 32 over third-place John Force * Won three times in 2005 (Bristol, Chicago 1 and Sonoma); was low qualifier six times (Las Vegas 1, Atlanta, St. Louis, Reading, Las Vegas 2, Pomona 2) * Is a three-time Top Fuel champion * Became only the second NHRA driver to have won crowns in both Top Fuel and Funny Car. Kenny Bernstein is the first * Has never won Funny Car in Seattle, was Top Fuel winner here in 2000 and 2001; No. 1 TF qualifier in 1997, 2000 and 2001 and FC No. 1 qualifier in 2003 * At 2005 Seattle event, he qualified No. 2 lost first round to Whit Bazemore * Has set 23 Funny Car top speeds since joining Don Schumacher Racing in 2003 * Is a member of the largest team in NHRA pro history: Don Schumacher Racing, with nine teams - two in Top Fuel, three in Funny Car, two in Pro Stock, two in Pro Stock Motorcycle (all four pro categories) - and two individual teams competing under the DSR banner: Mike Ashley's Funny Car team, which DSR is managing, and Erica Enders' Pro Stock team, running under a partnership agreement with DSR * Is first Funny Car driver to break the 330-mph barrier (330.15 mph at Route 66 Raceway in 2004) * Career Funny Car bests: 4.696-second ET (Pomona 2 '05), 332.51 mph (Pomona 1 '06) * Qualified in top five 19 times in 2005, No. 1 six times * Age 45, born and raised in Fresno, Calif., where he lives with wife Julianne and sons Dominic and Giovanni * Dominic, 9, races Junior Sprints * Runs Scelzi Enterprises, a custom truck body design and manufacturing business in Fresno with his two brothers * Won his first Top Fuel crown as a rookie * Has seven Funny Car wins, 25 Top Fuel wins * Sixth in 2003 Funny Car points, his first full season in that class * 2006 is his fourth 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 has a round winning record against the 13-time Funny Car champion John Force: 10-8, 3-1 in final rounds WEEKEND SCHEDULE: FRIDAY, July 21, PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS are at 3:30 and 6 p.m. SATURDAY, July 22, PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS are at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. SUNDAY, July 23, Pre-race ceremonies are at 10 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m. TELEVISION: Saturday, July 22, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 8 p.m. (ET). Sunday, July 23, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of eliminations at 8 p.m. (ET). Sunday, July 23, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute magazine show at 11:30 a.m. (ET). SATELLITE: Friday, July 21, 11-11:30 p.m. (ET) Galaxy 10R / Transponder 24k (Downlink frequency: 12184 MHz, horizontal) Saturday, July 22, 10:30-11 p.m. (ET) Galaxy 10R / Transponder 24k (Downlink frequency: 12184 MHz, horizontal) Sunday, July 23, 11:30 p.m.-Midnight (ET) Galaxy 10R / Transponder 24k (Downlink frequency: 12184 MHz, horizontal)