Scelzi set to make move in Sonoma
DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES Round 15 of 23 Fram-Autolite NHRA Nationals Infineon Raceway Sonoma, Calif. Race Date: July 28-30, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438; jstropus@earthlink.net SCELZI SET TO MAKE MOVE IN SONOMA SONOMA, Calif. (July 25, 2006) - Defending Sonoma Funny Car champion Gary Scelzi is set to complete the Western Swing of the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series at this weekend's Fram-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway by making a strong move back up into the Funny Car point standings. The driver of the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T and reigning Funny Car champion is just one point out of fifth (Eric Medlen) and 45 short of third place (Robert Hight). And, even though he's 295 points behind leader and teammate Ron Capps, he's not counting out being in the points chase as the season winds down. The Fresno, Calif., native has come out a-blazing in the last five races, scoring two semifinal finishes, one runner-up and his first victory of the season, while also beating second-in-points John Force (Scelzi is 207 points behind him) in the last two events. Infineon Raceway is Scelzi's home track and, although the three-time Top Fuel champion has never won in that class here, he boasts two Funny Car titles here in the last three years, including his first class triumph in 2003. While he was hoping to achieve a Western Swing sweep after winning in Denver, he's not deterred by losing to his teammate Ron Capps in the second round in Seattle. "We'll just throw Seattle out," he says. "We had a good round against Force, even though we lost against Capps. That race track is kind of like Denver; you just hope to get out of there with your skin. "Infineon Raceway in Sonoma has a good surface. Even if it's hot, it's easier to control your race car. And that's what I like about Sonoma. Even though the temperatures may be in the 100-degree range the surface is still a good surface. And it's equal both lanes. It's not a one-lane race track. The asphalt is good, the concrete is good and then we've also got that Friday night run, when the ocean air comes in. Even if it's hot, it's going to cool down enough to where we could run some pretty good runs. "I think we still have a great race car. I still think we can make a chase out of this thing and that's what we're going to Sonoma to do." As for his 11-8 round-win and 3-1 final-round record over 13-time champion Force, "Well, I think it's a good record," he says. "Like I've said, I don't like to brag about something like that because I really believe that if you race John Force enough he's going to have the upper hand on you. But right now, (crew chief) Mike Neff is on his game and he seems to do really well against guys like John. I can't help but get up for him because of who he is. He's 'the man.' I don't care whether he's on a losing streak, a winning streak, whatever, when you pull up next to John Force you'd better have your A-game or you're going home." GARY SCELZI QUICK FACTS: * Sixth in 2006 Funny Car points after 14 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 five 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 * Is the 2003 and 2005 Funny Car champion in Sonoma, No. 1 qualifier in TF in 2000 * At 2005 Sonoma event, he qualified No. 5, won final against teammate Ron Capps * 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: 11-8, 3-1 in final rounds WEEKEND SCHEDULE: FRIDAY, July 28 ‹ PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3:15 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. SATURDAY, July 29 ‹ PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 10 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. SUNDAY, July 30 ‹ Pre-race ceremonies, 11 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at noon. TELEVISION: Saturday, July 29, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 8 p.m. (ET). Sunday, July 30, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will telecast NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute news magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET). Sunday, July 30, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 8 p.m. (ET). SATELLITE: Friday, July 28, 11:30 p.m.-midnight (ET) SBS 10 R, Transponder 23 K (12160 MHz, vertical) Saturday, July 29, 10:30-11 p.m. (ET) SBS 10 R, Transponder 23 K (12160 MHz, vertical) Sunday, July 30, 11:30 p.m.-midnight (ET) SBS 10 R, Transponder 23 K (12160 MHz, vertical) ***