Scelzi holds No. 8 through three Memphis qualifying rounds

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 17 of 23
O'REILLY NHRA MID-SOUTH NATIONALS
Memphis (Tenn.) Motorsports Park
Race Date: Aug. 18-20, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

SCELZI HOLDS NO. 8 THROUGH THREE QUALIFYING ROUNDS IN MEMPHIS

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Aug. 19, 2006) - Gary Scelzi held the No. 8 Funny Car
qualifying spot for the O'Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals through three
qualifying rounds, beginning with a 4.955-second pass at 301.67 mph, then a
tire-smoking 6.589/137.04, and finally his quickest of the weekend, a
4.935/302.69. One round was eliminated in Friday because of a long rain
delay and clean-up.

"Two out of three's not bad," said the driver of the Mopar/Oakley Dodge
Charger R/T and reigning Funny Car champion. "We had as good a shot as
anybody. We're starting in eighth position, we have lane choice. Don't know
if that's going to be critical tomorrow or not, but it's nice to have it.

"Losing a qualifying round definitely hurts you. We had to jump ahead of
schedule and see what it would take and what it wouldn't (in that one Friday
session). We found out what it wouldn't and it smoked the tires at 500 feet.
It got past the Christmas Tree and it got past the shake zone that we have
trouble with. It didn't smoke them until it was further out.

"We'll roll the dice and see what happens tomorrow. I don't feel good, I
don't feel bad."

Scelzi faces his Don Schumacher Racing teammate Mike Ashley in the first
round of eliminations on Sunday.

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