Fueled by strong tests, Scelzi is stoked for U.S. Nationals
DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2007 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES Round 18 of 23 Countdown to Four U.S. NATIONALS O'Reilly Raceway Park Clermont, Ind. Aug. 31-Sept. 3, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438; jstropus@earthlink.net FUELED BY STRONG TESTS, SCELZI STOKED FOR U.S. NATIONALS FRESNO, Calif. (Aug. 28, 2007) - Following strong results during the three-day NHRA open test session at O'Reilly Raceway Park last week, four-time NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series world champion Gary Scelzi is stoked for this weekend's prestigious U.S. Nationals, the Countdown and the Showdown. In his five full seasons in the Funny Car class, the driver of the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T has not won the Skoal Showdown in his three appearances in the $100,000 bonus event held at the U.S. Nationals. And he does not count the U.S. Nationals as the site of one of his 10 victories in the Funny Car class. He has, however, won in Top Fuel at the U.S. Nationals, in 1998. No. 7 in the Countdown to the Championship, with a revamped hot rod under him, Scelzi is eager to strut his and his Mopar/Oakley Dodge crew's stuff this weekend, as the Countdown to Four begins. "I don't think I've ever been past the second round in the Showdown," said Scelzi, who joins his DSR teammates Ron Capps and Jack Beckman in both the Countdown and the Showdown contests. "I feel really good about going into the U.S. Nationals right now because (crew chiefs) Todd (Okuhara) and Phil (Shuler) have done such a great job with the Mopar/Oakley Dodge. In testing last week, the car would go down the track whenever they wanted it to go down the track, which is exciting. Then when they wanted it to go quick and fast it was able to do that too. "We've got a pretty wide range on our tune-up. And every time we made a run, Todd just got a big grin on his face and said, 'OK, now it's doing what it's supposed to be doing.' "As a driver, when your crew chief shows confidence, it makes you feel really good." The U.S. Nationals is notorious for its grueling schedule, including five qualifying passes in three days, the Skoal Showdown held during qualifying, Monday's eliminations, as well as the battle for a spot in the Countdown to Four. This next phase of the new playoff system will see a champion crowned from those four in the last two events of the season. "When you wake up Tuesday morning to go home when you leave the U.S. Nationals, you feel empty," said Scelzi, "because you're so used to driving your race car every day for four days. But, you know what, I am so excited about going into it this year. I feel we've got a car that's as good if not better than anybody's. Everybody's excited on the team. Todd's excited, Phil's excited, Capps is excited, so is Beckman. There's a lot of energy right now. What better place is there than Indy to go into a race like that and have that kind of advantage?" GARY SCELZI QUICK FACTS: * Seventh in Funny Car Countdown to the Championship points after qualifying No. 1 and winning the 2007 season-opening Pomona event, and again qualifying No. 1 and winning the Chicago event. His other results this season are first-round losses in Phoenix, Gainesville, Las Vegas, Englishtown, Denver, Sonoma and Reading, quarterfinal finishes in Houston, Atlanta, St. Louis, Topeka, Bristol and Seattle, a semifinal finish in Brainerd, and a DNQ in Norwalk * One TF win at U.S. Nationals, in 1998; No FC wins at U.S. Nats, no Skoal Showdown wins * Qualified No. 7 at 2006 U.S. Nats, lost first round to Phil Burkart * Seventh in 2006 Funny Car points, with a win in Denver (three final rounds), runner-up in Englishtown, N.J., runner-up in Brainerd, Minn., and three semifinal finishes in Bristol, Tenn., Joliet, Ill., and St. Louis. * Also had seven quarterfinal finishes and no No. 1 qualifiers in '06 * 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 (1997, 1998, 2000) * Became only the second NHRA driver to have won crowns in both Top Fuel and Funny Car. Kenny Bernstein is the first * Has set 24 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 - one in Top Fuel, three in Funny Car, one in Pro Stock, two in Pro Stock Motorcycle (all four pro categories) * Is first Funny Car driver to break the 330-mph barrier (330.15 mph at Route 66 Raceway in 2004) * Career Funny Car bests: 4.690-second ET (Pomona 1 '07), 333.49 mph (Pomona 1 '07) * Qualified in top five 19 times in 2005, No. 1 six times * Age 47 (Aug. 11, 1960), born and raised in Fresno, Calif., where he lives with wife Julianne and sons Dominic and Giovanni * Dominic, 10, races Restricted 600 Mini 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 10 Funny Car wins, 25 Top Fuel wins * Sixth in 2003 Funny Car points, his first full season in that class * 2007 is his fifth 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 by winning Nitro Funny Car at Infineon Raceway in 2003 * Is one of the few Funny Car drivers who has a round winning record against the 14-time Funny Car champion John Force: 12-10, 3-1 in final rounds * Says he's stepping away from NHRA competition at end of 2007, but not retiring WEEKEND SCHEDULE: FRIDAY, Aug. 31 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSION at 6:15 p.m. SATURDAY, Sept. 1 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 1 p.m. and 6:05 p.m. SUNDAY, Sept. 2 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. SKOAL SHOWDOWN ELIMINATIONS at 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 5 p.m. MONDAY, Sept. 3 - Pre-race ceremonies, 9:30 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS at 11 a.m. TELEVISION: Sunday, Sept. 2, ESPN2 HD will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 12:30 a.m. (ET). Sunday, Sept. 2, ESPN2 HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute magazine show at 11:30 a.m. (ET). Sunday, Sept. 2, ESPN2 HD will televise three hours and 30 minutes of qualifying coverage at 2 p.m. (ET). Monday, Sept. 3, ESPN2 HD will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at midnight (ET). Monday, Sept. 3, ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of early eliminations coverage at noon (ET). Monday, Sept. 3, ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final eliminations coverage at 7 p.m. (ET). SATELLITE: Friday, Aug. 31, 11-11:30 p.m. (ET) Galaxy 17 / Transponder 9 K (11880 MHz, horizontal) analog Saturday, Sept. 1, 8:30-9 p.m. (ET) Galaxy 17 / Transponder 9 K (11880 MHz, horizontal) analog Sunday, Sept. 2, 7:45-8:15 p.m. (ET) Galaxy 17 / Transponder 9 K (11880 MHz, horizontal) analog Monday, Sept. 3, 7:15-8:15 p.m. (ET) Galaxy 17 / Transponder 9 K (11880 MHz, horizontal) analog ***