Scelzi inspired by son's success
DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2007 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 4 of 4
COUNTDOWN TO FOUR
Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals
Virginia Motorsports Park
Petersburg, Va.
Oct. 5-7, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438;
jstropus@earthlink.net
SCELZI INSPIRED BY SON'S SUCCESS
FRESNO, Calif. (Oct. 3, 2007) - Four-time NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
champion Gary Scelzi reaped some inspiration from his 10-year-old son
Dominic's Mini-Sprint racing success in California last weekend, as well as
his USAC driver's performance, as he approaches this weekend's Torco Racing
Fuels NHRA Nationals driving the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car.
Sixth in the Countdown to Four point standings, with this one event
remaining to determine the final four for the Countdown to One, Scelzi is
hoping Dominic's success will rub off on him.
"Dominic had a great weekend," explained Scelzi, who runs Gary Scelzi
Motorsports in his "spare" time. "He set fast time, ran second in the heat,
started eighth in the main, ran second. That's the best weekend we've had in
a while.
"Michael (Faccinto, 17) also ran really well in the USAC Midget. He started
on the pole and led all 16 laps of the main event in Hanford (Calif.). The
track was so rough it was eating tires, so they shortened the main event
from 25 to 15 laps. But we knew that going in. He led every lap; that was
outstanding.
"So now I'm the one left to hold up the old Gary Scelzi Motorsports banner.
If I don't do any good here in Richmond, they're going to fire me," he
laughed.
Six drivers will be vying for a slot in the top four, as John Force, who
moved into fourth at the last race, will not compete in Richmond this
weekend while he recuperates from injuries sustained after he crashed
winning the second round in Dallas. "It's a shame that Force isn't going to
be there," said Scelzi. "We're all hoping for a speedy recovery for John
because that's really the reason we all race, because Force is the best.
"He's won more championships, won more races than anybody. He came from
virtually nowhere this year to make the Countdown and then jumped up and won
three races. He's just phenomenal. He's the one we all go after. For him not
to be there and not be competing is sad. Not that anybody else is going to
be very weak.
"We need to go to the finals. We need to be in that top four. We need to run
well, so we're part of this thing in Vegas (the penultimate season event in
Las Vegas on Oct. 26-28, where the top four will begin the Countdown to One
playoffs). That's our plan.
"We've taken steps to reinforce our Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T in the
driver's area where John's broke, so all three of the Don Schumacher Racing
Funny cars are being stiffened and reinforced so that doesn't happen again.
Of all the bad things that happened a couple of weeks ago, the good thing is
that all these care are going to be a lot safer. At least I know our cars
are going to be. That makes me feel better going into Virginia, because I
definitely didn't like what I saw in Dallas."
As for getting into the top four, "There's no room for error," said Scelzi,
a three-time winner this season. "We went out first round last race. We
don't really know what happened. It shook the tires, it hadn't done that in
a while. We're going to go into Virginia and try to win the race, just like
we do every other time. Right now you've got to get to the final or win the
race, otherwise the Countdown is going to become a memory."
FUNNY CAR COUNTDOWN TO FOUR POINT STANDINGS ENTERING VIRGINIA (wins in
parentheses):
1. Tony Pedregon, Detroit, Q Horsepower Chevy Impala (3)
2259 (+71)
2. Robert Hight, Anaheim Hills, Calif., Auto Club Ford Mustang (2)
2243 (+55)
3. Jack Beckman, North Hills, Calif., MTS Dodge Charger (2)
2213 (+25)
4. John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Castrol GTX High-Mileage Ford
Mustang (3) 2191 (+3)
5. Ron Capps, Carlsbad, Calif., Brut Dodge Charger R/T (3)
2188 (-3)
6. Gary Scelzi, Fresno, Calif., Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger (3)
2186 (-5)
7. Mike Ashley, New York, Torco/Skull Gear Dodge Charger (3)
2176 (-15)
GARY SCELZI QUICK FACTS:
* Sixth in Countdown to Four point standings after three of four events
* Earned seventh place in Funny Car Countdown to the Championship points for
the top eight
* Qualified No. 1 and won the 2007 season-opening Pomona event, again
qualified No. 1 and won the Chicago event, then won in Memphis
* His other results this season are first-round losses in Phoenix,
Gainesville, Las Vegas, Englishtown, Denver, Sonoma, Reading, Indianapolis
and Dallas, quarterfinal finishes in Houston, Atlanta, St. Louis, Topeka,
Bristol and Seattle, a semifinal finish in Brainerd, and a DNQ in Norwalk
* One Top Fuel win at Virginia Motorsports Park, in 1997
* No. 1 qualifier at VMP in 1997 and 1999 in TF
* Still holds the Top Fuel elapsed time and top speed records at VMP: 4.494
seconds, 324.05 mph
* Qualified No. 12 in Richmond in 2006, lost first round to Jim Head
* 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 11 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
* Said earlier this year that he would step away from NHRA competition at
end of 2007. An offer from NHRA team owner Ken Black to fly him to and from
10 races in 2008, so he could spend more time with family business and
family, helped him change his mind and return with DSR in 2008
WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, Oct. 5 - Professional Qualifying Sessions at 3:30 and 6 p.m.
SATURDAY, Oct. 6 - Professional Qualifying Sessions at noon and 2:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, Oct. 7 Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. Final Eliminations begin at 11
a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, Oct. 6, ESPN and ESPN2 HD will televise one hour of qualifying
highlights at 7 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Oct. 7, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute
pre-race show at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, Oct. 7, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of eliminations
at 7 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE:
Friday, Oct. 5, 9 - 9:30 p.m. (ET) Galaxy 11, Transponder 15K (12003 MHz,
Horizontal)
Saturday, Oct. 6, 6:45 - 7:15 p.m. (ET) Galaxy 11, Transponder 15K (12003
MHz, Horizontal)
Sunday, Oct. 7, 7:15 - 7:45 p.m. (ET) Galaxy 11, Transponder 15K (12003
MHz, Horizontal)
Feeds include action with natural sound of Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro
Stock, plus interviews with qualifying leaders on Saturday and winners on
Sunday.
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