Scelzi's Phoenix test sessions shortened due to rain
EDITORS: Attached is a digital image of the 2008 Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car taken at the National Time Trials, which Gary Scelzi will drive in the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Photo credit: Ron Lewis. DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2008 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES National Time Trials Firebird Raceway Chandler, Ariz. Jan. 25-27, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438; jstropus@earthlink.net SCELZI'S PHOENIX TEST SESSIONS SHORTENED DUE TO RAIN CHANDLER, Ariz. (Jan. 27, 2008) - Four-time NHRA world champion Gary Scelzi was anticipating a productive three-day Funny Car test session at the National Time Trials at Firebird Raceway this weekend, in preparation for the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series season-opener in Pomona, Calif., Feb. 7-10. But a washout of today's session and new-car glitches in the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car he drives for Don Schumacher Racing earlier in the weekend disrupted the team's plans. In the two days that were completed, Scelzi's quickest lap produced a 7.584-second result at 114.07 mph, placing him ninth for the weekend. Scelzi and the Mopar/Oakley Dodge team, led by tuner Todd Okuhara, will remain at Firebird Raceway to continue testing through Wednesday, if necessary. His other passes included a 12.183/71.99, an 11.783/72.53 and an 11.435/76.41. "There's nothing to tell you," said Scelzi, of Fresno, Calif. "It's pouring down rain today, so they've already cancelled today. We made one run on Friday and it was a tire-shaker; the slide-valve didn't open. Then we had a couple of other glitches yesterday and then last night it shook the tires again. It was better, but it still shook the tires. I don't want to be negative, but, realistically, I don't think it's been a very productive test session. "I'm hoping that we get some good weather and we can start going back to our normal combination, because basically we're running out of time now. We've got to test what we're going to race in Pomona, so hopefully we can do that on Monday through Wednesday. Our plan is to test through Wednesday. "(DSR teammate) Ron Capps made the one good pass last night," added Scelzi. "I don't think anybody has made any good runs back to back. We haven't had the opportunity yet. We're trying a lot of different and new things, and hopefully by Wednesday night I can tell you it's been productive." Best runs of the event, listed in order of elapsed time, in Funny Car at the National Time Trials (courtesy of Fast News and Compulink): Psn---Num-Driver, Home Town, Car Type-----------------TT-ET----TT-Spd-Top Spd 1 28 Ron Capps, Carlsbad CA, '07 Charger 4.785 322.34 322.34 2 388 Jim Head, Columbus OH, '07 Solara 4.841 313.95 313.95 3 347 Tim Wilkerson, Springfield IL, '07 Impala 4.969 249.67 249.67 4 750 Del Worsham, Chino Hills CA, '07 Impala 5.216 216.62 216.62 5 33 Tommy Johnson Jr., Avon IN, '08 Charger R/T 5.228 216.31 216.31 6 1 Tony Pedregon, Brownsburg IN, '07 Impala 5.329 204.35 204.35 7 319 Scott Kalitta, Ypsilanti MI, '07 Solara 5.432 195.11 195.11 8 ROCKS Jerry Toliver, Temecula CA, '08 Charger R/T 5.512 163.65 163.65 9 3 Gary Scelzi, Fresno CA, '07 Charger 7.584 114.07 114.07 10 999 Melanie Troxel, Indianapolis IN, '08 Charger 8.646 84.44 84.44 11 TASCA Bob Tasca III, Cranston RI, Mustang 8.976 93.01 93.01 12 5 Jack Beckman, North Hills CA, '07 Charger 9.316 76.26 76.26 13 782 Gary Densham, Bellflower CA, '07 Impala 9.521 97.12 97.12 14 71 Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg IN, '07 Impala 11.016 80.81 80.81 15 999 Melanie Troxel, Indianapolis IN, '08 Charger 11.580 73.08 76.21 ***