Scelzi grabs No. 14 in Bristol qualifying

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2008 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 8 of 24
NHRA THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS
Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway
May 16-18. 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

SCELZI GRABS NO. 14 IN BRISTOL QUALIFYING

BRISTOL, Tenn. (May 17, 2008) - Four-time NHRA champion Gary Scelzi drove
the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car into the No. 14 position in
qualifying for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

Today's two final qualifying rounds were completed under cool temperatures
but sunny skies, and Scelzi established his weekend-best 4.896-second pass
at 313.22 mph in the third session.

His other tries produced a mechanically-challenged 5.604/192.96 (No. 13), a
5.001/247.16 (No. 13) and finally a 4.928/296.11.

"We made it three out of four, aside from the broken crank last night, and
it made it even then," said Scelzi. "I think we'll be OK tomorrow. There's
80 percent chance of rain and that doesn't look good, but the Mopar/Oakley
Dodge will go down the race track; we just have to find the sweet spot."

Scelzi faces Ashley Force in first round of eliminations. This is the first
time the pair are meeting since she entered the Funny Car class.

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