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NHRA: Force, Scelzi headline third day of NHRA pre-season testing

24 January 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
TUCSON, Ariz. - John Force and Gary Scelzi were the headliners in their respective categories during Saturday's NHRA pre-season testing at Southwestern International Raceway. NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car teams are fine-tuning their machines for the upcoming 2000 NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series season, which begins with the 40th annual AutoZone Winternationals, Feb. 3-6, at Pomona Raceway, Pomona, Calif.

Force drove his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang to the best run of the weekend for a Funny Car when he covered the quarter-mile distance in 4.962 seconds at 309.06 mph. Force, seeking his 10th NHRA Winston championship this season, also posted runs of 5.115 at 272.72 and 5.210 at 290.07.

Scelzi continued to impress behind the wheel of the Alan Johnson-tuned Team Winston dragster, posting a weekend-best elapsed time of 4.611 seconds at 317.12 mph. Scelzi shut off early on his three other runs during the day.

Defending Winston Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher logged his best day of the weekend, running 4.675 at 315.12 and 4.686 at 312.42 in two of three attempts. He posted an .864 second 60-foot time on his other run, recording a speed of 252.75 at the 1/8th-mile just as he clicked off his Exide Batteries dragster.

Tommy Johnson Jr. drove Kenny Bernstein's Budweiser King dragster to a weekend-best of 4.718 at 310.84 and was consistent to the 60-foot mark in his two other runs, covering the short distance in .871 seconds both times. Johnson is subbing for Bernstein during testing while the five-time NHRA champ continues to heal from off-season shoulder surgery.

MBNA Dragster driver Cory McClenathan's best for the day was an aborted 4.971 at 229.74, which included an .874 second 60-foot time.

Whit Bazemore made the only other sub-four second pass in Funny Car, recording a 4.995 at 300.53 in the Chuck Etchells'-owned Kendall Camaro.

Bruce Sarver continued to make gains behind the wheel of the Alan Johnson-owned E-Moola.Com Pontiac Firebird, recording his best quarter-mile attempt of the weekend, a quick 5.014 at an impressive 301.74. Sarver's machine suffered slight damage to the front-end during his final run of the day when his car drifted to the center-line near half-track and clipped a styrafoam cone.

Force teammate Tony Pedregon posted a 5.187 at 231.87 for his best of the day. Dean Skuza, Del Worsham, Gary Densham and Frank Pedregon attempted runs, but all shut off early.

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