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NHRA: Scelzi, Toliver lead NHRA victory parade at Autozone Winternationals

8 February 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

POMONA, Calif. - Gary Scelzi opened the 2000 NHRA season in impressive fashion, claiming the Top Fuel victory Sunday at the 40th annual AutoZone Winternationals at Pomona Raceway.

Jerry Toliver, Jeg Coughlin and Bob Panella also were winners in their respective pro categories during the $1.7 million race, the first of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Scelzi, from Fresno, Calif., recorded his 15th career Top Fuel victory by posting a winning run of 4.613 seconds at 317.79 mph in his Team Winston dragster, defeating defending series champion Tony Schumacher, who posted a 4.712 at 309..56 in his Exide Batteries dragster. The thrilling side-by-side final capped an efficient day of racing that was free of delays for oil cleanup.

During the off-season NHRA introduced rules limiting the amount of nitromethane to 90-percent for Top Fuel and Funny Car teams. In addition, the time for teams to service their race cars was reduced to 75 minutes. Penalties and fines for oiling the racing surface also were established.

"I am proud to be associated with NHRA Winston Drag Racing right now," said Scelzi, who put together a string of consistent 4.60 second runs in round wins over Tim Gibson, Cory McClenathan and Larry Dixon to advance to the final, which ended just past 4:30 p.m. local time. "It was awesome out there today. I didn't have time to get nervous. We changed four motors and had the car started within 40 minutes each time. During testing we worked with the 90-percent (nitro) rule and the 75-minute rule. Today, that preparation paid off."

With the victory, Scelzi moved into eighth place on the all-time Top Fuel win list, edging ahead of Don Prudhomme, Gary Ormsby and Scott Kalitta.

"I never thought I would win one of these races, much less 15," said an emotional Scelzi, who anticipates more final round meetings with his young rival. "I like rivalries and I think the sport needs them. Tony is a champion - he proved that last year. To beat Tony today is extra-special. He's the defending champion, but that was last year. For now, we're back to number one."

Toliver, from Huntington Beach, Calif., used a holeshot start to claim his second career Funny Car victory, and second straight at Pomona Raceway. Toliver used a quick .456 reaction time and drove his WWF Racing Chevy Camaro to a 4.970 at 309.06, overcoming the quicker 4.929 at 308.35 by the Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang driven by Tony Pedregon.

"Every opponent I had today made me nervous, but I had to dig down deep and make it happen," said Toliver, who defeated Bob Gilbertson, Whit Bazemore and Gary Densham to advance to the final round. "I'm here, I'm happy and we're going for the Winston championship. That's what it's all about. This is a great way to get started."

Coughlin, from Columbus, Ohio, earned his third straight Pomona Raceway victory in five consecutive finals here and took his 11th win overall in Pro Stock, defeating defending series champ Warren Johnson. Coughlin ran 6.894 at 199.17 in his Jeg's Mail Order Oldsmobile Cutlass to power away from Johnson, who posted a 6.953 at 197.65 in his GM Goodwrench Pontiac Firebird.

"We've always stressed preparation," said Coughlin, who defeated John Fairleigh, Greg Anderson and Tom Martino for the final round opportunity. "Today we were ready and showed a lot of consistency. The entire team made this win happen. It's great."

Stockton, Calif.'s Panella claimed his fifth career Pro Stock Truck victory and first at Pomona Raceway, edging Greg Stanfield for the win in a battle of Chevy S-10s. The defending series champion covered the quarter-mile in 7.544 at 178.52, overcoming a holeshot start by Stanfield, who crossed the finish line with a 7.568 at 179.09.

"What a day," Panella said. "We worked hard over the winter to be in this position and it worked out for us."

The next NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series event is the 16th annual Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals, Feb. 24-27, at Firebird International Raceway near Phoenix.

Text Provided by NHRA

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