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NHRA: Scelzi, Sarver Post Impressive Runs in Final Day of Tucson Testing

23 January 2001

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Teammates Gary Scelzi and Bruce Sarver recorded the quickest runs of the weekend Sunday in their respective categories to close NHRA Spring Training at Southwestern International Raceway.

NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car teams utilized the pre-season test session to tune their machines for the upcoming 41st annual AutoZone Winternationals, Feb. 1-4, at Pomona (Calif.) Raceway. The $1.9 million race is the first of 24 events in the $50 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series for 2001, NHRA's 50th anniversary season.

Three-time and defending Winston Top Fuel champion Scelzi clocked an impressive 4.647 second, 304.60 mph pass in the Team Winston dragster. Later in the day Sarver, whose machine is also owned and tuned by Alan Johnson, steered his e-moola.com Firebird to a thrilling 4.835 at 297.02 mph.

In other final day highlights, Funny Car rookie Tony Bartone recorded a solid lap of 5.047 at 307.86 in the Jerry Toliver-owned WWF Pontiac Firebird. Bartone needed to post a speed over 265 mph during the test session to complete his NHRA licensing requirements.

A complete listing of Sunday's test results follows (alphabetical run log provided by FastNews Network):

Top Fuel --

Kenny Bernstein - First run, 0.861 at 60 feet, then shake. Second try, almost the same, 0.861 then tire shake and smoke. Third run, 0.854 at 60 feet, 2.175 at 330, 3.167/225.00 at 660, shutting down at that point as the car started to move around. Third try, late in the day with a cold launch pad, 0.887 60-foot time with big-time tire shake.

Andrew Cowin - First run, instant tire smoke, with a 1.362 60-foot time.

Mike Dunn - First run, 0.865 at 60 feet, with shake and then tire smoke. Second run, 0.864 at 60 feet, 2.166 at 330, 3.116/255.77 mph at 660, then shut off. Third run, 0.849 at 60 feet, 2.174 at 330, 3.122/265.38 at 660, then shut off just before the 1,000-foot marker with a 4.045 at that point. Fourth run, 0.853 60-foot time, with hard tire shake.

Tim Gibson - First run, 0.856 at 60 feet, with lots of tire shake. Second run, 0.869 at 60 feet, 2.194 at 330, then shut off.

David Grubnic - First run, 0.851 at 60 feet, then something blew through the finish line lights two seconds into the run, so there were no further times on a good-looking run - smooth and straight.

Gary Scelzi - First run, full pass, 0.871 at 60 feet, 2.180 at 330, 3.125/264.55 mph at 660, 3.933 at 1,000, 4.647/304.60 at the line. Second run, 0.909 at 60 feet with early tire smoke. Third run, 0.863 at 60 feet, 2.161 at 330, 3.096/267.00 mph at 660, 3.985 at 1,000, then shut off.

Funny Car --

Tony Bartone - First try, 0.899 at 60 feet, 2.378 at 330, then shut it off, reason not apparent. Second run, with Toliver's "The Rock" body on the car, 0.905 at 60 feet, 2.391 at 330, 3.498/225.52 at 660, then rattled the tires and pedaled it, but came up short, 5.419/225.56 mph at the line. Final run, also with the second "The Rock" body, 0.903 at 60 feet, 2.385 at 330, 3.468/238.38 at 660, 4.324 at 1,000, 5.047/307.86 at the line.

Whit Bazemore - The Matco Tools Firebird posted a 0.900 60-foot time on its first pass, with thire shake and smoke. Second run, 0.898 at 60 feet, 2.315 at 330, 3.355/242.19 mph at 660, then shut off, leaving a trail of "stuff" through the top half of the course.

Scotty Cannon - First run, 0.920 at 60 feet, with shake and tire smoke. Second run, 0.935 at 60 feet, with a dropped cylinder on the right side, the car steadily drifting to the left until it made slight contact with the wall near half-track.

Gary Densham - First run, 0.923 60-foot time, with tire shake, skating toward the centerline. Second run, 0.924 at 60 feet, 2.367 at 330, 3.397/243.63 mph at 660, then shut off, the car near the centerline again.

Jim Epler - First run, 0.936 at 60 feet, with tire shake and smoke. Second run, 0.927 at 60 feet, then shake and tire smoke.

Chuck Etchells - First run, 0.907 at 60 feet, 2.340 at 330, 3.412/216.06 at 660, shut off. Second run, 0.900 at 60 feet, followed by tire smoke.

John Force - First run, 0.878 at 60 feet, 2.324 at 330, then the car abruptly shut off. Second run, with Tony Pedregon's Castrol Syntec body on the car, 0.874 at 60 feet, 2.304 at 330, then shut off.

Frank Pedregon - First run, 0.889 at 60 feet, 2.322 at 330, 3.341/248.16 mph at 660, then shut off. Second run, 0.888 at 60 feet, 2.309 at 330, 3.304/255.00 mph at 660, then shut it off because the car was headed for the 1,000-foot marker..

Tony Pedregon - First run, 0.881 at 60 feet, 2.308 at 330, 3.328/233.64 mph at 660, then shut it off. Second run, 0.884 at 60 feet, 2.312 at 330, 3.331/234.29 at 660, then shut it off. Third run, 0.916 at 60 feet, 2.339 at 330, 3.357/247.88 mph at 660, then no time recorded at 1,000 feet, where he shut it off.

Bruce Sarver - First run, 0.891 60-foot time with tire shake, then shut off. Second try, almost-full run, 0.890 at 60 feet, 2.299 at 330, 3.292/255.24 mph at 660, 4.116 at 1,000, and 4.835/297.02 at the line.

Jerry Toliver - First run, 0.921 at 60 feet, shaking and headed for the wall. Second run, 0.908 at 60 feet, then shake and tire smoke. Third run, 0.897 at 60 feet, 2.351 at 330, 3.446/220.76 mph at 660, then shut down with sparks and smoke.

Bob Weickgenannt - First run, in Dean Skuza's car, 0.910 at 60 feet with tire shake. Second run, 0.911 at 60 feet with lots of decals blowing off of the car on the launch, 2.338 at 330, 3.402/210.41 mph at 660, shutting off. Third run, 0.894 at 60 feet, 2.309 at 330, 3.370/214.14 mph at 660, where he shut it down.

Del Worsham - First run, 0.889 at 60 feet, 2.336 at 330, then the car headed for the 660-foot reflectors so he shut it down. Second run, 0.902 at 60 feet, 2.354 at 330, then he shut it down. Third run, 0.920 at 60 feet, 2.405 at 330, 3.446/242.89 at 660, 4.318 at 1,000, then shut it off and put the chutes out.

Text Provided By Anthony Vestal

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