Gary Scelzi: “It’s been a tough schedule for our team so far, and the tracks are going to be tricky”

Fresno, Calif.
Jul 04, 2007

Four-time NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series champion Gary Scelzi is ready to get onto Bristol Dragway’s quarter-mile, one of his favorite tracks on the circuit, for this weekend’s re-scheduled O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

The driver of the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car who says he’ll step away from the sport at the end of this season to tend to family and business, is a one-time winner in Bristol, in 2005, the year he won his first Funny Car championship. He’d like to add another championship trophy to his mantle before he goes on what he calls a sabbatical, not a retirement.

“(Track owner) Bruton Smith has redone the track, so we know it’s going to be great, “ said Scelzi of the re-surfacing of Bristol Dragway, the cause of the event’s postponement from its original May 18-20 date. “We could easily see the high speeds that (crew chief) Mike Neff likes to run.

“The Mopar/Oakley Dodge has always been at the top of the charts in mph and, even though we’re in the middle of the hot summer months right now, and at the third event of this treacherous six-race swing, we’re excited about returning to Bristol.

“It’s been a tough schedule for our team so far, and the tracks are going to be tricky these next few races, but we’re on a path towards a top-eight spot in the Countdown to the Championship, “ added Scelzi, who is fifth in the standings, just 41 points out of the top three following two wins from pole position this year, “and that’s what counts right now. We have to stay focused, keep our eye on the target and do our jobs the best we can. “

Following these next six races, the Countdown for the top eight in points will kick in at the U. S. Nationals in Indianapolis on Labor Day weekend.