Team Mopar’s NHRA POWERade Funny Car juggernaut rolls into Phoenix’s Firebird Int’l Raceway this weekend, looking to give the brand its second Funny Car win of the young season.
Gary Scelzi scored a season opening Wally at Pomona in his Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T, after qualifying No. 1. His two Mopar and Don Schumacher Racing teammates, Ron Capps and Jack Beckman, also posted solid outings. Capps qualified third in his Brut Revolution Dodge Charger R/T and lost a nail biter in the quarters, while Beckman qualified No. 6 in his Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T before bowing out in the first round.
Heading to Phoenix, Capps is no stranger to success at the venue, with four career final round appearances at Firebird and one win, coming in 2003. The event also marks his 250th race appearance. Scelzi would love to pay a long overdue visit to victory lane at Phoenix; his last finals appearance was a win in 1997 over Kenny Bernstein in Top Fuel competition. Beckman, with only five Funny Car races under his belt, will make his first Funny Car appearance at the track.
The DSR trio, as well NHRA legend Bernstein, driver of the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Dodge Charger R/T, will hit the track this weekend at the Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals on Feb. 23-25 at Firebird Int’l Raceway.
| 
|