With the kickoff of the new NHRA POWERade season only days away, one thing is clear: the Team Mopar and Don Schumacher Racing NHRA POWERade Funny Car trio of Gary Scelzi, Ron Capps, and Jack Beckman, appear ready to make another run at the championship in 2007, beginning at this weekend’s season opener, the NHRA Winternationals at Pomona, Calif.
The trio, who combined for seven Funny Car wins last year, utilized Hemi power to take three of the top four quickest elapsed times at the January 26-28 Phoenix test session, as clocked the top speed as well. The performance has left the three Team Mopar drivers chomping at the bit to hit the Pomona strip.
“It’s great, what’s going on in this whole DSR team, ” said Ron Capps, driver of the Brut Revolution Dodge Charger R/T. Capps had five Funny Car wins last year, the most on the circuit, and finished third in the points standings after leading the race for most of the year. “We were trying different injectors off of [Beckman’s] car, we were swapping things with [Scelzi’s] car and trying things for them, and they were trying things for us. With the three Funny Cars working so well together, it’s going to be a fun season. “
That positive outlook is echoed by Gary Scelzi, driver of the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T. “One word sums it up: ‘Exciting, ’” said Scelzi of the coming season. The veteran driver took home one win in 2006, at Mopar’s marquee event, the Mopar Mile-High Nationals. “We’re very pleased and we’re very excited about going to Pomona. “
Standout newcomer Jack Beckman set quickest and fastest national records in 2006, and he powered to one win in only five Funny Car starts for Team Mopar and DSR last year. The test session at Phoenix offered valuable seat time in his Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T, in preparation for Pomona.
