Four-time NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series champion Gary Scelzi went out early today at the Inaugural NHRA Carolinas Nationals at the sparkling new zMax Dragway @ Concord, but he was beaming nonetheless.
After qualifying No. 14 in the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car, Scelzi gushed over the performance of the new Murf McKinney chassis and he continued the outpouring following his defeat in the opening round by Del Worsham. Worsham captured the round win with a 4.154-second elapsed time at 302.41 mph to Scelzi’s tire-smoking 4.67/224.28.
“I’m not unhappy,” said Scelzi, “because it’s the best car I’ve had in qualifying all year. It went down the track, it went quicker every run, it looked really good. We’re still a little bit amazed at what happened in the first round, smoking the tires, but Richard Hogan (crew chief who stepped in for an ailing Todd Okuhara) seems to know why, and we’re playing with spoilers and we’re playing with timing. And we’re kind of a little bit in test mode even though we were trying to beat Del Worsham and wanted to race our teammate Jack Beckman in the second round.
“Things are looking good. We poured a new seat to get the car to fit me and I’m getting more comfortable every run. I like my chances in Dallas, and I haven’t felt good in a long time. So, I believe the Mopar/Oakley Dodge is going to be good and quick, and I think we might have a little something for these ‘Countdowners.’
Scelzi is 14th in the point standings and is not competing in the Countdown to 1 playoffs.
Next up is the 23rd annual NHRA Fall Nationals in Dallas, Sept. 18-21.
UNOFFICIAL COUNTDOWN TO 1 FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS, after one of six events:
1. Cruz Pedregon, 2134 (runner-up today)
2. Jack Beckman, 2132 (winner today)
3. Tony Pedregon, 2131
4. Robert Hight, 2127
5. Tim Wilkerson, 2121
6. Ashley Force 2085
7. Ron Capps, 2042
Gary Densham, 2042
9. Mike Neff, 2033
10. John Force, 2010
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