NHRA
Gary Scelzi is a two-time titlist at the NHRA Mid-South Nationals at Memphis (Tenn.) Motorsports Park: once in Top Fuel in 2000 and again last year in Funny Car.
In a tough 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series season, the four-time NHRA world champion has struggled with the performance of the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car. But with more input from the Don Schumacher Racing crew-chief brain trust, including Richard Hogan who is helping Todd Okuhara while Okuhara recovers from an inner-ear infection, and a new chassis, the team has shown promise in the last few events.
This season has been one of the most competitive in many years, with fields boasting as many as 21 cars trying to make it into the top 16 in order to race on Sunday. While it’s exciting competition for the fans, seeing their favorite drivers not qualify on Saturday or lose early on Sunday could be frustrating, but not more than it is for the drivers.
Scelzi is confident that the Mopar/Oakley Dodge team is ready for a comeback this weekend as the season winds down to the final four events. “We won it last year. It’s normally hot there, and it’s going to be a lot cooler the way the weather looks right now,” he said.
“There’s four races to go, and if winning the event last year means anything, which it probably doesn’t but we’re hoping it does, we’re ready. The Mopar/Oakley Dodge is getting better every race, so maybe we can pull something off there and maybe get our first win of the season.”
In 2000 in Memphis Scelzi defeated Larry Dixon in Top Fuel, and last year he sent his DSR teammate Jack Beckman packing.
GARY SCELZI QUICK FACTS:
* No. 14 in points after 20 events in 2008 (one semifinal, four quarterfinal finishes, 11 first rounds and four DNQs)
* Two victories in Memphis: in Top Fuel in 2000, Funny Car in 2007
* No. 10 qualifier in Memphis in 2007, winner over Jack Beckman
* Third in 2007 Funny Car point standings
* Won class-best four national events in 2007, in four final rounds
* Qualified No. 1 and won the 2007 season-opening Pomona event (against Robert Hight), again qualified No. 1 and won the Chicago event, then won in Memphis and Richmond
* Seventh in 2006 Funny Car points, with one win in three final rounds, no low qualifiers
* Claimed the 2005 Funny Car championship, his first, by eight points over his teammate Ron Capps, 32 over third-place John Force
* Won three times in 2005, was low qualifier six times
* Is a three-time Top Fuel champion (1997, 1998, 2000)
* Became only the second NHRA driver to have won crowns in both Top Fuel and Funny Car. Kenny Bernstein is the first
* Has set 24 Funny Car top speeds since joining Don Schumacher Racing in 2003
* Is first Funny Car driver to break the 330-mph barrier (330.15 mph at Route 66 Raceway in 2004)
* Career Funny Car bests: 4.690-second ET (Pomona 1 ‘07), 333.49 mph (Pomona 1 ‘07)
* Qualified in top five 19 times in 2005, No. 1 six times
* Has 37 career national-event titles in 58 final rounds
* Career round win-loss record is 376-208
* Age 47 (Aug. 11, 1960), born and raised in Fresno, Calif., where he lives with wife Julianne and sons Dominic and Giovanni
* Dominic, 11, races Restricted 600 Mini Sprints; Giovanni, 6, races Junior Sprints
* Runs Scelzi Enterprises, a custom truck body design and manufacturing business in Fresno with his two brothers
* Won his first Top Fuel crown as a rookie
* Has 12 Funny Car wins, 25 Top Fuel wins
* Sixth in 2003 Funny Car points, his first full season in that class
* 2008 is his sixth straight season racing for Don Schumacher Racing
* Is the only NHRA driver to have won in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car. He accomplished this feat by winning Nitro Funny Car at Infineon Raceway in 2003
* Is one of the few Funny Car drivers who has a final-round-winning record against the 14-time Funny Car champion John Force: 3-1 in final rounds, 12-12 in head-to-head match-ups
* Said early in 2007 that he would step away from NHRA competition at end of season. An offer from NHRA team owner Ken Black to fly him to and from 10 races in 2008, so he could spend more time with family business and family, helped him change his mind and return with DSR in 2008
* Announced last week that he will step away from NHRA competition at the end of 2008
