Struggling through the final rounds of qualifying for the prestigious U.S. Nationals, four-time NHRA champion Gary Scelzi missed qualifying for the Funny Car field today, driving the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car.
It looked promising when on Friday evening he posted a 4.218-second pass at 290.44 mph to place No. 8, which he held onto through the second qualifying round after recording a 4.527/206.99. The subsequent rounds, however, of 4.229/227.61 (No. 16), 4.233/286.86 (DNQ), and finally a tire-smoking 6.720/91.61 (DNQ) did not improve his position in a large field of 22 cars vying for 16 positions, and he failed to qualify. His dream of winning in the Funny Car class at the U.S. Nationals to go with his Top Fuel victory here in 1998 was dashed.
“You know, I wanted to be one of those guys who can win [here] in Top Fuel and win in Funny Car and it’s not meant to be. And, I tell you what, it didn’t really hit me until I just made this corner,” said a disappointed Scelzi after exiting the car at the top end. “It’s pretty upsetting. This is a big race. If you can’t win the championship you want to win the U.S. Nationals and we’re not going to do it.”
Next up for Scelzi is the Inaugural NHRA Carolinas Nationals in Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 12-14.
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