Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car driver Gary Scelzi came out on the losing end of a HEMI vs. HEMI duel today, bowing out to fellow Mopar-powered driver Melanie Troxel in the first round of eliminations at the Las Vegas NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Scelzi, a Fresno, Calif., native and four-time NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series champion, qualified No. 10, setting up a match-up with No. 7 qualifier Troxel. Scelzi posted a straight and solid 4.123-second pass at 299.33 mph, but Troxel’s quicker reaction time (.091 to .111) helped her edge him out at the finish line by a scant four feet with a slower 4.134/301.81 pass.
“Well, the car was better this weekend, but the driver was late,” said Scelzi, who announced he will step away from NHRA POWERade competition at the end of the season. “We are all trying very, very hard, as this Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T team has been doing all year.
“Unfortunately, our weekend at Vegas was just like it’s been all year. We or I just can’t make it happen. We’ve got one more shot at Pomona, and we’ll try to get it done there.”
Scelzi remains No. 14 in the points rankings and plans to close out the season in style at the NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif., Nov. 13-16.
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