Bristol: Gary Scelzi Saturday summary

SCELZI AND MOPAR/OAKLEY DODGE TEAM SEEING PROGRESS, QUALIFY NO. 4 IN BRISTOL

BRISTOL, Tenn. (April 29, 2006) - Reigning Funny Car champion Gary Scelzi and the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger Funny Car team are seeing progress after a difficult start to the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series season, by qualifying No. 4 at the O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

His Friday night pass of 4.777-seconds at 325.06 mph bolstered the team's spirits and placed Scelzi high in the field. He backed up that pass with another strong one, a 4.802/321.65 in the final session. His two other laps included a 5.221/205.91 and a tire-smoking 10.900/72.98.

"That's two for four. It's running better," he said. "It's starting to act like a normal car again. That's good news. We thought it would go a little quicker in the last run, but it didn't. Things are starting to fall back in synch, however, and we still have a ways to go. But it's a better race car than we've had all year long, and we'll just deal with it and try to make it better tomorrow."

The four-time NHRA champion will square off against Tony Bartone in first round of eliminations on Sunday.

-dsr