Joliet: Gary Scelzi Saturday summary

SCELZI FINDS HUMOR IN QUALIFYING NO. 8 IN CHICAGO JOLIET, Ill. (June 10, 2006) - Reigning NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car champion Gary Scelzi is famous for his sense of humor and quick wit. That was evidenced once more today when the ...

SCELZI FINDS HUMOR IN QUALIFYING NO. 8 IN CHICAGO

JOLIET, Ill. (June 10, 2006) - Reigning NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car champion Gary Scelzi is famous for his sense of humor and quick wit. That was evidenced once more today when the driver of the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car qualified No. 8 for the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway with a consistent string of 4.7-second passes in the quickest Funny Car field in NHRA history, while the top six cars were posting passes in the 4.6-second range.

Scelzi's quickest of those laps was a 4.742/329.50, set in last night's second session. His other attempts included a 4.764/326.87 in the first round, and a 4.750/329.50 in the third and final session. NHRA cancelled the fourth round because of a long rain delay today.

"We're consistent," he laughed. "I told them down there (at the top end), I said, People are out there running their personal-bests, 4.83s, jumping up and down, and we're running a 4.75 and it's like somebody called our mother a dirty name.

"It's got a governor on it. We'll be fine tomorrow, but it's kind of comical that we ran a .76, a .74, a .75, and (in mph) a 329, a 329.

"Somewhere there's a little gremlin in there. Tonight we're going on a gremlin hunt. We're going to kill that little bastard.

"We'll see what happens tomorrow. We're in the show, it's a tough field, and anything can happen. Who knows what it's going to bring, but we're fine, we're in good shape."