Memphis: Gary Scelzi Friday summary

Scelzi takes No. 7 on Friday in Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Aug. 20, 2004) - Gary Scelzi drove his HEMI-powered Oakley Dodge Stratus Funny Car into the No. 7 qualifying spot tonight at the O'Reilly Mid-South NHRA Nationals at Memphis Motorsports Park, with a 4.974-second pass at 297.09 mph. Considering the odd route he took to the finish line, he was pleased with the result.

"It's kind of weird," he said. "We slowed it down a little bit (after hazing the tires half-track in the first round to a 7.695/104.69) and the right tire shook and the left tire didn't. It drove me out of the groove to the right, got over by the fence, I got it back and then it dropped a cylinder on the right-hand side. A .97 is OK. We got down there, and we have two more sessions tomorrow.

"We'll just keep making little moves and pick away at it and see where we end up," he added. "It doesn't really matter where you qualify. I'd like to be in the top half (of the field), so we can work on that tomorrow. You've just got to be good on race day."