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POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 10, 2008) - Defending event champ Gary Scelzi came from the No. 13 qualifying spot to take one round win today before exiting in a quarterfinals match-up against 14-time NHRA Funny Car champ John Force in the season-opening NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif.
Scelzi, without lane choice, steered his HEMI®-powered Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car to a first-round win over Scott Kalitta, recording a pass of 4.911 seconds at 317.94 mph as Kalitta struck the tires. In his quarterfinals battle with Force, Scelzi cut a better reaction time at the tree (.060 to Force's .109), but the four-time NHRA champ suffered a breakage in the Mopar/Oakley Dodge shortly after launching, ending his bid to defend his NHRA Winternationals title.
"It's very disappointing. We thought that we had a car that could whip Force," said Scelzi, a member of the Don Schumacher Racing stable of Mopar-powered Funny Car drivers. "I had a good light against him. We broke a barrel valve, about a 10-dollar part. So at least it wasn't a two-cent part."
Scelzi added, "It's unfortunate, because we thought we could run in the heat and run with [Force], if not outrun him. It didn't happen.
"We'll load up, get some stuff ready and head to Phoenix. We're in the top 10 in points, and we'll see if we can't do better at Phoenix."
Next up is the NHRA Nationals at Firebird Raceway in Phoenix, Ariz., scheduled for Feb. 22-24.
FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS, after one event:
1. Robert Hight, 112 (winner today)
1. Cruz Pedregon, 93 (runner-up today)
2. Robert Hight, 112
3. John Force, 74
Ashley Force, 74
5. Gary Scelzi, 51
Jack Beckman, 51
Bob Tasca, 51
Gary Densham, 51
9. Tim Wilkerson, 38
10. Jerry Toliver, 37
11. Melanie Troxel, 36
12. Scott Kalitta, 35
13. Ron Capps, 33
SCELZI OUSTED BY FORCE IN SECOND ROUND AT NHRA WINTERNATIONALS
POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 10, 2008) - Defending event champ Gary Scelzi came from the No. 13 qualifying spot to take one round win today before exiting in a quarterfinals match-up against 14-time NHRA Funny Car champ John Force in the season-opening NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif.
Scelzi, without lane choice, steered his HEMI®-powered Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car to a first-round win over Scott Kalitta, recording a pass of 4.911 seconds at 317.94 mph as Kalitta struck the tires. In his quarterfinals battle with Force, Scelzi cut a better reaction time at the tree (.060 to Force's .109), but the four-time NHRA champ suffered a breakage in the Mopar/Oakley Dodge shortly after launching, ending his bid to defend his NHRA Winternationals title.
"It's very disappointing. We thought that we had a car that could whip Force," said Scelzi, a member of the Don Schumacher Racing stable of Mopar-powered Funny Car drivers. "I had a good light against him. We broke a barrel valve, about a 10-dollar part. So at least it wasn't a two-cent part."
Scelzi added, "It's unfortunate, because we thought we could run in the heat and run with [Force], if not outrun him. It didn't happen.
"We'll load up, get some stuff ready and head to Phoenix. We're in the top 10 in points, and we'll see if we can't do better at Phoenix."
Next up is the NHRA Nationals at Firebird Raceway in Phoenix, Ariz., scheduled for Feb. 22-24.
FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS, after one event:
1. Robert Hight, 112 (winner today)
1. Cruz Pedregon, 93 (runner-up today)
2. Robert Hight, 112
3. John Force, 74
Ashley Force, 74
5. Gary Scelzi, 51
Jack Beckman, 51
Bob Tasca, 51
Gary Densham, 51
9. Tim Wilkerson, 38
10. Jerry Toliver, 37
11. Melanie Troxel, 36
12. Scott Kalitta, 35
13. Ron Capps, 33
