SCELZI EXITS EARLY IN SONOMA
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SONOMA, Calif. (Jul 27, 2008) - Gary Scelzi raced the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car to a first-round finish at the 21st annual NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway today, conceding the win to points leader Tim Wilkerson, who posted the second quickest elapsed time of the round, a 4.100-second pass at 303.37 mph to Scelzi's 4.227/295.98.
They both launched with nearly identical reaction times, but a clutch disk problem on the Mopar/Oakley Dodge slowed Scelzi's run to the finish line. Scelzi was unable to advance in the point standings and remained in 13th place, 77 points out of the top 10.
"It ate a clutch disk and it slowed down. It should have run 4.12 or better," explained the four-time NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series world champion and Fresno, Calif., native. "Even at that, Wilkerson's 4.10 was pretty stout. It's hard to play ball when you have to run a hitter like that, but it happens. So, I guess were off to Brainerd.
"Our chances of getting into the top 10 are getting slimmer and slimmer," he added. "We'll see what happens." Only three national events remain before the Countdown to the Championship for the top 10 in points kicks in following the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day weekend in Indianapolis.
Next up is the 27th annual NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., Aug. 8-10.
UNOFFICIAL FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS, after 15 of 24 events:
1. Tim Wilkerson, 1083
2. Tony Pedregon, 899
3. Robert Hight, 933 (winner today)
4. Ashley Force, 830
5. Cruz Pedregon, 828
6. Gary Densham, 796 (runner-up today)
7. Ron Capps, 757
8. John Force, 740
9. Mike Neff, 686
10. Jack Beckman, 632
11. Bob Tasca III, 590
12. Del Worsham, 588
13. Gary Scelzi, 555
14. Melanie Troxel, 509
15. Jerry Toliver, 501
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/g_scelzi.jpg" alt="g_scelzi" align="right"borders="0"/>
SONOMA, Calif. (Jul 27, 2008) - Gary Scelzi raced the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car to a first-round finish at the 21st annual NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway today, conceding the win to points leader Tim Wilkerson, who posted the second quickest elapsed time of the round, a 4.100-second pass at 303.37 mph to Scelzi's 4.227/295.98.
They both launched with nearly identical reaction times, but a clutch disk problem on the Mopar/Oakley Dodge slowed Scelzi's run to the finish line. Scelzi was unable to advance in the point standings and remained in 13th place, 77 points out of the top 10.
"It ate a clutch disk and it slowed down. It should have run 4.12 or better," explained the four-time NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series world champion and Fresno, Calif., native. "Even at that, Wilkerson's 4.10 was pretty stout. It's hard to play ball when you have to run a hitter like that, but it happens. So, I guess were off to Brainerd.
"Our chances of getting into the top 10 are getting slimmer and slimmer," he added. "We'll see what happens." Only three national events remain before the Countdown to the Championship for the top 10 in points kicks in following the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day weekend in Indianapolis.
Next up is the 27th annual NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., Aug. 8-10.
UNOFFICIAL FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS, after 15 of 24 events:
1. Tim Wilkerson, 1083
2. Tony Pedregon, 899
3. Robert Hight, 933 (winner today)
4. Ashley Force, 830
5. Cruz Pedregon, 828
6. Gary Densham, 796 (runner-up today)
7. Ron Capps, 757
8. John Force, 740
9. Mike Neff, 686
10. Jack Beckman, 632
11. Bob Tasca III, 590
12. Del Worsham, 588
13. Gary Scelzi, 555
14. Melanie Troxel, 509
15. Jerry Toliver, 501
