<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/g_scelzi07.jpg" alt="g_scelzi07" align="right"borders="0"/>
JOLIET, Ill. (June 9, 2007) - Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car driver Gary Scelzi held on as low qualifier through two more rounds of qualifying for the Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals today, collecting his second No. 1 of the season and the 44th of his career.
His other No. 1 came in the season-opener at Pomona, Calif., which he translated into his first victory of the season.
Scelzi struggled in both of today's qualifying attempts, posting two sub-par tire-smoking runs of 9.539/82.07 and 9.865/83.26 on a hot and unforgiving race track.
"Basically, one out of four runs is not the kind of car we had in Pomona," said the four-time NHRA world champion. "In Pomona it went down the race track every run. I'm actually a little surprised that it didn't make it this last run. We had it backed down enough, we thought, and it just went out and shook the tires. We just downloaded the computer right now, so I'm not sure what's wrong.
"The car's had a vibration today, for whatever reason. We changed tires, we've done some different things, and the vibration is in the burnout and it's on the run and I'm not sure where it's coming from. I don't really like going into Sunday with that kind of a race car and I'm not sure what that problem is. Hopefully, tonight we'll find something. I don't know what, but we're going to change a lot of things. But, I know we can run, I know we can run on hot tracks."
Scelzi faces No. 16 qualifier Bob Gilbertson in first round of Sunday's eliminations.
SCELZI HANGS ON TO NO. 1 IN JOLIET
JOLIET, Ill. (June 9, 2007) - Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car driver Gary Scelzi held on as low qualifier through two more rounds of qualifying for the Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals today, collecting his second No. 1 of the season and the 44th of his career.
His other No. 1 came in the season-opener at Pomona, Calif., which he translated into his first victory of the season.
Scelzi struggled in both of today's qualifying attempts, posting two sub-par tire-smoking runs of 9.539/82.07 and 9.865/83.26 on a hot and unforgiving race track.
"Basically, one out of four runs is not the kind of car we had in Pomona," said the four-time NHRA world champion. "In Pomona it went down the race track every run. I'm actually a little surprised that it didn't make it this last run. We had it backed down enough, we thought, and it just went out and shook the tires. We just downloaded the computer right now, so I'm not sure what's wrong.
"The car's had a vibration today, for whatever reason. We changed tires, we've done some different things, and the vibration is in the burnout and it's on the run and I'm not sure where it's coming from. I don't really like going into Sunday with that kind of a race car and I'm not sure what that problem is. Hopefully, tonight we'll find something. I don't know what, but we're going to change a lot of things. But, I know we can run, I know we can run on hot tracks."
Scelzi faces No. 16 qualifier Bob Gilbertson in first round of Sunday's eliminations.
