<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/g_scelzi07.jpg" alt="g_scelzi07" align="left"borders-"0"/>
MADISON, Ill. (May 5, 2007) - Gary Scelzi, who has won more NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series national events at Gateway International Raceway than anyone, qualified No. 8 for the O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals today driving the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car.
The popular driver who announced he was stepping away from NHRA competition at the end of this year recorded a 4.891-second pass at 314.02 mph in today's first of only two qualifying rounds held because of rain. Both Friday qualifying sessions were cancelled and today's last session for Scelzi resulted in a 4.897/310.27 under hot and humid conditions, with another threat of rain.
"Well, when you only have two rounds to qualify, you can't really go after it," said Scelzi, who has won here four times (three in Top Fuel, one in Funny Car), and you have to be able to play it conservatively, and we did.
"And, in the second run it was actually going to be a little quicker, but it dropped a cylinder, so we ran almost exactly the same. Our consistency was good.
"Tomorrow is going to be hotter, it's going to be tricky, and going down the race track is going to be key. So, we're not going to worry about being the fastest. We're just going to worry about being consistent and going down it. If we can do that, who knows? This place has been pretty good for me in the past, maybe it will be kind to me tomorrow."
Scelzi will face Scott Kalitta in first round of eliminations on Sunday.
TV Reminder: Sunday May 6, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day, at 11 a.m. (ET). Sunday, May 6, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
SCELZI LANDS NO. 8 IN ST. LOUIS QUALIFYING
MADISON, Ill. (May 5, 2007) - Gary Scelzi, who has won more NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series national events at Gateway International Raceway than anyone, qualified No. 8 for the O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals today driving the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car.
The popular driver who announced he was stepping away from NHRA competition at the end of this year recorded a 4.891-second pass at 314.02 mph in today's first of only two qualifying rounds held because of rain. Both Friday qualifying sessions were cancelled and today's last session for Scelzi resulted in a 4.897/310.27 under hot and humid conditions, with another threat of rain.
"Well, when you only have two rounds to qualify, you can't really go after it," said Scelzi, who has won here four times (three in Top Fuel, one in Funny Car), and you have to be able to play it conservatively, and we did.
"And, in the second run it was actually going to be a little quicker, but it dropped a cylinder, so we ran almost exactly the same. Our consistency was good.
"Tomorrow is going to be hotter, it's going to be tricky, and going down the race track is going to be key. So, we're not going to worry about being the fastest. We're just going to worry about being consistent and going down it. If we can do that, who knows? This place has been pretty good for me in the past, maybe it will be kind to me tomorrow."
Scelzi will face Scott Kalitta in first round of eliminations on Sunday.
TV Reminder: Sunday May 6, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day, at 11 a.m. (ET). Sunday, May 6, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
