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MOHNTON, Pa. (Sept. 27, 2006) - While one or more of his Don Schumacher Racing teammates are concerned about the cooler, even cold, weather conditions expected at this weekend's re-scheduled Toyo Tire NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, reigning Funny Car champion Gary Scelzi says bring it on.
Despite reports that temperatures will dip into the high 50s this weekend in the Reading, Pa., area, the driver of the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car, who has established 23 top speeds since joining DSR in 2003, is ready for the challenge, as he aims to gain as many points towards moving up in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car standings.
"It's going to be very different from two weeks ago," says Scelzi, who is seventh in the rankings, and just 50 points short of fifth place, with four events remaining in the season. "The race track is going to take anything you can throw at it," he says of the cooler conditions that should enhance the performance of the 7000-plus-horsepower nitromethane-powered engines. "You'd better bring some horsepower. It's not going to be for the weak of heart, that's for sure.
"And that's always a good feeling for us, because I think we probably have more 330-mph runs than anybody, so we know we can make power."
Scelzi's record at Maple Grove is stout: three wins (two in Top Fuel, one in Funny Car), one TF runner-up and three No. 1 qualifiers (1998, '99 and '05).
SCELZI SAYS READING WON'T BE FOR THE WEAK OF HEART
MOHNTON, Pa. (Sept. 27, 2006) - While one or more of his Don Schumacher Racing teammates are concerned about the cooler, even cold, weather conditions expected at this weekend's re-scheduled Toyo Tire NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, reigning Funny Car champion Gary Scelzi says bring it on.
Despite reports that temperatures will dip into the high 50s this weekend in the Reading, Pa., area, the driver of the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car, who has established 23 top speeds since joining DSR in 2003, is ready for the challenge, as he aims to gain as many points towards moving up in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car standings.
"It's going to be very different from two weeks ago," says Scelzi, who is seventh in the rankings, and just 50 points short of fifth place, with four events remaining in the season. "The race track is going to take anything you can throw at it," he says of the cooler conditions that should enhance the performance of the 7000-plus-horsepower nitromethane-powered engines. "You'd better bring some horsepower. It's not going to be for the weak of heart, that's for sure.
"And that's always a good feeling for us, because I think we probably have more 330-mph runs than anybody, so we know we can make power."
Scelzi's record at Maple Grove is stout: three wins (two in Top Fuel, one in Funny Car), one TF runner-up and three No. 1 qualifiers (1998, '99 and '05).
