As the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series prepares to raise the curtain
on a new season of outstanding competition at the Auto Club Raceway in
Pomona, Calif., on Feb 8-11, four-time NHRA champion Gary Scelzi
reflects on his 2006 season attempting to defend his 2005 Funny Car
crown, all that he is thankful for, his other non-NHRA racing ventures,
and driving the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T for a fifth year with
Don Schumacher Racing.
The three-time Top Fuel (1997, '98, '00) and one-time Funny Car
champion ('05) is coming off a tough year, in which he won one national
event in three final rounds, placing seventh in the Funny Car point
standings. His season also included one DNQ (did not qualify), rounding
out his career statistics to 33 wins in 54 final rounds, 42 No. 1
qualifiers, a total offive DNQs, and a career round win-loss record of
345-174.