Four-time world champion Gary Scelzi moved into a solo spot in fifth
place in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings
after finishing in the quarterfinals at the NHRA Nationals at Firebird
Raceway, the second event of the year.
After qualifying in the top half of the field, in No. 7, the driver of
the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T defeated reigning Funny Car champion
Tony Pedregon with a 4.874-second pass at 317.72 mph to Pedregon's
5.052/260.11 in the opening stanza, then met up with his Don Schumacher
Racing teammate Jack Beckman in the second round. Both had identical
lap times in their opening-round victories, with lane choice going to
Beckman because of speed.
They launched with nearly identical reaction times (.094 for Scelzi,
.085 for Beckman - .000 is perfect), but Scelzi began experiencing tire
shake, which pulled the front end into the air, and, despite quick
pedaling action, Scelzi lost to Beckman with a 7.021/124.24 run to
Beckman's winning 4.884/320.20.