In the so-called
off-season, four-time NHRA world champion Gary Scelzi spent much of his
time helping run Scelzi Enterprises, competing at the Chili Bowl and
racing with sons Dominic and Giovanni. But it's time to get down to the
business of Funny Car competition, he says, as the 24-event 2008 NHRA
POWERade Drag Racing Series opens this weekend at the CARQUEST Auto
Parts Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif.
"I'm really excited about getting the 2008 POWERade season started this
year," said the defending event champion, "after running the midget at
the Chili Bowl, racing with the kids and getting back involved with
Scelzi Enterprises. Coincidentally, I mixed in some company business
with the Phoenix testing by visiting dealerships down there with some
of my sales staff, so that was very productive.
"Now it's time to get down to NHRA drag racing. We're going into Pomona
with a lot of rule changes, a lot of variables right now. Everybody is
trying to build new, stiffer cars. We're running the same car as last
year, but we have a new Brad Hadman chassis. With the bad weather at
preseason testing in Phoenix, however, we weren't able to run it.