Scelzi Goes to the Line With Funny Car Lead

On this date 20 years ago, Gary Scelzi won his first National Hot Rod Assn. event, outdueling Kirk Lawrence in a top-alcohol dragster during the Winston Nationals at Pomona Raceway.

Today, at 45, Scelzi is poised to claim his first funny car title, as the Powerade Drag Racing Series points leader and top qualifier for the Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals.

His 4.696-second quarter-mile pass Friday held up through Saturday’s qualifying. Going into today’s eliminations, Scelzi has increased his points lead from two to eight over runner-up Ron Capps, and from 28 to 32 over defending champion John Force.

Force, 56, a 13-time champion with an NHRA-record 119 victories, is hoping to improve on the national elapsed-time record (4.665 seconds) for the 20 bonus points it would garner. But for now he’s in the sixth spot with a 4.716-second pass and without the record he’ll need to survive at least two rounds beyond Scelzi and Capps to defend his title. Capps qualified 10th with a 4.768-second pass.

Should Scelzi hold onto his lead, he will become only the second driver to win titles in the top-fuel and funny car divisions, joining Kenny Bernstein.

“It’s do or die now. I’m not worried about what Whit’s going to do or what Capps is going to do,” Scelzi said, referring to teammate Whit Bazemore, who is Force’s first-round opponent. “I’m worried about what we’re going to do. If our car does well and I do my job, we should win.”

The top-fuel and pro-stock car titles were won two weeks ago by Tony Schumacher and Greg Anderson, respectively. Shumacher (4.466 seconds) and Jason Line (6.677) were the respective pole winners. It was Schumacher’s 11th pole triumph, a top-fuel season record.

The pro-stock motorcycle title race will be determined today. Matt Smith maintained the top qualifying position, but the championship probably will be claimed by points-leader Andrew Hines or Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson teammate G.T. Tonglet.