Dixon, Scelzi, Coughlin, and Scali
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Larry Dixon became the fourth driver in NHRA history to sweep the three-race Western Swing
Sunday at the FRAM-Autolite Nationals at Infineon Raceway.
Gary Scelzi, Jeg Coughlin and Geno Scali also were winners in their respective categories
at the $1.9 million event, the 15th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag
Racing Series.
Dixon powered his Miller Lite dragster to his eighth Top Fuel victory of the season and
33rd of his career when he clocked a performance of 4.640 seconds at 319.67 mph to
outdistance first-time finalist David Baca, who recorded a run of 4.805 at 298.47 in his
American Racing Wheels dragster.
"It feels unbelievable," said Dixon. "This feels like going through the Iron Man
Triathalon and coming out on the right side. I give all the credit here to the guys on
the team. Those same crew guys are the ones that log all those miles from Denver to
Seattle to here at Infineon."
Dixon used a consistent tune-up to defeat John Smith, Tony Schumacher and Rhonda
Hartman-Smith before defeating Baca in the final round. With the victory, Dixon extended
his lead in the POWERade points standings to 310 points over Doug Kalitta.
Gary Scelzi
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Scelzi became the 13th driver in NHRA history to earn victories in both nitro categories
when he drove his Oakley Dodge Stratus to his first career Funny Car victory. Scelzi, a
25-time Top Fuel winner, used a run of 4.958 at 312.21 to edge Dean Skuza in the final
round. Skuza clocked a pass of 4.966 at 306.74 behind the wheel of his Meat Loaf-themed
Pontiac Firebird Funny Car.
"It's pretty incredible," said Scelzi. "This is the whole reason why I race, to win. I
didn't want to drive just any car. I wanted to drive a car that was capable of winning
and I really wanted to be with Schumacher Racing. I always felt I could drive anything
with four wheels and I felt I could win. It's great to get this thing off our backs and
prove we could win."
Scelzi knocked off teammates Scotty Cannon and Whit Bazemore in the first two rounds, then
12-time champion John Force in the semifinals before besting Skuza in the finals.
Funny Car points leader Tony Pedregon lost in the opening round for the third consecutive
week. However, he still leads Bazemore by 44 points.
Jeg Coughlin raced to his first victory of the season and 32nd of his career by using a
starting-line advantage to defeat Pro Stock points leader Greg Anderson. Coughlin drove
his Jeg's Mail Order Chevy Cavalier to a run of 6.839 at 201.07 to knock off Anderson's
quicker, but losing 6.798 at 203.37 in his Vegas General Construction Pontiac Grand Am.
"It certainly feels great," said Coughlin. "This racetrack is a lot of fun to run on and
the fans here are great. We've had some good runs here the last couple of years and come
up short. We knew we had our work cut out for us and we knew we'd have to pull a couple
tricks out of our hat against Greg."
Coughlin defeated Greg Stanfield, Dave Connolly and Allen Johnson before holding off
Anderson in the final. With the victory, Coughlin moved to third place in the Pro Stock
points standings. Anderson leads Kurt Johnson by 139 points.
Scali extended his lead in the Pro Stock Bike standings by defeating Andrew Hines. Scali
rode his Trim-Tex Suzuki to a run of 7.177 at 189.68 to hold off Hines' Screamin' Eagle
Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, which recorded a run of 7.264 at 180.48.
"You start beliving in the championship when you're 188 points ahead," said Scali. "The
No. 2 person (Angelle Savoie) went out in the first round, the No. 3 person (Shawn Gann)
went out in the first round and you're like is this real or what? I am happy we were able
to take advantage of the opportunity. I really have to pinch myself after today."
Scali recorded victories over Sean Conner, Antron Brown and No. 1 qualifier Craig Treble
before his victory over Hines in the final round. Scali now leads Angelle Savoie by 188
points in the Pro Stock Bike standings.
The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event is the 22nd annual Lucas Oil NHRA
Nationals, Aug. 14-17, at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minn.
Sunday's final results from the 16th annual FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon
Raceway. The $1.9 million race is the 15th of 23 in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag
Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Larry Dixon, 4.640 seconds, 319.67 mph def. David Baca, 4.805 seconds,
298.47 mph.
Funny Car -- Gary Scelzi, Dodge Stratus, 4.958, 312.21 def. Dean Skuza, Pontiac
Firebird, 4.966, 306.74.
Pro Stock -- Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cavalier, 6.839, 201.07 def. Greg Anderson,
Pontiac Grand Am, 6.798, 203.37.
Pro Stock Bike -- Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.177, 189.68 def. Andrew Hines,
Harley-Davidson, 7.264, 180.48.
Top Alcohol Dragster -- Alan Bradshaw, 5.304, 259.46 def. Garrett Bateman, 5.399,
259.01.
Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Bucky Austin, Pontiac Firebird, 5.665, 254.42 def. Jay
Payne, Chevy Camaro, 5.729, 251.34.
Competition Eliminator -- Gary Anderson, Pontiac Firebird, 8.575, 157.32 def. Mark
Lelchook, Dragster, 7.095, 182.16.
Super Stock -- Terry Anderson, Chevy Nova, 10.198, 129.40 def. Joe Kohorst, Chevy
Camaro, 9.666, 136.32.
Stock Eliminator -- David Rampy, Chevy Camaro, 11.339, 113.20 def. Clark Holroyd,
Chevy Nova, foul.
Super Comp -- Rick Beckstrom, Dragster, 8.906, 170.62 def. George Scott, Dragster,
8.888, 149.33.
Super Gas -- Ray Connolly, Chevy Corvette, 9.904, 151.41 def. Brian Smith, Chevy
Vega, 9.872, 138.56.
