Wed, 15 Oct 2008, 01:14 PM NHRA ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals to be Scelzi's Final Race in Las Vegas

Courtesy of John Bisci Photo copyright 2008 NHRA

LAS VEGAS --

Gary Scelzi

If you want to see four-time NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series champion Gary Scelzi race one last time in Las Vegas, don't miss the upcoming NHRA national event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Halloween weekend.

Scelzi, whose nickname is "Wild Thing," announced his retirement from professional drag racing last month. His final appearance behind the wheel of the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car in Las Vegas will be the Oct. 30-Nov. 2 NHRA ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at LVMS, which just happens to be one of his favorite tracks.

"Vegas has always been one of my favorites, just like all Bruton Smith tracks," Scelzi said. "My relationship with Chris Powell (LVMS's president and general manager) and Chris Blair (LVMS's vice president of racing operations) has been for a long time. Not only do we race there but they're close personal friends. It's one of those race tracks where they have personal relationships with the drivers. They always go the extra mile, they always make sure that you're taken care of. If there's anything you want to go do, if there's anything you want to go see, if they can help you, they will.

"It's almost like going to a family-owned race track because of the care that they give you. And I'd like to say it's just for Scelzi but it's not. They take care of all the racers that way. They have a great relationship with them."

Scelzi is just one of a baker's dozen who have achieved success in driving both Top Fuel Dragsters and Funny Cars in NHRA competition. He won his first NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series championship in his rookie year of Top Fuel Dragster racing (1997). He then went on to win the championship again in 1998 and 2000, before switching to the Funny Car class. He became the first Funny Car driver to reach 330 mph (2004) and won the title in 2005.

Despite his success as a driver, he is leaving the sport he loves to assume a more active role in the family business, which manufactures custom truck bodies in Fresno, Calif.

"After the season finale in Pomona, Calif., I'll be leaving Don Schumacher Racing to go back to work at Scelzi Enterprises," Gary explained. "With the economy in the state that it is, business being off in these tough economic times, and with all the travel that competing on the pro NHRA circuit entails, I feel it is in my best interest to go back to work at Scelzi Enterprises and get myself more involved with what's going on there.

"When (crew chief) Alan Johnson called me back in 1996 to replace Blaine Johnson in the Top Fuel dragster, I really didn't do it to make a living," Scelzi added. "It turned into a very good living. I did it to race the absolute best of the best, to see how I would stack up. And obviously I did pretty well."

Although he will retire from driving, Scelzi has no plans to ride off into the sunset.

"I may still come back to race some day. And even if I don't come back to drive, I guarantee you that I'll come back to Vegas to watch a drag race; my relationships aren't going to change."

Tickets for the 2008 NHRA ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at LVMS may be calling (702) 644-4444 or online at www.LVMS.com.