Sun, 1 Jun 2003, 02:57 PM Sunday Pit Note 1

Courtesy of NHRA Communications

JOLIET, Ill. -- NHRA PIT NOTES Gary Scelzi, driver of the Oakley Dodge Stratus R/T, established a national record for speed when he reached 328.06 mph in his first round win over Tim Wilkerson. Scelzi made a qualifying run of 327.98 during Saturday’s first qualifying session, which is within the required one percent to set the performance mark. Gary Densham held the previous record at 326.87. Scelzi will face Densham in the second round of Funny Car eliminations. It is the first time that a Dodge has held the speed record since Jim White held the mark in 1991 at 291.82.

Tim Cullinan, from Des Plains, Ill., earned his first round win of his Top Fuel career when No. 2 qualifier Doug Kalitta fouled at the starting line in the Mac Tools dragster and was disqualified. Cullinan is competing in his second NHRA national event. He posted a DNQ at the 2002 fall event at Route 66 Raceway.

Jim Yates was cleared by NHRA officials to compete in today’s Pro Stock eliminations following yesterday’s incident during qualifying. Yates was held overnight at Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet, Ill., for precautionary reasons and was released this morning. Yates, who was unable to make his final qualifying pass yesterday, qualified in the No. 16 spot and lost to top qualifier Greg Anderson in the opening round of Pro Stock eliminations.