Fri, Oct 16, 01:33 AM Topeka Twister Looms for Team Pennzoil

Courtesy of Rob Geiger Parts America Nationals

TOPEKA, Kan. - Torrential rains and 70-mph winds on Oct. 4 left Heartland Park Topeka unsafe for drag racing and postponed the regularly scheduled elimination rounds of the 10th annual Parts America Nationals. On that day, Mother Nature caused all of the turmoil. When Saturday's rain date starts, Team Pennzoil hopes that the only fluctuating factors will be the butterflies in the stomachs of the drivers as they prepare for a very interesting first round.

Pennzoil pilot Eddie Hill will be fighting out of the 16th and final position of the Top Fuel bracket against the sport's top driver over the last two seasons, Gary Scelzi. Meanwhile, in the Pro Stock class, teammates Bruce Allen and Mike Thomas will open against each other, assuring at least one Pennzoil-sponsored car will advance to the quarterfinals

Here are the thoughts on the race from within the Pennzoil paddock.

Eddie Hill, the Top Fuel pilot of the Pennzoil Dragster, struggled in Topeka and had to use a 5.013-second pass at 307.58 mph - in which he was on and off the accelerator twice - in order to qualify. The sub-standard run earned Hill the right to square-off against current Winston points leader and reigning Winston points champion Gary Scelzi, who finished in the No. 1 spot after carding a 4.561-second lap at 321.77 mph.

"We had a tire shake problem in Topeka that I believe we now have under control," Hill said. "We will still have to be perfect to beat Gary. He's a great driver and his car is one of the best out there. We plan on being very aggressive because we know that even when Gary is soft, he's still real good. Beating the top guy would be a tremendous lift for our team. This season has been a disappointment for us and I would love to win a few races here at the end of the season to give us something to build on for next year."

Scelzi and Hill have split their two races against each other this year.

Mike Thomas, the Pro Stock driver of the Pennzoil Pontiac Firebird, earned the 10th spot in the field with a 6.996-second, 196.80-mph lap. Thomas will surrender lane choice to Pennzoil teammate Allen (6.963 seconds at 196.07 mph) in Saturday's first round of elimination racing.

"This delay has been great for us," Thomas said. "We found and fixed some problems with the suspension and shocks that should make us much faster. I'm excited. I can't wait to get on the track to see how the car runs. I wish we weren't racing Bruce because although one of us is assured of advancing, someone will also be eliminated."

Bruce Allen, the Pro Stock driver of the Outlaw Fuel Additives Pontiac Firebird, finished Topeka's qualifying rounds in seventh place after three competitive qualifying times, the best of which was a 6.963-second, 196.07-mph pass. Allen will be facing Thomas (6.996-second, 196.80-mph) for the third time this year in Saturday's opening round. The two men have split their previous match-ups.

"We certainly enjoyed our weekend in Topeka and I hope that continues this trip," Allen said. "Who knows what the conditions will be like on Saturday but we feel like we have a pretty good grip on the track. A win would be great for us. I'm dying to show Pennzoil and the Outlaw folks how strong this car really is. We just have run into some real unfortunate luck this year.

"Racing Mike is like racing your brother. When you're not racing him, you wish him the best of luck and you root for him 100 percent. But when it's head-to-head, you really want to get the win. It'll be fun."