By Rick Sheek (rsheek@starhq.com)
BRISTOL — Gary Scelzi, the four-time NHRA champion, has some definite ideas about how the Funny Car headlines are being overwhelmed by what he considers a team not at the top of the class.
Reality shows, a woman winning for the first time, and driving for her father who she defeated in the final round at Atlanta.
The subject is 14-time world champion John Force and his little girl, Ashley Force – who is second in the Funny Car points. Radio interviews, television spots and non-stop spotlight – Scelzi doesn’t think it is fair.
“Yes. Absolutely. I think It’s a problem,” Scelzi said on Friday at Bristol Dragway before qualifying for the eight-annual O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. “I think it’s even a bigger problem now with Ashley, that the whole TV show is all about them whether they win, lose or not. I know that they draw ratings.
“Everybody loves Ashley. She’s a beautiful, well-spoken girl. She’s done a great job driving the race car, but this class isn’t just John Force and his family. It’s the rest of us, and it’s a problem.”
Scelzi prevailed at Thunder Valley in 2005 in Funny Car, when he won the tightest championship race in NHRA history. He captured three Top Fuel titles in his five years on the circuit.
The point being, though, for Scelzi is why points leader Tim Wilkerson – Funny Car’s only two-time winner through seven POWERade Drag Racing Series stops – and reigning champ Tony Pedregon aren’t more of the focus in ESPN2’s in-depth coverage of the sport.
“John Force and I are close friends,” Scelzi said. “That’s nothing against him, but I think it’s a problem. I hear about it every week.
“‘Hey are you still racing? I don’t see you on TV.’ Not that I’m worthy to get on TV. I’m not complaining about Gary Scelzi.”
But the person fronting the sport isn’t the winner anymore.
“I watched Tony Pedregon beat Ashley Force a week ago, and they interview Ashley Force,” Scelzi said. “John’s thousand’th (round) win, and that’s a great accomplishment, but we still have to race. I think we’re a little carried away on it.
“I think we need to help each other’s teams, the other sponsors, keep what we’ve got and get more. I don’t think we’re going to do that.”
Scelzi stresses the blame doesn’t fall on the sanctioning body.
“I don’t think NHRA has anything to do with it,” Scelzi said. “I think it is whoever’s producing this stuff at ESPN. I haven’t spoken to them. I probably shouldn’t be speaking now.
“Not that they don’t deserve attention, but there’s other people out here. It seems like the whole show’s about them.”
Scelzi holds the top speed record at Thunder Valley at 329.26 mph. Winless in 2008, this could be the weekend for the Californian to break on through.
“That’s the reason I came here,” Scelzi said. “Even when we’re struggling, I know that Todd Okuhara is a brilliant man. But I know this car is extremely close to breaking out.
“I’ve got to be perfect, Todd’s got to be perfect and the crew’s got to be perfect. That’s how you win.
“As tough as Funny Car is right now, it’s even moreso. It’s more pronounced. Hopefully the weather will hold, and this place is going to throw down some numbers.”
Okuhara, the crew chief, is obviously optimistic of what kind of performance could lie in store for his Dodge Charger.
“The conditions are really good this weekend, if it doesn’t rain,” Okuhara said. “Looking at the track prep, and maintenance of the race track, it’s pretty awesome. It’s probably the best concrete surface of the whole circuit.”
