AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW - TALKING WITH GARY SCELZI
Gary Scelzi has endured a season he’d just as soon forget. The four-time world champion from Fresno, Ca, was shut out from the winner’s circle during the first phase of the NHRA’s Countdown to the Champion and as a result of inconsistent performances fell from contention for a potential fifth world championship.
Many fans are wondering what’s in store for the popular driver who answers to the nickname “Wild Thing”.
Speculation increased following a DNQ performance in which Scelzi, during a top-end interview with Alan Reinhart suggested that 2008 could be his final opportunity to win Indy behind the wheel of a Funny Car.
Is Scelzi returning to Top Fuel? Will he drive for Alan Johnson? Will he call his career over?
The four-time champion discusses present and his future in drag racing …
Gary Scelzi has endured a season he’d just as soon forget.
The four-time world champion from Fresno, Ca, was shut out from the winner’s circle during the first phase of the NHRA’s Countdown to the Champion and as a result of inconsistent performances fell from contention for a potential fifth world championship.
Many fans are wondering what’s in store for the popular driver who answers to the nickname “Wild Thing”.
Speculation increased following a DNQ performance in which Scelzi, during a top-end interview with Alan Reinhart suggested that 2008 could be his final opportunity to win Indy behind the wheel of a Funny Car.
Is Scelzi returning to Top Fuel? Will he drive for Alan Johnson? Will he call his career over?
In an exclusive interview with CompetitionPlus.com editor Bobby Bennett, Scelzi answered those questions and provided insight to what is happening with his career.
BB - Not exactly the dream season that you envisioned, is it?
GS - Oh God, it’s the absolute worst season I’ve ever had as a professional. I’ve never not qualified at Indy, I’ve never went two races [without qualifying]. Yeah, this is not what I expected especially after last year winning four races, which was the most out of the class, finishing third in the world and finishing in the top ten without even thinking about it. Sometimes it was always rough at the beginning but we would get back in there and at least think we had a shot at the championship. With the championship format, when the top ten have a shot at it, you’re like ‘God, how hard can that be?’ Boy was I wrong.
I’m assuming that we still have a contract with Mopar for the next year, I believe we do, according to Don Schumacher, we do. But I know that the automobile industry is in deep trouble, to be honest with you, I’m not sure what my future is - at Schumacher Racing or in general. I know realistically that all contracts can be broken, I don’t know what’s going on over at Schumacher Racing, I don’t know what’s going on over at Mopar. All these things have yet to be finalized and decided. You just never know and that’s how I’m treating it.
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
 |
Click to visit our sponsor's website
BB - You mentioned in an interview after your DNQ at Indy that this could be your last chance to win Indy in a Funny Car. What did you mean by that statement?
GS- Well, I mean I don’t know. I’m assuming that we still have a contract with Mopar for the next year, I believe we do, according to Don Schumacher, we do. But I know that the automobile industry is in deep trouble, to be honest with you, I’m not sure what my future is - at Schumacher Racing or in general. I know realistically that all contracts can be broken, I don’t know what’s going on over at Schumacher Racing, I don’t know what’s going on over at Mopar. All these things have yet to be finalized and decided. You just never know and that’s how I’m treating it. I don’t know. I guess I’m in the dark is what I’m saying, I don’t have any answers. No one has told me Mopar is coming back next year and everything is solid, as far as I know. I think Don Schumacher wants me back this year. Stranger things have happened.
BB - Do you feel like the future is in your hands or someone else’s?
GS - You know, realistically, I just don’t feel stable with anything. Maybe it’s just because the season we had but I know they’re making some changes to make things better for Charlotte and we’ve hired Richard Hogan to try and turn things around. I’m not in any Countdown. I’m not in any chase. I guess I just don’t know. To put it plain and simple, I don’t feel very stable. It may just be me. I just wouldn’t be shocked one way or another.
BB - Of course your name comes up in those circles with your old running mate, Alan Johnson, have there been any discussions there with Alan?
GS - No. I just congratulated him for getting the deal, he’s wanted to do that since he and I parted ways. He’s wanted to own his own team. It’s really comical, I mean I’m honored for my name to even come up in that discussion, but I don’t think it’s coming from Alan Johnson. That’s just rumors in the pits. I know Alan well enough that if he wanted me to drive his car he would’ve asked me a long time ago. As flattering as it is to hear my name in the rumor mills, Alan hasn’t contacted me nor have I contacted him asking to drive his car.
BB - Would you be opposed to going back to Top Fuel dragster?
GS - Yes, I have no intentions to drive a Top Fuel dragster ever again.
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
 |
Click to visit our sponsor's website
BB - Is that the safety issue?
GS - Well I can’t really say that anymore because these Funny Cars haven’t been too stellar lately in the safety department. I enjoy the Funny Cars and I take it as a challenge every time you hit the gas. You never know what it’s going to do and I enjoy racing with John Force, Del Worsham and Ron Capps. I just like these guys that I race against. Nothing against the Top Fuel guys but it’s just more exciting, when it smokes the tires, turns sideways, and just yanks the front end. They’re just nasty and I like that.
BB - Is your heart still in drag racing?
GS - My heart is still in drag racing, no question. When I hit the gas I’m the last guy you’re going to want to race. I’ve got to be honest with you; I’m tired of the travel. I’m definitely burned out about that and I’m burned out about not getting to see my kids. I’m still excited about going to races and actually racing in the races but ten seconds after I’m eliminated or I don’t qualify I’m just trying to figure out how the hell I can get home. I never used to be that way, but I am now. The last place I want to be is at the race track if I’m not racing or competing.
BB - Let’s say that the contracts or sponsorships run out…
GS - They run out next year, that’s what I know. I basically have a contract with Mopar. My contract runs out with them next year. But I believe we still have to re-sign every year. At least that’s how it was last year. I haven’t really paid much attention to it. But you know, contracts don’t mean a whole lot. I know there are clauses in there that within 30 days and with written notice and things like that, they can go anywhere they want. I don’t have a contract with Don Schumacher, I have a contract with Mopar to run Don Schumacher’s car.
BB - Let’s say the contracts run out in 2009 you have another season under your belt, are you content enough with what you have accomplished in racing to walk away?
GS - I don’t know. I don’t know if I can ever just walk away. But I don’t think I can have things the way I want them. My dream scenario would be a 12-race deal with a team that could win. As far as the championship thing, yeah I’d love to win another championship in Funny Car. But, if I could run a car that could run 12 races and compete, I’d be happy. If I knew I could have a deal like that for next year, I’d do it tomorrow. But those types of situations aren’t available with funding and being able to do it the right way. Although I think things could be headed that way, these corporations will spend 1.5 million dollars to run a half a season with hospitality and do it correctly. If you look at Jack Roush’s cars you see many different sponsors available to make it happen. You may see drag racing come to that because of the ridiculous costs. The nitro costs, the travel expenses, the lack of crew chiefs that are available. We’ve got two big sponsors, we’ve got Rockstar, we’ve got Monster, I don’t even know who else. You’ve got the cost of performance but when you have a bad season like we have then these sponsors sometimes want to bail. You’ve got to have performance somewhere in there. It’s just a difficult situation right now with the lack of crew chiefs that are available and then the ones that are available that have proven themselves are too expensive, no one can afford them.
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
 |
Click to visit our sponsor's website
BB - You mention two names that may not even be here next year because they are in that energy drink funk as some call it.
GS - I don’t know what those situations are, I only hear the rumors like you do too. I’m sure they can’t be happy. A driver can do everything they can do to keep his name in the spotlight and his résumé a mile long but there’s only so much he can do. When it comes contract time it’s what have you done for me lately, drivers included.
BB - But you plan on racing to win for the balance of this season, right?
GS - Yeah I plan on causing a lot of problems for a lot of teams that are in this countdown. Starting in Charlotte that’s what we have to do. I could look anybody in the eye and tell them every ring at home in my jewelry box I’ve won for a championship has been won on my own. There’s been no rollovers. There have been no gimmes. They’ve all been won. And I hope whoever wins in 2009 Funny Car can say the same. I hope there are no gimmes. No rollovers. I know there are a lot of team cars out there. I know this is a bullshit thing to bring up again but Capps beat me in Vegas in the final the year I won the championship, it could’ve given either one of us the championship but Don Schumacher had us race each other that year. I hope Don does the same thing this year and Force does the same thing and so on. To me it’s tainted even when there is that suspicion. But these cars are so fickle you never know when you are going to smoke the tires or something like that. Again there is no way to really know but really the only ones who know are the people that are involved.
BB - How’s the safety for these cars coming along?
GS - You know what, I’m very proud of NHRA and I’m very proud of where this safety committee is going with Jim Head, Tim Wilkerson, Alan Johnson, and Austin Coil. They are doing a lot of things along with NHRA, the sand trap thing which I think needs a few tweaks. This thing isn’t going to happen overnight. But it’s going in a direction and it’s never been going in a direction in the past and it’s going in a direction now. Unfortunately, we’ve lost a few good people to get there and the drivers have said they’ve had enough but we actually have a driver’s committee that we give recommendations to PRO then PRO goes to NHRA to argue the points. So far there have been no arguments, everyone has comes out on the same page. I want to say, I don’t care what the reasoning is behind it whether good, bad or indifferent, we’re going in a direction and we’re going in the right direction. I’m very happy. I’m very proud to see we are going in a direction finally.
BB - Anything else you’d like to add.
GS - My boys [Dominic, Giovanni] are tearing up this circle track thing. Every week they are in the top three, top two. I’m home this weekend and I’m excited as hell to see them boys race. It’s harder on me watching them, than it is racing myself. I’m very proud of my boys and glad to be a part of it.
| {loadposition feedback} |
