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Scelzi's testing diary  Oakley Hemi Funny Car pro Gary Scelzi will provide a testing diary each day from Las Vegas. We had a much better day all the way around. The first squirt we put up a .870-second 60-foot time, our quickest ever. I clicked off just before half-track but the 330-foot numbers showed a 2.227, which equates to a mid-to-low 4.7-second pass if I had carried it out. That really got the juices flowing. A malfunction got us the next time up but in the evening session I had a 4.80 at 313 mph in our first planned full pull. Obviously, we were all pleased by that. Now we'll head into Sunday looking to do nothing but make full runs. I have to commend the track personnel. The strip is perfect. It's fantasy land out here. The track is so well prepared and when you combine that with the cool temperatures, every pass is like a night run in Chicago. It's so good that it's screwing some people up. In my opinion, we could see the first 4.6-second, 330-mph Funny Car pass on Super Bowl Sunday. That's how good it is out there. Hopefully, the Oakley Hemi is the first one to do it.

John Force continues to impress in the desert, turning more 4.7-second passes Saturday during the second official day of preseason testing for the upcoming NHRA tour opener in Pomona, Calif. Together with teammate Gary Densham, the veteran duo carded the two best passes of the day, with Force posting a 4.782 at 329 mph, and Densham a 4.787 at 325.30 mph.

Although the few Top Fuel pros on hand have yet to make it down The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway under power, Saturday's session did feature some solid Pro Stock and Pro Stock Bike passes. Funny Car aces Del Worsham and Whit Bazemore also made it through the timing lights with their foot on the gas.

Las Vegas Blast-Off, Saturday Race Report 1 – There was an unpleasant surprise for the racers this morning, as a cold front dumped some rain on the track and surrounding area. There is a lot of new snow, low on the mountains to the West. We now have high moderate and broken clouds and the temperature is around 54 degrees, humidity at 31-percent, and the barometer at 29.86 inches and falling. There were strong winds earlier, but we are currently seeing 11 mph winds from the southwest.

11:05 a.m. Ben Watson:
1.029 2.900 4.463 157.41 5.811 6.945 198.45 First car down the track today runs very well.

11:08 a.m. Doug Gordon TAFC:
.982 5.769 248.61 Nice pass for the Div. 7 #2 LODRS points team in 2003.

11:15 a.m. Gary Scelzi:
.878 2.275 3.334 235.23 47.338 5.427 190.23 Almost a full pull for Scelzi, as he make it to near the 1,000-foot lights before lifting.

11:20 a.m. John Force:
.887 2.292 3.285 256.65 4.095 4.782 328.06 Force makes another back breaker pass. Once again the Funny Car starts to pull to the right and he has to work hard to keep away from the finish line lights.

11:23 a.m. David Baca:
.830 2.678 The all-black dragster has a very strong 60-foot time, but is just too aggressive for the track and kicks the tires before the 330 lights.

11:27 a.m. Steve Densham TAFC:
1.130 6.949 206.76 Young Densham is licensing in a revised version of the old AAA Firebird that Gary once ran as an independent pro. It's set up soft off the line and he makes a straight and true run to the lights. Must be in the genes!

11:38 a.m. Dennis Taylor TAFC:
.958 Hard leave for Taylor, but the car made an abrupt move towards the centerline and he had to lift.

11:40 a.m. Paul Crifasi TAFC:
1.160 7.363 185.10 Soft off the line and then a clean pass.

11:43 a.m. Duane Shields TAD:
.981 5.460 264.55 Another good pass, as the team learns how to run a fuel dragster combination.

11:47 a.m. Whit Bazemore:
.891 2.554 Bazemore has a strong 60-foot time and kicks the tires about 150 feet out.

11:52 a.m. Ron Capps:
.890 2.293 3.385 198.58 Capps get to near mid-track before the traction demons bite.

11:55 a.m. Tommy Johnson, Jr. :
.894 2.313 3.383 213.37 Looks like a similar tune-up for TJ. He gets a little further than Capps before lifting.

11:57 a.m. Greg Uffens:
.891 2.291 License pass in Mike Strasburg's Top Fuel dragster. He gets the burnout right and makes a good-looking squirt.

12:08 a.m. Ashley Force TAD:
.988 5.530 260.86 The fuel car slows from yesterday numbers.

Las Vegas Blast-Off, Saturday Race Report 2 – Activity since noon today. After a slow start this morning, the action has continued hot and heavy. We now have mostly blue skies with a few high clouds. The temperature is around 54 degrees, humidity at 31-percent, and the barometer at 29.86 inches and falling. There were strong winds earlier, but we are currently seeing 11 mph from the southwest.

12:08 p.m. Mert Littlefield TAFC:
.000 The parachute shakes out on the burnout and wraps around the slick as he starts to back up. A crewmember immediately catches him and it's not a disaster.

12:16 p.m. Jay Payne TAFC:
.957 2.498 Payne is away with a strong pass, but gets way loose before mid-track and has to lift.

12:20 p.m. Del Worsham:
.889 2.323 After a strong leave, Worsham's Funny Car makes a big move towards the mid-track lights and he has to lift.

12:22 p.m. Bob Galio TAFC:
.982 6.254 184.25 Galio was driving his heart out with a wild pass from centerline to guard rail. He finally lifts about the 1,000-foot mark.

12:23 p.m. Mike Berry:
1.107 2.994 4.607 151.43 6.018 7.229 184.95 Good pass for the Pro Stock Bike.

12:37 p.m. Gary Densham:
.902 2.323 3.306 258.37 4.118 4.808 322.73 The AAA Funny Car makes a perfect straight and true run right on down Broadway.

12:43 p.m. Steve Federlin TAD:
.957 5.656 208.20 Strong pass to near the top end, where he shut off early.

12:47 p.m. Megan McKernan SC:
.000 Ashley Force's 2003 Ford Super Comp dragster will be driven by the daughter of the president of the Auto Club of Southern California (AAA). This was just a checkout pass (on the timer until after the 330 lights) after her graduation from drag racing school.

12:58 p.m. Eric Medlin:
.902 2.324 3.319 256.94 Looks like the engine needed a longer fuse! A great pass until just pass mid-track, where the car slows.

1:02 p.m. Darryl Hitchman TAD:
1.100 The fuel car is slow off the line and motors on down the track.

1:06 p.m. Jerry Toliver:
.897 2.884 Lots of tire shake off the line and he lifts.

1:16 p.m. Doug Gordon TAFC:
.977 5.749 247.47 Good clean pass for the team.

1:20 p.m. Tony Pedregon:
.906 2.353 3.383 249.97 The new Oil car is a little soft off the line. The car starts to move around after mid-track and he clicks it before the 1,000-foot lights.

1:21 p.m. Morgan Lucas TAD:
1.109 6.146 217.11 Lucas' car did a very short and weak burnout and then was lazy off the line and down the track.

1:26 p.m. Bernie Harrington TAFC:
1.105 5.999 241.45 A nice straight and clean pass for the Harrington Team.

1:28 p.m. Darby Neagle TAD:
1.015 License pass for the local Las Vegas team. The dragster engine starts to drop cylinders off the line and he wisely shuts it off.

Las Vegas Blast-Off, Saturday Race Report 3 – Activity since 2 p.m. today. The temperature is around 57 degrees, humidity at 20-percent, and the barometer at 29.82 inches and rising.

2:03 p.m. Paul Crifasi TAFC:
1.130 7.263 187.81 Off the pace, but a clean pass.

2:06 p.m. Ben Watson:
1.023 .000 4.473 156.25 5.827 6.966 197.97 Good Pro Stock pass to start the after noon session.

2:10 p.m. Del Worsham:
.895 Still no joy, as there is shake and smoke after 60 feet.

2:13 p.m. David Baca:
.854 2.672 West's tune-up is still too aggressive for the track. Baca makes the hit and has to lift.

2:15 p.m. Ron Capps:
.902 2.310 3.287 261.27 Capps has a strong run going until just before the 1,000 foot., when there is a puff from the pipes.

2:20 p.m. Shep Ginzberg:
.000 License pass for the Nostalgia Top Fuel driver. The Voodoo dragster looks to be a former Yankee Top Fueler. No lettering or numbers, but the white paint job with blue strips. Up in smoke at the hit.

2:22 p.m. Del Worsham:
.897 2.325 3.333 257.00 4.720 4.926 275.17 Much better pass for Worsham. The Funny Car runs well down the track until near 1,000 foot, where he has to lift.

2:26 p.m. Tommy Johnson Jr.:
.887 2.313 3.323 251.86 Johnson has a hard leave, but starts to drop cylinders on the left side of the engine. He clicks it after mid-track.

2:28 p.m. Whit Bazemore:
.900 2.340 3.347 255.63 4.163 4.861 318.62 After several partial runs, Bazemore gets the Funny Car through the lights under power. It's expensive, as there is a flash and smoke from the engine near the top end.

2:33 p.m. Greg Uffens:
.893 2.272 3.271 248.34 Another license pass. He gets further down the track on this run and has a bang from the engine just before mid-track.

2:36 p.m. John Force:
.881 Weird burnout for Force. Kind of a "Rump, Rump, Rump," in and out of the throttle. The car leaves hard and moves right, where he gets out of the throttle.

2:38 p.m. Dennis Taylor TAFC:
1.204 The slicks started to spin as soon as Taylor hit the throttle.

2:45 p.m. Dennis Wilson TAD:
.985 5.846 192.52 Wilson has car number 800 and is from England. He runs well to mid-track, when the dragster moves toward the centerline. He hauls it back, but has an engine bang near the lights.

2:50 p.m. Jay Payne TAFC:
.972 5.642 250.18 Payne has the handle this time and makes a clean pass.

2:53 p.m. Gary Densham:
.884 2.301 3.290 258.57 4.100 4.787 325.30 Another straight and true run right for Densham in the AAA Funny Car.

2:56 p.m. Bob Perkins TAD:
.945 5.453 254.52 Great pass for the blown dragster.

3:02 p.m. Darryl Hitchman TAD:
.982 5.491 257.09 Hitchman gets the great looking Shortline Express dragster all the way down the track this time with a clean pass.

3:12 p.m. Mike Berry:
1.110 3.007 4.628 150.68 6.055 7.282 182.40 Berry continues to make good E.T.'s for the 2400+ foot altitude.

3:15 p.m. Steve Densham TAFC:
1.092 6.785 208.10 Densham makes a full pass this time. The team has a ways to go, but continues to improve.

3:22 p.m. Doug Gordon TAD:
.969 5.710 248.43 Gordon makes another full pass to improve on his run earlier today.

3:25 p.m. Jerry Toliver:
.893 The tires start to shake hard before the 100-foot mark.

3:28 p.m. Mert Littlefield TAFC:
1.014 5.913 236.26 Littlefield uses a lot of racetrack getting to the finish line.

3:31 p.m. Darryl Hitchman TAD:
1.089 6.038 243.33 The engine was lazy off the line and down the track.

3:34 p.m. Steve Federlin TAD .937 5.526 252.00 Federlin had a .436 R.T. to go along with the rest of his good numbers.

3:45 p.m. Paul Crifasi TAFC:
1.402 8.034 171.47 Crifasi car is slow off the line and doesn't improve on his prior pass.

3:52 p.m. Bob Galio TAFC:
.999 6.023 237.55 Better off the line, but still not making power down the track.

Las Vegas Blast-Off, Saturday Race Report 4 – Activity since 4 p.m. today. The temperature was in the mid 50's for most of the earlier part of the session. Currently it is around 50 degrees, humidity at 24-percent, and the barometer at 29.92 inches and rising.

4:13 p.m. Ashley Force TAD:
.997 5.465 263.56 Good pass for the fuel dragster. The car moves around a little on the top end, but she was right with it all the way.

4:15 p.m. Arley Langlo:
1.015 2.937 The Titan Express starts on a better pass, but Langlo clicks it off before the 330-foot lights.

4:20 p.m. Gary Scelzi:
.890 2.2274 3.280 249.63 4.105 4.803 313.80 Scelzi finally gets his full pass in style. He has to chase it in the lights, but hangs on for a team best, so far.

4:27 p.m. Brett Harris NTF:
1.077 5.907 253.61 The second-generation Sheriff is in town. Brett makes a straight and true pass right down Broadway!

4:30 p.m. David Baca:
.854 2.209 3.204 254.38 No tire shake this time and Baca runs almost to the 1,000-foot lights before clicking it off.

4:32 p.m. Tony Pedregon:
.900 2.316 3.327 236.42 Good half pass for the new member of Team Pedregon.

4:47 p.m. Whit Bazemore:
.896 2.296 3.287 257.92 Bazemore looked to be on a big one until he clicked it before the 1,000-foot lights.

4:53 p.m. Eric Medlen:
.891 2.344 3.382 245.32 4.238 4.969 305.91 Medlen made a full pass, but the car wasn't as strong as earlier. No apparent problems.

4:58 p.m. Jerry Toliver:
.882 2.288 3.312 247.75 Toliver made a strong leave and ran well to almost mid-track. The car started to move towards the centerline and he shut it off.

5:03 p.m. Gary Densham:
.899 Densham's engine had sparklers out of the headers at the hit and then a bunch of tire shake.

5:07 p.m. Tommy Johnson Jr.:
.880 2.297 3.311 250.41 Johnson had his share of fireworks out of the engine's headers too, but made it to almost half track before shutting it down.

5:10 p.m. John Force:
.896 2.323 3.329 252.19 A classic John Force burnout this time. Looks like a dropped cylinder, as the Funny Car drives directly towards the centerline near mid-track.

5:12 p.m. Dennis Taylor TAFC:
1.404 Instant spin at the hit.

5:20 p.m. Brad Littlefield TAFC:
.982 Little-r-field is reportedly making a license run in dad's TAFC. He leaves hard and has his hands full, as the car makes a move toward the wall. He stays after it for a while, but finally has to give it up about mid-track.

5:25 p.m. Bernie Harrington TAFC:
.989 After a hard leave, I didn't hear a shift. Harrington clicks it.

5:32 p.m. Paul Crifasi TAFC:
1.287 Instant spin and Crifasi lifts and hits it again. Bad move. The blower goes bang further down the track, with the burst panel sailing into the air. We are down for dusting and cleaning on the top end.

5:35 p.m. Cruz Pedregon:
.906 2.754 The red Advanced Auto Parts Team car comes to the line for the first time this weekend. Strong leave and it starts to shake.

5:40 p.m. Bob Perkins TAD:
.939 5.668 248.75 Good clean pass for the blown dragster.

5:47 p.m. Steve Densham TAFC:
.000 Looks like problem with the car and they shut him off after the burnout. I'm told that Densham's combination is not a serious TAFC package. The goal is to give the younger Densham a lot of seat time.

5:49 p.m. Darryl Hitchman TAD:
1.136 7.172 145.62 The fuel engine struggled down the track.

5:55 p.m. Morgan Lucas TAD:
1.119 6.806 164.45 The further the car ran, the fewer number of cylinders running.

5:57 p.m. Steve Federlin TAD:
.933 The Jack O'Bannon dragster was too aggressive at the hit and spins the tires after the 60 foot lights.

6:02 p.m. David Wilson TAD:
.957 2.544 Strong leave and then Wilson shuts it down for no apparent reason.

7:10 p.m. Jim Head:
.921 After a significant wait with no cars running, the final car of the day comes to the line. This will be their first pass of the weekend and 12 years since Head has driven a Funny Car. The other shiny black Toyota makes a reasonably good 60-foot squirt and shuts off to wrap up the day.

Friday testing report
Thursday testing report