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“Wild Thing” Gary Scelzi Talks in Texas

Photo: Sheila Scarborough

Fast Machines had a chance to sit down with Fresno, California-based Funny Car driver Gary Scelzi during the NHRA Fall Nationals near Dallas, Texas.

Fresh off of his Funny Car win at the Mid-South Nationals in Memphis on September 16th (his third victory of the season) Scelzi finds himself at the number four spot in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship.

I asked him about his plan earlier this year to step away from drag racing for awhile (the “Hiatus Tour”) and then the announcement a few months later that he was back for the 2008 season thanks to some help from owner Ken Black’s private jet to get him back and forth to races.

Was he shooting for a reduced schedule like NASCAR’s Mark Martin, to spend more time with family?

Scelzi said that it was more of a business issue with his involvement in Scelzi Enterprises, a truck body manufacturing company that he runs with his brothers back in Fresno.

“It’s not a Mark Martin-type thing because I don’t want a reduced schedule, I want the championship, you know? I want the ring,” said Scelzi.

“I was asked how could I stay in the sport and I just said, ‘Well, if someone could fly me out on Thursdays or Fridays and then get me back home by Sunday night, it would be a big help.’ You know, it’s hard sometimes to get anywhere from Fresno. If you don’t make certain flights, you’re stuck, and you can’t get a red-eye flight. I’m not talking about every race, but there’s about 10 of them that are a real pain to get to and from. For the rest [of the race schedule,] I’m good with flying regular commercial flights.”

“So, [owner] Ken Black, who lives in Las Vegas, only about 40 minutes from Fresno, said he could fly me back and forth from those 10 races. Well, to me that adds up to about 20 days back at work at Scelzi Enterprises; basically a month. That makes all the difference. As for my kids; you know, they’re race kids, they’ve grown up around all this, racetracks and everything, and when I’m home I’m spending every moment with them. I feel like we’re getting the family time if I can get back on those Sunday nights.”

“I needed to get back to work in my family business….there needs to be a Scelzi there and my brothers can’t carry the whole load. But I also have two more years on my Mopar contract, and I’d like to fulfill that.”

How does he manage to get all the way through a grueling season, staying focused and positive month after month plus handling the physical and mental challenge?

“A lot of the guys here, they’re doing this full-time, but I have a business too and I race in addition to that. I never got caught up in the race ‘fantasy land’ like some others, that the race track and pits is all they know or do.”

“I did get a personal trainer for workouts, and I stopped smoking in February. With the race schedule, though, it’s really hard to keep up with exercise, get enough sleep and everything, so the workouts stopped. I guess I’m having motivation issues.”

How does he decompress and unwind?

“It’s called a Monaco motorhome. I can get into the air-conditioning, watch some TV, just hang out and listen to my iPod.”

So, what’s on his iPod?

“Let’s see, Maroon 5, Nickelback, some Lifehouse — my 14 year-old niece Shelby loaded it up for me. It really helps on planes, too.”

Any good pre-race rituals?

“I always put my left glove on first, then the right. I do a high-10 with everyone on the team. I say a prayer every run, something about keeping everyone safe….and not letting me do anything that would make me look stupid!”

Gary Scelzi has long been both a fan favorite and a fearsome competitor (he was the first rookie to win an NHRA Championship.) Now that he’s got some logistical help with air travel, he’s ready to drive towards that Funny Car championship ring.

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