Motor City MoparsDuring IHRA's Inaugural Motor City Nationals, Mopar brand racers scored significant wins in the Top Sportsman, Super Stock, and Stock Eliminator categories.
North Carolina's Frank Teague, who has two IHRA World Championships to his credit driving Mopar machinery, scored a win in Top Sportsman driving his nitrous-assisted 565 B-1-powered Dodge Avenger. Teague was consistently quick while taming the massive 48-car qualified field as he worked his way through eliminations after qualifying 12th with a 7.229 e.t.
NHRA circuit regular Tom Sheehan made an IHRA circuit crossover appearance and won in Super Stock behind the wheel of a 318-powered GT/GA 2000 Sebring. For Sheehan, who races with his father, Henry, the IHRA win marked their second major title of the season. The team also won during NHRA's K&N Filters Super Nationals last May. Sheehan recorded a final-round 10.44 at 126.16 mph to run down opponent Bill Zaskowski.
Ohio's Bob Marshall, who won Stock Eliminator during the Mopar Canadian Nationals (June 1), earned his second IHRA title of the season in Stock Eliminator. Marshall wheeled his reliable 360-powered H/CM (crate-motored) '74 Dodge Dart past 65 other entries for the win. His championship title came after an all-Mopar final round, when he beat Michael Beard's similar 360 '73 Dodge Dart to the stripe.
Scelzi Scores!Dodge Stratus Funny Car driver Gary Scelzi recorded his first career win behind the wheel of a nitro Funny Car on August 3 when he wheeled the Schumacher Racing/Oakley "Time Bomb" to victory during the Fram-Autolite Nationals in Sonoma, California. Scelzi won the final round in a wire-to-wire dash against former Team Mopar driver Dean Skuza, edging him out by a scant 4.958 to 4.966 margin. Scelzi has 25 career wins driving in Top Fuel, but his FC class win made him the only driver in NHRA history to win national events in Top Fuel and Funny Car as well as in the Pro Sportsman TAD and TAFC classes. Scelzi's Dodge ran the top speed of the meet at 318.92 mph.
EventsNovember 8-Englishtown, NJ:U.S. Muscle Drags IV at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Bracket-style drag racing with American-made brands only. Pro Dial Dash. Trophies and cash prizes. Must be street-muffled. Gates open at 9 a.m. Info: 732/446-7800; www.racewaypark.com.
Also, the Truck Clash Series at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. All-truck bracket racing and time trials for everyone. Trophies awarded. All vehicles must be street-muffled. Info: 732/446-7800; www.racewaypark.com.