GARY SCELZI NO. 3 QUALIFIER IN PHOENIX

CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Pomona winner and NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car points leader Gary Scelzi qualified No. 3 today for the CSK Nationals at Firebird Raceway, the second round of the 2007 season.

His quickest lap of 4.697 seconds at 330.07 mph in the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T came in the second of four sessions on Friday afternoon. His other passes, except for one, were consistent runs of 4.794/309.20, 9.599/77.10 and 4.734/330.15.

"Three out of four, not a bad deal," said the 2005 Funny Car champion who registered eight solid and straight qualifying and racing passes to win in Pomona. "Still running in the .70s, still running big speed. Life's good over here. We just need to execute again tomorrow like we did in Pomona and life will be wonderful."

Was he aiming for No. 1? "We weren't trying," he said. "The conditions didn't warrant that. And there's too much tire smoke going on out here, so we were a little bit on the conservative side, but we're still fast. That's our plan, not to get caught up in those big numbers."

Scelzi faces Gary Densham in first round of eliminations on Sunday.

Robert Hight was low qualifier, with a 4.636/327.74.

Sunday, Feb. 25, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will telecast three hours of final eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).

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