Flashback Friday: Gary Scelzi’s Classic Debut Win At The ’97 Winters

It seems like only yesterday, but it’s actually been a decade and a half since a 36-year old Californian with an infectious personality and a glorious mustache burst onto the professional drag racing scene.

Former Top Alcohol Dragster pilot Gary Scelzi was hired during the offseason prior to the 1997 season to drive the Johnson family-owned Top Fuel Dragster after the tragic passing of Blaine Johnson months earlier in Indianapolis. The Johnson’s, who were well on their way to the 1996 title before that dark September afternoon, were already in negotiations with NHRA title sponsor R.J. Reynolds and its Winston brand to sponsor their Top Fuel Dragster for the 1997 campaign, and proper funding combined with Alan Johnson’s already shining tuning talents was a combination sure to impress. But no one quite expected this new pair to bust out f the gate the way they did in 1997.

At the season opening Winternationals in Pomona, in Scelzi’s very first Top Fuel start and Johnson’s first since losing his younger brother, the red and white Winston dragster stole the show before their home crowd. Scelzi, displaying natural talent on par with veterans with years of experience under their belts, marched his way through eliminations, overcoming a wheelstand in the first round and disposing of legend Connie Kalitta and Cory McClenathan to set up a final round battle with Joe Amato, who had reset the national elapsed time record in the second round.

With the bright California sun below the horizon and the TNN television cameras piping live coverage of the final rounds to sets all across the nation, Scelzi and Amato engaged in one of the classic Winternationals matches of all time.

Both Johnson and Amato’s crew chief Jimmy Prock knew the cool evening conditions were there for an awe-inspriing side-by-side matchup, but unfortunately, the track surface was not. What ensued was a final round even better than anyone could’ve expected, as Scelzi and veteran Amato blazed the hides before reaching the 60-foot clocks. In a tiresmoking affair reminiscent of years gone by, it was Scelzi who recovered first in the smoky pedal fest, slapping the loud pedal as many as six times on his way to winning his first race in his Top Fuel debut. Ironically, Scelzi has also won his first Top Alcohol Dragster national event at the Winternationals in 1985.