Scali
taking a Steady Approach in Vegas
Even though he
will be in a town famous for betting, where people eagerly
and readily wager on everything imaginable, NHRA Pro Stock
Bike racer Geno Scali isn't making any predictions about the
outcome of the upcoming ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals,
scheduled Oct. 23 - 26. With this race being second to last
of the 2003 season and Scali leading the championship points
standings with the possibility to clinch the championship,
the Vegas race is a pivotal one. But as with every drag race,
Scali acknowledges, "It's not over until it's over, so
I'm staying clear of making any guesses about how this race
or even the season will turn out. I've always said that going
rounds is my focus at every event, and that is true more than
ever now as we're getting down to the wire," he said.
Coming off of a
semi-final appearance at the most recent event in Reading,
Penn., Team Trim-Tex, Scali's team that is also co-owned by
Joe Koenig, president of the Illinois-based company Trim-Tex
Drywall Products, took advantage of the available downtime
between races to correct an issue with the bike's clutch.
"For a few races we've had a problem. We determined that
it wasn't due to the motor, which has been consistently giving
us a lot of power, but was with the clutch. The bike wasn't
shifting properly, so we ended up replacing every part that
makes it shift," Scali said. "I feel confident that
our problem is cured, and I'll have my rhythm back and expect
to run consistent passes throughout the weekend."
Joining Scali and
the team, which also includes veteran tuner Earl Deglopper,
will be many family members and friends. "I've got a
large fan base out in Vegas. I enjoy seeing familiar faces
at every track, where I have fans who have been great supporters
for a long time," Scali said. "Many of them have
viewed me as the underdog throughout my nine years of racing
the NHRA circuit. And now this season, everything has just
clicked with my team and we're just having a blast with it.
In return, my fans are having a great time, too, cheering
us on."
"Vegas is
definitely one of my favorite places to race. The track is
one of the best, and the Vegas Strip is always fun to visit.
I'm looking forward to a memorable weekend," he said.
The first qualifying
session for the Pro Stock Bike class begins at approximately
2:30 p.m. (PST) on Friday, Oct. 24.
www.genoscali.com
