Team Mopar's NHRA POWERade Funny Car juggernaut rolls into Phoenix's Firebird Int'l Raceway this weekend, looking to give the brand its second Funny Car win of the young season.

Gary Scelzi scored a season opening Wally at Pomona in his Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T, after qualifying No. 1. His two Mopar and Don Schumacher Racing teammates, Ron Capps and Jack Beckman, also posted solid outings. Capps qualified third in his Brut Revolution Dodge Charger R/T and lost a nail biter in the quarters, while Beckman qualified No. 6 in his Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T before bowing out in the first round.

Heading to Phoenix, Capps is no stranger to success at the venue, with four career final round appearances at Firebird and one win, coming in 2003. The event also marks his 250th race appearance. Scelzi would love to pay a long overdue visit to victory lane at Phoenix; his last finals appearance was a win in 1997 over Kenny Bernstein in Top Fuel competition. Beckman, with only five Funny Car races under his belt, will make his first Funny Car appearance at the track.

The DSR trio, as well NHRA legend Bernstein, driver of the Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Dodge Charger R/T, will hit the track this weekend at the Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals on Feb. 23-25 at Firebird Int'l Raceway. One hour of qualifying coverage will air Saturday, Feb. 24, at midnight EST, on ESPN2. Eliminations coverage can be seen on Sunday, Feb. 25, from 7 to 10 p.m. EST, also on ESPN2. For more info on the NHRA, log on to nhra.com.

Team Mopar's Pro Stock duo of Allen Johnson and Richie Stevens Jr. head to this weekend's Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals in Phoenix with their eyes on the big prize-victory lane.

The two Pro Stock drivers both exited early at the season-opening Pomona, Calif., event on Feb. 11. They feel confident they'll post better results at Firebird Int'l Raceway, based on their productive track record at the facility. Johnson, driver of the Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Stratus R/T, recorded his third career victory at Phoenix in 2005. Teammate Stevens Jr., driver of the Team Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T owned by Don Schumacher Racing, took the No. 1 qualifier spot at the same event.

Johnson is upbeat as the Mopar/J&J Racing team motors to Phoenix, and he believes he will benefit from a testing session in Tucson, Ariz., on Wednesday. He proved at Pomona that his Dodge Stratus R/T can be the car to beat, as he qualified second at the event. He also posted a career-best speed of 207.85 mph during qualifying. In fact, Johnson believes the car may have had a bit too much power heading into the first round at Pomona.

"It's sort of like hitting with a 6-iron when you needed a pitching wedge," Johnson, currently ninth in the Pro Stock points battle after Pomona, observed. "We were just a little bit aggressive, and on race day you just have to maybe not live on the edge all the time. I feel positive [heading into Phoenix], because we sort of got a kick in the you-know-where, early, to get our attention. I think that will get everybody's game face on."

Although he made an early exit in the Pomona opener, Stevens Jr., emerged from the event with all-important championship points, by making the 16-car field on his final qualifying run.

"If we can go out there and go some rounds, that's what we need," said Stevens Jr., who is tied for 13th in the points standings. "The more rounds you go consistently is where you build the points up."

The duo of Johnson and Stevens Jr., is ready to unleash HEMI power at the Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals on Feb. 23-25 at Firebird Int'l Raceway. One hour of qualifying coverage will air Saturday, Feb. 24, at midnight EST, on ESPN2. Eliminations coverage can be seen on Sunday, Feb. 25, from 7 to 10 p.m. EST, also on ESPN2. For more info on the NHRA, log on to nhra.com.

Jerry Coons Jr., Team Mopar's 2006 USAC National Midget Car champ, will look to conquer yet another USAC division in 2007 with Mopar power. Coons Jr. will pilot the No. 27 RW Motorsports car, owned by Steve Weirich and powered by a Mopar motor supplied by Stanton Racing Engines, for the entire USAC National Silver Crown season.

Coons Jr. debuted the car February 9-10 at Manzanita Speedway in Arizona, posting a top-ten finish. Next up for the series is the March 22-23 event at Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla.

"I am really excited to have the opportunity to compete in the entire USAC Silver Crown Series," said Coons Jr. "Steve has put together a great group of people. He is giving me the best of everything. And with Stanton taking care of the Mopar engines, I don't have to worry about horsepower. I expect us to be in the championship hunt all year."

Team Mopar's Funny Car stars Ron Capps and Gary Scelzi will be joined by Top Fuel driver Cory McClenathan in a battle for supremacy on Infineon Raceway's lightning-quick kart track on Saturday, March 3, and fifty lucky race fans are invited to join them.

Infineon Raceway will host the 5th annual NHRA Tour de Charity on its three-quarter-mile kart track, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST. The first 50 fans who register will have a reserved seat in the action-packed day. Cost is $325 and includes a day of karting with the drivers, autographs, lunch, and the chance to compete in a 10-lap timed race for a grand prize. All proceeds benefit Speedway Children's Charities, which serves youth organizations in Sonoma County.

"I've come to this event three of the four years and it keeps getting better and better," Capps said. "It's been great."

The Jim Russell Racing Schools, which operate the karting center, will provide the karts, race suits, classroom instruction and on-track pointers for all competitors. There will be giveaways during the day, and the top 10 qualifiers (race fans) will compete in a 10-lap timed race at the end of day for the NHRA Experience. This package includes two tickets to the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals (July 27-29) and a meet-and-greet with a top star on the NHRA circuit. The NHRA drivers will also compete in a 10-lap timed race at the end of the day for King of the Track bragging rights.

To reserve your seat in the NHRA Tour de Charity, please call (707) 933-3950 or (800) 870-RACE, or e-mail dsilver@infineonraceway.com.