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Gary Scelzi's first competition pass with Don Schumacher's Oakley Mopar running a solid 4.88/311.56 as he gets the Funny Car "monkey" off his back after his lackluster 2002 season. Scelzi, with new crew chief Mike Neff, sits number 5.

While it will take some getting used to, many drivers seemed to like the new LED equipped Christmas Tree starting system debuted at Pomona. Here K&N Filters Funny Car pilot Frank Pedregon checks out the new look.

Scotty Cannon is still waiting for his new Mopar body but managed to make it to the middle of the field with his 4.929.

Ron Capps looked like he had a career best pass with a 4.78 but the number was thrown out because of problems with the timing system. Timing problems also plagued Andrew Cowin and Jeg Coughlin causing delays through this session.

A little off his pace was John Force in his new Mustang-bodied Funny Car running 4.916/304.19 for the #7 position.

In Top Fuel, Larry Dixon picked up where he left the 2002 season chase by leading qualifying. Dixon and Tony Schumacher closed out Thursday's Top Fuel session with a side-by-side run, netting the POWERade champ a 4.58/313.88 for #1 and the Sarge with a 4.59 for #2.

The much anticipated first National competition run of rookie Brandon Bernstein was the up first in on the burnout pad. Dad Kenny stood nervously with his hands in his pockets as the engine fired in his new role

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