By Jeff Davis

The Fresno Bee

NHRA dragster champion Gary Scelzi is stepping away from the sport after this season, but left wiggle room for a return to racing on a limited basis.

"At the end of this year, I'll be leaving Don Schumacher Racing," the 46-year-old Fresnan said Tuesday during a teleconference.

In the next breath he quickly stated, "It is not a retirement. I'm not quitting drag racing. I'm leaving it open."

Scelzi, a four-time NHRA champion, said "family" was his reason for leaving drag racing. He wants to spend more time with wife Julianne and sons Dominic, 9, and Giovanni, 5, and help brothers Mike and Jim with the family business, Scelzi Enterprises, a custom truck builder.