GRAY LOSES TO TEAMMATE BAZEMORE IN FIRST ROUND ENNIS

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2004 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 20 of 23
O'REILLY NHRA FALL NATIONALS
TEXAS MOTORPLEX
DALLAS, TEXAS
RACE DATES: Sept. 24-26, 2004


ENNIS, Texas (Sept. 26, 2004) - Johnny Gray and Don Schumacher's Wonder
Wagon Dodge Funny Car had another tough day today in eliminations for the
O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex. Competing in only his
second event for Don Schumacher Racing since he joined the team for the U.S.
Nationals on Labor Day (the Reading, Pa., event was postponed because of
rain), he found himself matched up against one of his teammates in the first
round.

At the U.S. Nationals he lost to Gary Scelzi, and today it was Whit
Bazemore.

No. 13 qualifier Gray launched first at the starting light with a .069
reaction time to Bazemore's .105, and it looked like it would be a race to
the finish until the Wonder Wagon smoked the tires at half-track. It was all
over for Gray, as Bazemore clicked off the win with a 4.957-second pass at
300.60 mph to Gray's losing 7.397/113.86.

"Well, I guess that's what happens when you're in a three-car Funny Car
team," said Gray. "You're bound to meet up with one of your teammates at
some point. To meet up with both of my teammates in my first two races with
Don Schumacher Racing seems a little odd, but that's how it goes.

"(Crew chief) Dan Olson and the Wonder Wagon Dodge team are still working on
testing different components and parts on this car for the future, so
qualifying for each event has been very important, but it would also be nice
if we could go more rounds. Next time."

Next up is the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in
Joliet, Ill., Oct. 1-3.

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