ACDELCO LAS VEGAS NHRA NATIONALS : Bazemore loses close first round in Vegas

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2004 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 22 of 23
ACDELCO LAS VEGAS NHRA NATIONALS
THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS
RACE DATES: Oct. 29-31, 2004

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 31, 2004) - While diminutive ghouls and goblins were Trick
or Treating through the pits during the ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals at
The Strip at Las Vegas, Whit Bazemore, in the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge
Stratus, was dealing with his own demons on the quarter-mile.

Following a stout qualifying effort of four consistently quick rounds topped
off by a 4.772/326.95 which placed him fourth on the "grid" in the final
qualifying session, Bazemore's first round contest against Cruz Pedregon
produced another set of strong numbers: 4.820 seconds at 324.36 mph under
sunny skies. Unfortunately, his opponent stole what should have been a win
for Bazemore on a holeshot advantage, with a slower yet victorious
4.839/320.05. 

It's Vegas, after all, and Pedregon took a gamble at the starting light by
launching with a .039 reaction time to Bazemore's more than respectable
.076.

"It doesn't matter what his reaction time was," said a disappointed
Bazemore, who dropped to sixth in NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car
points. "It's just really disappointing because my job is to leave before
the other guy. It doesn't matter what he does.

"There are just not any excuses. It's hard for me because it's hard for the
Matco Tools team. It's just a disappointment. It's how racing is sometimes.
You give it 110 percent but you don't always come up with the right answer."

So far this season, Bazemore has been quicker than his opponent at the
starting light 65 percent of the time. "Our lights (reaction times) are what
they are. We're consistent," he said. "We're near the top in the average,
but today that just wasn't good enough. I'm feeling worse for the team more
than anything because they give 110 percent all the time."

FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS:

1. John Force, 1765
2. Gary Scelzi, 1490 (winner today)
2. Del Worsham, 1490 - tie
4. Gary Densham, 1328
5. Eric Medlen, 1322
6. Whit Bazemore, 1306