Bazemore going for strong season finish in Pomona

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2004 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 23 of 23
AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NHRA FINALS
POMONA (Calif.) RACEWAY
Race Dates: Nov. 11-14



POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 10, 2004) - Going into the Automobile Club of Southern
California NHRA Finals this weekend, Whit Bazemore's goal is no different
than it has ever been at any race he's entered - to win! He's won two events
this season so far driving the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus Funny
Car, led the point standings in the first half, extended his lead, went to
five final rounds and battled for the championship among a group of
top-caliber drivers.

Following the NHRA rules changes mid-season, which included lowering the
nitromethane mixture to 85 percent from 90 and mandating the use of a new
tire, Bazemore and crew chief Lee Beard struggled to adapt to these changes
and stay on top in the last half of the year. Two weeks ago, in Las Vegas,
the two-time U.S. Nationals champion who was in the midst of a five-car
battle for second place in points dropped to sixth in the rankings.

Winning here in Pomona now tops the list for the Indianapolis resident and
could move him up to fourth in the final standings. He is 22 points behind
fourth-place Gary Densham and 16 behind Eric Medlen in fifth. Del Worsham
and Gary Scelzi are tied in second place and are the only two battling for
that position. 

"It's been a tough year, so it's obviously very important to finish the year
on the highest note as possible, and that means winning the race," Bazemore
said.

"The past few races have been tough on us," he said, "but we have a team
that is competitive and capable and we're very hungry and motivated to win
the last race of the year. We want to go into the off season feeling the
best we can about the job we did. It's a very important race."

A high point for Bazemore this weekend is the opportunity to help the family
of Darrell Russell, who lost his life in a crash in St. Louis this year, in
an auction to be held on Saturday by contributing some of his past work as a
professional photographer.

"The Darrell Russell auction is a great thing that Larry Dixon and his wife
Ali put together to benefit Julie Russell. I  am very excited about
contributing," he said.

"I went back through some of my photography of 21 years ago to see what
would be interesting to print. It was a whole different life for me back
then, so it's stuff I've kind of buried in my past and haven't even
acknowledged in 20 years, really.

"I thought it would be kind of cool to donate some prints so I printed two
portraits from 1983 that I found, one of Shirley Muldowney in her helmet
waiting to make a run in her car which I really like, and one of Don
Prudhomme which I really like as well.

"I made some big prints, one each, and framed them. So they're originals and
they're like one of five. I haven't printed the other four yet. I probably
will and I will probably give Don and Shirley one and probably Larry Dixon.
I hope the subject matter will be interesting to a bidder, who will find it
valuable and buy it, which will help benefit Julie Russell."

SCHEDULE:
On Thursday, Nov. 11, one professional qualifying is scheduled for 2 p.m. On
Friday, Nov. 12, another single qualifying session will be held at 2 p.m.

On Saturday, Nov. 13, two pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for 11 a.m.
and 2 p.m. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 14.
                   
TELEVISION:
* Saturday, Nov. 13, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights
at 10 p.m. (ET). 
* Sunday, Nov. 14, ESPN2 will broadcast NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute news magazine
show, at noon (ET).
* Sunday, Nov. 14, ESPN2 will televise three hours of elimination coverage
at 6 p.m. (ET). 

WHIT BAZEMORE QUICK FACTS:

* Two-time U.S. Nationals champion, 1997 and 2001
* Qualified No. 3 at 2003 auto Club NHRA Finals, lost second round to Del
Worsham
* Has qualified in the top two in nine events so far in 2004
* No. 6 in NHRA Funny Car points after 22 races, with two wins, five final
rounds
* First Funny Car driver to break 325-mph barrier (U.S. Nationals 2001)
* 2003 Funny Car points runner-up
* Won three times in 2003, runner-up five times
* Has 17 career Funny Car event wins
* Took the 2003 championship chase to penultimate race in Las Vegas in an
exciting final round against eventual champion Tony Pedregon
* Was also second in the NHRA Funny Car championship in 2001, third in 1997
and '99 and has finished in the top five six times and 11 times in the top
10 since 1992
* Age 41, born in New York City, an avid cyclist, lives in Indianapolis with
wife Michelle, a semi-pro cyclist
* 2004 is his fourth season with Don Schumacher Racing

***