Bazemore powers into second straight semi in Sonoma

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2005 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 15 of 23
FRAM-AUTOLITE NHRA NATIONALS
INFINEON RACEWAY
SONOMA, Calif.
Race Dates: July 29-31, 2005


SONOMA, Calif. (July 31, 2005) - The Matco Tools Dodge Stratus Funny Car
team and driver Whit Bazemore reached the semifinal round for the second
straight weekend today at the Fram-Autolite NHRA Nationals and are aptly
demonstrating the progress they are making as a new team.

Bazemore was defeated by his teammate Ron Capps in the semis, when Bazemore
lost traction early, slowing to a 6.491/144.60 pass to Capps' 4.963/311.34.

En route to the semis, Bazemore dismissed Tim Wilkerson in the first round
in an agonizingly close competition. Bazemore cruised to the finish line to
a straight and clean 4.866/320.36 pass, beating his opponent by .0094 of a
second.

In the quarterfinal he sent packing Del Worsham with a 4.900/318.84, then
faced his biggest challenge of the day in the final against Capps.

The 1999 Sonoma winner moved up to sixth in Funny Car points and is now just
five points out of fifth place.

"We're not too unhappy," he said. "We had to change engines and our engine
was down on power, so it didn't run (well), it didn't leave (the starting
line well), then it shook loose and we got beat.

"All in all, we're pretty happy. The Matco Tools Dodge guys are happy and
the team is really starting to come around and it's a credit to (co-crew
chiefs) Todd (Okuhara) and Dan (Olson), and the boys are doing a fantastic
job. We're going to go to Brainerd and we feel like we have a car we can
race with now."

On the close first round against Wilkerson: "In this sport you don't know
it's close when you're winning. When I lifted off the throttle at the finish
line I saw the nose of his car, so I knew it was close. Winning a close race
doesn't give you any more satisfaction than winning a far-away one. You just
want to win, so the first round is always hard."

Next up is the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., Aug. 12-14,
2005.

FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Robert Hight, 1024
2. Gary Scelzi, 1008
3. John Force 938
4. Ron Capps, 936
5. Tommy Johnson Jr., 937
6. Whit Bazemore, 832
7. Eric Medlen, 831
8. Cruz Pedregon, 778
9. Del Worsham, 723
10. Tony Pedregon, 707