Bazemore posts three strong runs, qualifies No. 9 in Brainerd

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2005 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 16 of 23
LUCAS OIL NHRA NATIONALS
BRAINERD INT'L RACEWAY
BRAINERD, MINN.
Race Dates: Aug. 12-14, 2005


BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 13, 2005) - Whit Bazemore put together three strong
qualifying runs in two days for the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd,
Minn., collecting the No. 9 spot in the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus
R/T Funny Car, with an elapsed time of 4.799 seconds at 323.43 mph, set in
today's third qualifying round.

He also accomplished his goal of out-qualifying Robert Hight to collect
valuable points towards the Skoal Showdown and stays in eight place in the
standings for this Funny Car bonus race held at the U.S. Nationals on Labor
Day. Only the top eight drivers (points are based on qualifying results)
compete for the $100,000 prize.

"It's good," said Bazemore, who also posted a 7.172/117.17, a 4.887/312.35
and a 4.821/323.35. "One important thing coming into this race was to
qualify ahead of Robert Hight and we did that. That was a goal that we met.

"This afternoon we wanted to run a little harder than we did. At the end of
the day it's important that we go down the race track consistently, and
(co-crew chiefs) Dan (Olson) and Todd (Okuhara) and the Matco Tools guys
have done that. They have given me a car that goes down the race track.

"You have to go down the race track to win the race and we saw some guys in
the final session try to run a lot quicker and they didn't make it down the
tack. We're very comfortable and able to read the data that the car's given
us. We're going into tomorrow with absolutely a lot of confidence."

Bazemore will meet No. 8 qualifier Tony Pedregon in first round of
eliminations on Sunday.