Bazemore snares No. 7 in Reading

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2005 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
ROUND 19 OF 23
TOYO TIRES NHRA NATIONALS
MAPLE GROVE RACEWAY
READING, PA.
Race Dates: Sept. 16-18, 2005



READING, Pa. (Sept. 17, 2005) - Whit Bazemore snared the No. 7 qualifying
position in the Funny Car class for this weekend's NHRA Nationals at Maple
Grove Raceway today, despite a few mechanical problems in the pits.

Bazemore posted a 5.152-second elapsed time at 282.01 mph in the first
session on Friday, then surpassed that with his best qualifying pass Friday
night of 4.813/320.13. In today's last two attempts, the driver of the Matco
Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus Funny Car recorded a 4.985/258.62 and a
7.888/98.07.

"Today we smoked the tires twice, but the Matco Tools guys are working
hard," he said. "We had a couple mechanical issues in the pits. We're
working hard to get our team perfect again, and that's really what it takes
to be successful out here. You have to have a perfect team, and we're
working towards that."

Bazemore will meet U.S. Nationals double-up winner Del Worsham in first
round of eliminations on Sunday. "That team is going to be good, as always.
We'll be ready to give them our best shot."