NHRA: Bazemore looks to take back-up car to the front in Dallas
26 May 2000
BAZEMORE LOOKS TO TAKE BACK-UP CAR TO THE FRONT IN DALLAS
Putnam, Connecticut, May 23, 2000 - With the upcoming NHRA schedule featuring
three races in three weeks, the Chuck Etchells Racing Team carefully laid out
plans beforehand to lessen the strain on the crew. However, when Whit
Bazemore's left rear tire exploded during his second qualifying run in
Englishtown last Saturday, the complexion of their pre-race preparations for
this weekend's Castrol Nationals was dramatically changed. The damage
incurred to the Kendall Motor Oil/Matco Tools Camaro Z28 Funny Car was so
extensive that the sleek carbon-fiber body was rendered unusable and the
back-up tube-frame chassis would have to be used until time could be taken to
properly repair the original frame, and time is the one commodity the
Etchells crew did not have.
"Although I'm not concerned about switching to the back-up, it means a lot of
work for the crew," stated Bazemore. "They started on it right after we
towed back from the run, and won't stop until we pull the Kendall/Matco
Camaro into the lanes on Friday for the first qualifying session in Dallas."
Unlike many other racing series, where back-ups are used on a regular basis,
drag racing teams will often use the same chassis throughout the year.
Therefore, the procedure for preparing the second car for competition is much
more complicated. Faced with the possibility of final eliminations last
Sunday, the Etchells team worked late into the night after the incident
converting what in essence was a bare frame into a 6,000-horsepower NHRA
regulation Nitro Funny Car.
"The car we'll be using is the one we raced last year," explained crew chief
Tim Richards. "But there were a lot of things on the 2000 car that we feel
are better, and we wanted to incorporate them into the older chassis before
we ran it. If we really had to we could have competed without the updates,
but we chose to include the latest technology.
"The process is rather involved. The computer, fuel system and clutch
control are all completely different, so we had to take it out of the damaged
chassis and put it in the 1999 car. I don't believe this will cause us any
problems, because the basic geometry, such as motor location, is identical."
But even with their "new" primary Kendall/Matco Camaro ready for competition,
the team's work was far from done. Once the Englishtown event was officially
postponed, the crew quickly packed up and headed for their shop in Lansing,
Michigan. This unplanned 400-mile detour on their 1,600 mile trip from New
Jersey to Texas was made necessary to pick up another workable chassis and
body to act as a back-up. This third frame is one that last saw competition
in 1998 with team owner Chuck Etchells at the controls, and will therefore
also require extensive work to bring it up to current specifications. This
will be done once the team reaches the Texas Motorplex. For his part, Whit
Bazemore is not concerned about this weekend's race, and in fact, looks
forward to the reunion with last year's "fuel coupe".
"Going back to last year's chassis will be like getting together with an old
friend," said Bazemore. "We liked that car and ran well with it. We rode it
to five finals, and after we won in Sonoma, we named it Carla. Maybe this is
what this team needed to get back on track. The cars are supposed to be
identical, but we just didn't seem to have any luck with the one we raced
this year - it would qualify well, but seemed to take Sundays off. Carla
knows how to win, and this Kendall/Matco Camaro team is the one to get her
back to the winner's circle."
Quick Whits: This will be Whit Bazemore's 12th appearance at the Texas
Motorplex, where he hopes to duplicate team owner Chuck Etchells' winning
performance there from 1995 …. Bazemore's best qualifying performance in
Ennis to date is 3rd, which he accomplished last year, and in eliminations
had advanced to the semi-finals twice (in 1998 & 1999)…. Bazemore is also
looking to move up from his current 8th place position in the Winston Drag
Racing Series season's points standings.
Fast Facts
WHAT 4th annual Castrol Nationals, the ninth event on the 23-race 2000
NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series Schedule.
WHEN: May 25 - 28, 2000
WHERE: Texas Motorplex, Ennis, Texas
SCHEDULE: Pro qualifying sessions start with two sessions on Friday, May 26
at 4:00 and 8:00 p.m., and conclude on Saturday, May 27 with two rounds at 12
noon and 4:00 p.m. Final eliminations begin at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 28.
TV: TNN will televise ninety minutes of final eliminations coverage on
Sunday, May 28 from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.. (Times given are Eastern and Pacific.
As always, please check your local listings.)
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