NHRA: Bazemore raring to repeat history in Denver
12 July 2000
Putnam, Connecticut, July 11, 2000 - Whit Bazemore and the Kendall Motor Oil/Matco Tools Camaro Z28 Racing Team are looking to make a statement at the upcoming Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals. However, the message Bazemore & Co. want to send in Denver is different from their competitors', and varies greatly from their own mission of a year ago. In 1999, the Etchells fuel coupe was in the midst of another strong season. Debuting a sleek new Camaro body at Bandimere Speedway, Bazemore powered his way to the final, the first of four consecutive appearances in the championship round (and five overall) en route to a solid third-place finish in the season's point standings. So far, however, the 2000 campaign has been a different story, with results not meeting expectations. A major reshuffling a few weeks ago saw Terry Manzer taking over as crew chief, with the Colorado race marking only his second national event with the team. The goal this weekend remains the same - winning. However, the reasoning behind it has changed. "It feels odd to be going to Denver almost having to reassert ourselves as a contender," stated Bazemore. "But the truth is our backs are against the wall. It's the middle of the season, and we're nowhere near where we want to be. To say the least, it's been a frustrating year, and we have to turn it around in Denver. If we have a strong race there, it will give us some positive momentum going into the next few races, and provide this Kendall/Matco Camaro team with something to build on the rest of the season." As Bazemore alluded, this event is of significance for various reasons. As the first stop on the infamous three-race "West Coast Swing," it can set the stage for long-term success, as evidenced by the Kendall/Matco team's run of a year ago. For a larger perspective, this race in the Rockies marks the beginning of the second half of the season. With opportunities dwindling and every competitor jockeying to improve their standing in the points, each race takes on added importance. Finally, there is the basic motivation that drives these teams at every stop, that of winning a national event. But the importance pales in comparison to the difficulty teams will experience as they try to master the racing surface. Nestled in the mountains outside of Denver, Bandimere Speedway is one of the most picturesque locations in all of motorsports. Crew chiefs will have little time to admire the view, however, as they must overcome the speed-robbing combination of blistering heat and wafer-thin air. Even so, a simple look at the records should bolster the Kendall/Matco team's confidence. In the last seven years, Bazemore, Manzer and team owner Chuck Etchells have combined to claim two wins, six final round appearances and five number one qualifying positions. Naturally, it is a record all want to extend this year. "I find this a refreshing race," explained Bazemore, "because Bandimere Speedway is one of the few tracks on the circuit that's different from the others. It has a real personality. But it's also one of the most demanding tracks we race on. The best teams usually shine in Denver, and the Kendall/Matco Camaro team has historically done well there. We see this as a great opportunity. "This will be our second race with Terry Manzer as our crew chief. The first one in St. Louis was more of a get acquainted situation, where he didn't have the opportunity to change the car to his liking. Therefore, Denver will be his first opportunity with Chuck Etchells Racing to put his stamp on the team, and I'm looking forward to that. I believe he's going to do a great job for us and give us a competitive racecar. We've all had our share of success there, so we know what it takes. We just have to work to make good things happen." Quick Whits: This will be Whit Bazemore's tenth appearance at Bandimere Speedway, where he hopes to duplicate his winning performance from 1997, when he also qualified number one and set both low elapsed time and top speed for the event….Whit has twice claimed the number one qualifying position in Denver, accomplishing the feat in back to back years (1997 & 1998)…At last year's Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals, Whit qualified 4th and set top speed of the weekend at 296.24 mph en route to his runner-up finish. Fast Facts WHAT: 22nd annual Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals, the thirteenth event on the 23-race 2000 NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series Schedule. WHEN: July 13-16, 2000 WHERE: Bandimere Speedway, Morrison, Colorado SCHEDULE: Pro qualifying sessions start with two sessions on Friday, July 14 at 4:00 and 8:00 p.m., and conclude on Saturday, July 15 with two rounds at 12 noon and 4:00 p.m. Final eliminations start at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 16. TV: ESPN2 will air two hours of qualifying highlights on Saturday, July 15 from 10 p.m. - midnight. On Sunday, July 16, ESPN will have one hour of highlights form the first round of eliminations from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m., followed by two hours of final eliminations coverage from 11:30 p.m. - 1 a.m. (Times given are Eastern. As always, please check your local listings.)