NHRA: Bazemore looks to have a reoccuring dream in Sonoma
3 August 2000
Putnam, Connecticut, August 2, 2000 - One year ago at the Autolite Nationals, Whit Bazemore and the Kendall Motor Oil/Matco Tools Camaro Z28 Racing team experienced what any competitor dreams of each time he or she arrives at a racetrack. In the midst of an impressive first season in the Etchells fuel coupe, Bazemore came to Sonoma fresh off two consecutive final round appearances. A threat to win at every stop on the NHRA Winston Drag Racing circuit, all the pieces fell into place for the veteran crew at Sears Point Raceway. "Sonoma a year ago was truly a dream weekend," stated Bazemore. "The Kendall/Matco Camaro came into Sears Point on a roll, already being runner-up twice in a row. Even though we hadn't won, we knew we had a strong car, and fully expected to win. But to accomplish what we did impressed everyone." From the very first pass in qualifying, the Etchells Camaro established itself as the team to beat, with Bazemore's 5.003-second elapsed time pacing the field. After archrival John Force temporarily claimed the top spot on Friday night, Bazemore responded by outrunning Force in a dramatic side-by-side confrontation Saturday morning, taking not only the number one qualifying position but Force's track record as well. Bazemore's dominance continued through Sunday's final eliminations, when his slowest elapsed time was three hundredths of a second quicker than the best effort of any other Funny Car in final eliminations. Although the victory was not secured until he defeated Frank Pedregon in the final round, the exclamation point came in the semi-finals against Frank's younger brother Tony, when Bazemore shattered both ends of the track record with a 4.876-second, 310.20 mph blast to complete the weekend "sweep". "I was in my first year of driving for Chuck Etchells," explained Bazemore, "and we had high expectations that we felt we hadn't yet lived up to. Well, we met them in Sonoma. We were low qualifier, had low e.t. and top speed, and won the race. The ' .87 we ran against Tony still stands out as a highlight of the season." But as the world's best quarter-milers wind their way through the Napa Valley to Sears Point for this year's event, it will be a different Etchells team that arrives to defend their title. After the team struggled in the first half, northern California native Terry Manzer was brought in to take over as crew chief. Manzer's arrival immediately re-energized the crew, and in only their third race together, the Kendall/Matco Camaro took top honors in Denver in impressive fashion, posting the first four-second Funny Car run in the history of Bandimere Speedway. Excited by the team's progress under Manzer, Bazemore is confident that a replay of last year's results is within their grasp. "Obviously, it would be unbelievable to repeat what we did last year," said Bazemore. "But our main goal, as always is to win the race. With the outstanding job Terry Manzer has done in turning this Kendall/Matco Camaro team around, I believe the potential is there to have a good weekend. Naturally, Terry will have a little extra motivation since it is his home race. I think that emotion will rub off on the rest of the team, because we'd like nothing more than to help him win here. If all goes right, the Autolite Nationals will be another dream come true." Quick Whits: This will be Whit Bazemore's tenth appearance at Sears Point Raceway, where he hopes to duplicate his dominating performance from a year ago….Crew chief Terry Manzer, a northern California native, is looking to score a win at his "home track" ….Whit sits 9th in the Winston Championship points standings. Fast Facts WHAT: 13th annual Autolite Nationals, the fifteenth event on the 23-race 2000 NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series Schedule. WHEN: August 4-6, 2000 WHERE: Sears Point Raceway, Sonoma, California SCHEDULE: Pro qualifying sessions start with two sessions on Friday, August 4 at 3:00 and 7:00 p.m., and conclude on Saturday, August 5 with two rounds at 12 noon and 4:00 p.m. Final eliminations start at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 6. TV: ESPN2 will air ninety minutes of qualifying highlights on Saturday, August 5 from 9:30 - 11:00 p.m.. On Sunday, August 6, ESPN2 will have two hours of final eliminations coverage from 9:30 - 11:30 p.m. - (Times given are Eastern. As always, please check your local listings.)