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NHRA: 'The Big Go' has added signifigance for Whit Bazemore in 2000

25 August 2000

PUTNAM, Conn., August 24, 2000 -  Every drag racer who competes in the 46th 
running of the U.S. Nationals will tell you the significance of winning in 
Indy on Labor Day.  Simply put, it is the one race that can validate an 
entire career.  Having won this event with his own team in 1997, Whit 
Bazemore is well aware of the status awarded to those who rise to the top of 
the podium at "The Big Go".  However, as he comes to Indianapolis Raceway 
Park with the Kendall Motor Oil/Matco Tools Camaro Z28 Racing Team for this 
year's edition, Bazemore's motivation goes beyond a simple desire to win Indy 
for a second time. 
 
"Winning here puts you on the map, and doing it a second time places you in 
some elite company," said Bazemore. "I want a second U.S. Nationals trophy, 
but not for the reasons you'd expect.  In light of our situation, and the 
frustrating year we've had, I believe it would be more meaningful to win Indy 
this year with this Kendall/Matco Camaro team than it was when I first did it 
in '97 ."

But before the Etchells crew can harbor any realistic hope of claming their 
sport's biggest prize, they know they must get a better handle on their race 
car.  At almost every stop on the circuit, the familiar white, black and red 
Camaro has shown flashes of power, as evidenced by their performance in 
qualifying.  In eight of the fifteen races contested, Bazemore has placed no 
lower than 4th, including a recent string of three consecutive No. 1 
qualifying efforts.  However, their Achilles heel has been the inability to 
duplicate this performance during final eliminations, where round wins have 
been hard to come by.  The only exception came in Denver, where the Etchells 
Racing Chevy put together a series of strong runs to capture their lone 
victory.

"Quite frankly, one win a year is just not good enough," noted Bazemore.  "I 
realize that last year we only won one race, but we also made it to five 
finals, which is an accomplishment in itself.  This Etchells team expects to 
consistently qualify in the top half, go rounds and win races, which we 
aren't doing right now.  The bottom line is that we have to make our car run 
consistently and competitively.  There are no excuses - we just have to get 
it done."

Bazemore & Company will take what they hope is the first step towards the 
winner's circle with a two-day test session at Indianapolis Raceway Park 
scheduled for the week before the race.  This will be crew chief Terry 
Manzer's first opportunity to make repeated runs with the Etchells fuel coupe 
without the pressure or limitations of qualifying at a national event.  Data 
gathered at this time could be the difference between winning and losing, and 
every member of the crew recognizes the importance of doing well at the 
year's biggest race, where the impact will be felt long after the event has 
concluded.  As always, Bazemore remains cautiously optimistic.

 "Although some might consider us a long shot to win Indy, I wouldn't bet 
against us," declared Bazemore. "The Etchells Racing Team is coming to IRP 
with more desire and hunger than ever before.  We know that winning here 
would go a long way towards salvaging a disappointing season.  What we did in 
Denver certainly helped, but winning the U.S. Nationals would mean everything 
to this crew.   If we're consistent and able to get our Kendall/Matco Camaro 
to do what we want, I feel we'll have as good a chance as anyone to be in the 
winner's circle on Labor Day."

Quick Whits:  This will be Whit Bazemore's eleventh appearance at 
Indianapolis Raceway Park, where he hopes to duplicate his winning 
performance from 1997….Whit's best qualifying performance at IRP to date also 
came in 1997, when he was 2nd…One year ago, Whit qualified 6th in Indy and 
advanced to the second round….Whit sits 9th in the Winston Championship 
points standings. 

Fast Facts

WHAT:   46th annual U.S. Nationals, the seventeenth event on the 23-race 2000 
NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series Schedule.

WHEN:   August 31- September 4, 2000

WHERE:  Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis, Indiana

SCHEDULE:   Professional qualifying starts with one time trial on Friday, 
September 1 at 7:30 p.m., followed by two more sessions each on Saturday, 
September 2 and Sunday, September 3 at 12:15 (except for those Funny Car 
drivers qualified for the Big Bud Shootout - see below) and 4:00 p.m.. Final 
eliminations start at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 4.

    In addition, the Big Bud Shootout for Funny Cars will be held on Sunday, 
September 3rd.  The first round will be held prior to regular Nitro 
qualifying at 12 noon, with Whit Bazemore, who qualified 2nd for this special 
event facing off against Dean Skuza  . 

TV: On Sunday, September 3, The Nashville Network (TNN) will air two hours of 
highlights from the Big Bud Shootout from 4:00  - 6:00 p.m.. In addition, TNN 
will cover the U.S. Nationals on Monday, September 4 with two hours of 
highlights from qualifying and the first round of eliminations from 12 noon - 
2 p.m., followed by another two hours with final round coverage from 5:00 - 
7:00 p.m.. - (Times given are Eastern and Pacific.  As always, please check 
your local listings for times in your area.)