Bazemore qualifies No. 7 in Columbus NHRA

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
PONTIAC EXCITEMENT NHRA NATIONALS
Round 11 of 23
National Trail Raceway
Columbus, Ohio
Race Date: June 13-15, 2003

Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501, cell 203-243-2438

BAZEMORE LOSES BODY IN FINAL QUALIFYING ROUND, TAKES NO. 7 SPOT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (June 14, 2003) - Whit Bazemore had a spectacular final round
of qualifying for tomorrow's Pontiac Excitement NHRA Nationals at National
Trail Raceway, but it wasn't because he broke a track record or was low
qualifier. Instead, his Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus R/T Funny Car
body flew off before half-track after a supercharger exploded. Bazemore
didn't complete that run, and had to settle for No. 7 position based on the
4.877/313.95 pass he posted in the second of only three qualifying runs held
this weekend because of rain.

"We were going for No. 1, that was our goal," he said after the final round.
"We thought a high .70 would get the job done and that's what we were going
out there to run with the Matco Tools Dodge. I don't know what broke on the
car. Obviously we had some kind of a little malfunction in the motor and it
blew the supercharger off. To make a long story short, we didn't get the
pole. I think that body's trash, and we'll run another one. I don't know
which one. The only way I can tell the difference between the bodies is some
have clearer windshields that I like better than some that don't. Actually,
that one had a windshield that wasn't so good, so goodbye to that one."

After struggling in the first round of qualifying and with intermittent rain
disrupting the schedule, it was important to get in one good run today,
which Bazemore did in that second session. "It was a good run," he said.
"We did struggle yesterday, all of us did. Today the weather was
questionable this morning and all afternoon. It was very very important to
make the most out of that possibly one session today. And, as it was, we ran
an .87, which was competitive and we lost a little bit of e.t. I let the car
go a little bit left at half-track, and it kind of fishtailed. It was a
little loose from half track to the finish line and that cost maybe a
hundredth (of a second). All in all, not bad.

Bazemore has qualified in the top half of the field at each of the 11 events
so far. "It's a credit to the team. Lee (Beard, crew chief) and Dan (Oldson,
co-crew chief) are doing an outstading job," he added. "Everybody is,
really. The important thing for us obviously is race day. We need to
continue to go rounds and our competition (Tony Pedregon) is looking awfully
strong. They're No. 1 again for the sixth time this year. We're still not
quite there; we're working hard. I feel like we're the underdog a little
bit, but we're chasing and hopefully we can catch.

Bazemore will face Dean Skuza in the first round of eliminations tomorrow.

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