Bazemore No. 3 on U.S. Nationals Rainout Friday

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 17 of 23
U.S. NATIONALS
INDIANAPOLIS RACEWAY PARK
Rainout Race Date: Sept. 5-7, 2003

BAZEMORE FALLS TO NO. 3 ON FRIDAY'S RESCHEDULED QUALIFYING AT U.S. NATIONALS

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 5, 2003) - Whit Bazemore's 4.774-second elapsed time at
321.65 mph in tonight's first qualifying round since the U.S. Nationals were
rained out last week was stout, but not as quick or fast as his No. 2 effort
last week of 4.767/323.74. As a result, the driver of the Matco Tools Iron
Eagle Dodge Stratus fell to No. 3 behind John Force and his teammate Gary
Scelzi with three more rounds of qualifying and the Budweiser Shootout
scheduled for tomorrow. Bazemore is qualified third for the Shootout.

After two qualifying sessions before the rainout last week, Schumacher
Racing teammates Gary Scelzi and Whit Bazemore were Nos. 1 and 2. John Force
took the No. 1 spot away from Scelzi tonight.

"We're not really satisfied with ourselves tonight," said the Indianapolis
resident. "Lee (Beard, crew chief) had turned the car up to run a lot
quicker than it ran. There are two reasons why it didn't. It was just
mechanical. It's one of those things. It's a disappointment, but the fact
that we're in a position to run a .77 and be disappointed is not all bad.

"Quite honestly, we wanted to be No. 1 qualifier and we wanted the
Schumacher team to stay 1 and 2. For me, if Gary was going to be No. 1 that
was fine. As long as we were No. 1 and 2 it would be great heading into
Sunday, but it didn't happen and Force picked our pockets. We'll work on the
Budweiser Shootout tomorrow and the race on Sunday."