Bazemore No. 2 qualifier at NHRA Gatornationals

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2004 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 3 of 23
NHRA GATORNATIONALS
GAINESVILLE (FLA.) RACEWAY
RACE DATES: MARCH 19-21, 2004



GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 20, 2004) - Whit Bazemore, who was low qualifier
since yesterday evening, relinquished that spot to Tim Wilkerson in the
final round of Funny Car qualifying for the NHRA Gatornationals. Bazemore's
strong 4.909/291.82 lap from Friday afternoon was eclipsed by Wilkerson's
4.906/300.00 as the pair met head-to-head in the final pass.

Bazemore managed to establish a decent 4.933/298.21 in that pass, but was
nipped by Wilkerson for the No. 1 position and dropped to No. 2. At the last
race, the CSK Nationals in Phoenix, Bazemore lost the No. 1 position to Gary
Densham in the final qualifying pass.

"We went into the session being No. 1," said Bazemore. "Our intent is always
to be No. 1. So, we are disappointed. But the fact is, the Matco Tools Dodge
team has done a tremendous job so far this weekend dealing with what is
really an unacceptably difficult track.

"For a new surface and this being the Gatornationals, the track condition is
really challenging for all the teams. It's a combination of the new surface
and the Goodyear tire that is supplied us. It makes it hard to go down any
track when it's hot.

"Tim Wilkerson and those guys are a great up-and-coming team," he continued.
"They have shown a lot of talent lately. They are certainly a team we've got
to keep our eye on. We've got a great team over here ourselves, and we're in
a good position tomorrow. The key is we've been consistent and we've been
very close. We feel good going into race day."

Track conditions appear to be improving as more cars go down the track and
add more rubber. "Actually, the track was better in the last run," said
Bazemore's crew chief Lee Beard. "That was the best it was. We were just
soft, we didn't give it enough. We were just a little bit too conservative
and that was the difference between us being No. 2 and No. 1.

"The track is getting better. The concrete up to 600 feet seems to be
getting pretty good, but the new asphalt on the rest of the track is still
pretty green and it will take a year for it to cure out."

Bazemore will face Cory Lee in the first round of eliminations today(Sunday),
which begin at 11 a.m.