BAZEMORE QUALIFIES NO. 2 ON FRIDAY IN JOLIET NEXT TO TEAMMATE'S 330 MPH

NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
NHRA ROUTE 66 NATIONALS
ROUTE 66 RACEWAY
JOLIET, ILL.
RACE DATES: May 21-23, 2004



JOLIET, Ill. (May 21, 2004) - Whit Bazemore watched his teammate Gary Scelzi
become the first NHRA Funny Car driver to break the 330-mph barrier tonight
in the next lane, as Bazemore roared to a No. 2 qualifying spot under cool
conditions at what most consider to be a perfect track, Route 66 Raceway.

Following a one-hour hold for strong winds after half the Funny Car field
qualified, Bazemore returned to post a 4.731-second elapsed time at 326.71
mph to place second to Tony Pedregon's 4.716/331.28 (the fastest Funny Car
speed in history set in the final pairing.)

"It was good," said Bazemore, defending Funny Car event champion who was the
first Funny Car driver to break the 325-mph mark. "We ran well and we're
happy. It was an outstanding job by the other team. Obviously Dickie
Venables and Kurt Elliott really have their act together; they're doing a
great job over there. They've been around a long time. They met each other
working for me. I'm always interested in how they do.

"We never like being second. That's the way it goes. We made a good run. We
got it in. It was awfully windy and it was exciting. We'll be ready to
improve tomorrow."

Bazemore has often predicted that his teammate Scelzi would be the first to
break 330 mph. "It's very cool. Our team was the first to go 325 mph, so we
kept it in the team. Another barrier broken for Schumacher Racing. We
haven't run the mile-an-hour in a couple of years. Zippy (Scelzi's crew
chief Mike Neff) and Scelzi have. They were my favorite pre-season pick to
do it and they did. It's great for them. It's outstanding."