Bazemore upset in first round in Denver

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2004 POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 13 of 23
MOPAR MILE-HIGH NHRA NATIONALS
BANDIMERE SPEEDWAY
Morrison, Colo.
Race Dates: July 16-18, 2004


MORRISON, Colo. (July 18, 2004) - Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus Funny
Car crew chief Lee Beard did not receive the birthday present he was wishing
for today, as his driver and No. 1 qualifier Whit Bazemore was upset in the
first round of eliminations by series newcomer and No. 16 qualifier Robert
Schwab.

With a .030 advantage a the lights, Bazemore was on a path to winning his
third race at Bandimere Speedway and third of the season at the Mopar
Mile-High Nationals until about the eighth-mile mark when he lost traction
and smoked the tires. He tried to recover but was unable to reach the finish
line before Schwab with his 6.017/261.62 pass to Schwab's 5.665/222.07.

"It's extremely disappointing when you qualify No. 1 by almost a full tenth
and you lose in the first round to a new driver who has hardly ever even
been down the race track," said a disappointed Bazemore, who still hangs on
to third place in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series point standings. Del
Worsham also went out in the first round and John Force was eliminated in
the second.

"There are no excuses," he said of the hotter conditions that prevailed
today. "The weather is the same for everybody. It's not like our side of the
track was hot and their side of the track was under a big umbrella.

"We knew that the track was going to be drastically different and it's the
first time running these new Goodyear tires in the heat. Lee and the Matco
Tools team backed the car down to a point that they thought was plenty safe
and would be somewhat competitive and go down the track. We were trying just
to go down the race track and run a 5.0. We thought a 5.0 would win the
round. 

"It would've. A 5.60 would have won the round. You can't have hindsight, and
the car is stronger than we gave it credit for being.

"The bottom line is we have a tremendous team, we have great people here. I
believe in (crew chief) Lee Beard more than I believed in any other person
I've ever worked with, really. We're just in a little rut right now and it's
frustrating, but we have to stay focused, we have to keep our chins up, and
everyone on the team has to exhibit leadership and we have to believe in
ourselves. 

"I believe in myself 200 percent and I believe in every single person on
this team 200 percent. And that hasn't changed. And I think as long as we
have that belief in each other we'll get through this in one piece and be
strong.

"That doesn't take away from the fact that it's very disappointing and
frustrating. It's a tough sport. We've certainly been down this road many,
many times.

Next up is the Carquest Auto Parts NHRA Nationals in Seattle, Wash., July
23-25.

FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS:

1. John Force, 916
2. Del Worsham, 889
3. Whit Bazemore, 859
4. Gary Scelzi, 802
5. Eric Medlen, 766
6. Gary Densham, 753
7. Phil Burkart Jr. (734) - winner today

***