Bazemore holds onto No. 6 in U.S. Nationals qualifying

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2005 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 18 of 23
50th ANNUAL U.S. NATIONALS
INDIANAPOLIS RACEWAY PARK
RACE DATES:  Sept. 3-6, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

BAZEMORE HANGS ON TO NO. 6 AFTER FIVE ROUNDS OF QUALIFYING FOR U.S.
NATIONALS

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 5, 2004) - Whit Bazemore, a two-time winner of this
prestigious event, made a strong pass down the quarter-mile in the final
qualifying round for the U.S. Nationals today in hot and humid conditions as
well as a slight cloud cover. Bazemore drove his Matco Tools Iron Eagle
Dodge Stratus to a 4.876-second elapsed time at 315.56 mph for the third
quickest pass of that round.

It didn't improve his No. 6 placement in the field (the 4.860/295.92 from
Friday night still stood), but it was the team's first full run down the
track in five qualifying sessions and it brightened the spirits of driver
and crew.

"It's not the heat of the day, but it ain't nighttime either," he said in
the top-end interview after that run, "so, good job (crew chief Lee) Beard
and the team. Just when our heads were dragging in the sand the old hot rod
stepped up. We're excited. Tomorrow is an important day. We feel a lot
better going into it now, that's for sure.

"This was our first run this weekend to the finish line under power.

"We had a frustrating day certainly," he said of his first-round loss in the
Skoal Showdown, "and to be able to bounce back is very important for
everyone on the team and for the morale of the team. These guys make such a
huge effort. It's been a long weekend.

"It's a fitting end to the day. It's important to end qualifying here at
Indy on an up-note, a positive, and we did, so we'll be ready to go racing
tomorrow."

Bazemore faces Tommy Johnson Jr. in the first round of eliminations for
their second meeting this season. "We'll be ready for the Skoal team
tomorrow, and it's going to be a tough day.

"We have a great race car when conditions are perfect. And we are still
working on creating a great race car when conditions are less than ideal."

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