Mopar Mile-High Nationals important race for Bazemore
DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2005 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Round 13 of 23 MOPAR MILE-HIGH NHRA NATIONALS Bandimere Speedway Morrison, Colo. Race Dates: July 15-17, 2005 MORRISON, Colo. (July 12, 2005 - This weekend's Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, just outside of Denver, the 13th of 23 events in the 2005 POWERade Drag Racing Series, is an important race for Whit Bazemore, driver of the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus R/T Funny Car. Bazemore, who is currently seventh in the Funny Car point standings, is working his way back up the rankings after a mid-season slump dropped him out of an early-season lead after two victories. The two-time U.S. Nationals champion is also adapting to new crew chiefs Dan Olson and Todd Okuhara and a whole new setup on the car. The upcoming three-race Western Swing is crucial to his and the Matco Tools' team's goals. "Denver is the first race of a very important segment of the season," he said. "It leads off another three races in a row (Denver, Seattle and Sonoma, Calif.) and it's just a critical time for any team that wants to contend (for a championship) and is not really in contention yet. It's a critical time to make a move. "It's important to do well at all three races, but Denver is really critical because it's very difficult to tune the cars up here at this altitude. It's a whole different tune-up compared to what we normally would have. So, it's a good race to do well at because it's a very challenging race." Bazemore has conquered this mile-high quarter-mile in the past, having won here in 1997 and 2000. He was also runner-up here in 1999, and has qualified No. 1 here five times, in 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2004. The Indianapolis resident still holds the ET track record here of 4.842 seconds, set last year. SCHEDULE: On Friday, July 15, pro qualifying sessions are at 4:15 and 7:15 p.m. On Saturday, July 16, pro qualifying sessions are at 3 and 6 p.m. (Saturdayıs first session of Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle is scheduled to begin at 10:15 a.m.) On Sunday, July 17, pre-race ceremonies are at11 a.m. Final eliminations begin at noon. TELEVISION: On Saturday, July 16, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 8 p.m. (ET). On Sunday, July 17, ESPN2 will televise three hours of eliminations at 9 p.m. (ET). Onn Sunday, July 17, ESPN2 will televise NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute magazine show at 11:30 a.m. (ET). WHIT BAZEMORE QUICK FACTS: * Two-time U.S. Nationals champion, 1997 and 2001 * Seventh in 2005 Funny Car point standings after 12 events, 205 points out of lead * Won two events this year (Gainesville, Las Vegas), No. 1 qualifier once (Columbus) * Qualified No. 1 at 2004 Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, lost first round to Robert Schwab * Won here in 1997 and 2000; was runner-up in 1999 * No. 1 qualifier here five times (1997, '98, '00, '01, '04) * Qualified in the top two in nine events in 2004, four times in No. 1 * No. 6 in 2004 Funny Car points, with two wins, five final rounds * First Funny Car driver to break 325-mph barrier (U.S. Nationals 2001) * Career quickest ET is 4.713 seconds, career fastest speed is 333.25 mph, both set at Route 66 Raceway in 2004 in what was at the time the quickest and fastest speed in Funny Car history * Won three times in 2003, runner-up five times * Has 19 career Funny Car event wins in in 43 final rounds in 307 races * Took the 2003 championship chase to penultimate race in Las Vegas in an exciting final round against eventual champion Tony Pedregon * Was second twice in the Funny Car championship in 2001 and 2003, third in 1997 and '99 and has finished in the top five six times and 12 times in the top 10 since 1992 * Age 42, born in New York City, an avid cyclist, lives in Indianapolis with wife Michelle, a competitive amateur cyclist, and son Dashiell Aidan, born March 12, 2005 * 2005 is his fifth season with Don Schumacher Racing