Bazemore eyes continuing improvement in Sonoma
DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2005 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES Round 15 of 23 FRAM-AUTOLITE NHRA NATIONALS INFINEON RACEWAY SONOMA, Calif. Race Dates: July 29-31, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell, 203-243-2438; jstropus@earthlink.net BAZEMORE EYES CONTINUING IMPROVEMENT AT SONOMA SONOMA, Calif. (July 29, 2005) - Now that Whit Bazemore, his crew chiefs Dan Olson and Todd Okuhara, and the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus Funny Car team have three races under their belts as a working group, Bazemore is eager to return to the Fram-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway this weekend. Since Englishtown, N.J., Bazemore has improved at each event, reaching the semifinal round in Seattle last weekend. This track is one of Bazemore's favorites on the circuit and the last of three events of the Western Swing. "We like the track," he said. "It's a Bruton Smith-owned track, has a lot of personality, and the fans are really incredible. We always enjoy coming here. The fact that it's the third of the Western Swing is nice. If the Western Swing has been so-so (for a driver) then this is your last chance to really dig deep and shine. "For our Matco Tools team, we had an up-and-down weekend in Seattle. We struggled some with the car, but come race day we went to the semifinals and had a really good result, so we're coming here with confidence and high expectations that we can win this race again." The two-time U.S. Nationals champion won here in 1999, was runner-up in 1998, and No. 1 qualifier in 1999, 2000 and 2001. He is seventh in the POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car points, with two wins so far this season. SCHEDULE: On Friday, July 29, pro qualifying sessions are at 3:45 and 6:45 p.m. On Saturday, July 30, pro qualifying sessions are at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. On Sunday, July 31, pre-race ceremonies begin at 10 a.m., final eliminations at 11 a.m. TELEVISION: On Saturday, July 30, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 8 p.m. (ET). On Sunday, July 31, ESPN2 will televise three hours of eliminations coverage at 9 p.m. (ET). WHIT BAZEMORE QUICK FACTS: * Two-time U.S. Nationals champion, 1997 and 2001 * Seventh in 2005 Funny Car point standings after 14 events, 229 points out of lead * Won two events this year (Gainesville, Las Vegas), No. 1 qualifier once (Columbus) * Qualified No. 6 at 2004 FRAM-Autolite Nationals, lost second round to Tim Wilkerson * Won here in 1999; was runner-up in 1998 * No. 1 qualifier here in 1999, 2000 and 2001 * 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 43 final rounds in 309 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 ***