Bazemore looks for more in Reading

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2005 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
ROUND 19 OF 23
TOYO TIRES NHRA NATIONALS
MAPLE GROVE RACEWAY
READING, PA.
Race Dates: Sept. 16-18, 2005


READING, Pa. (Sept. 14, 2005) - Whit Bazemore is on the comeback trail after
reaching the semifinals at the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day, and is looking
for more at this weekendıs Toyo Tires Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.

After three trips to the semifinals in the last five POWERade Drag Racing
Series events, Bazemore continues to see progress with the Matco Tools Iron
Eagle Dodge Stratus Funny Car team that struggled mid-year, as the 2005
season begins to wind down to the last five races.

³The disappointment of Indy is still there,² says Bazemore, who felt he had
a strong chance to reach the final round, but fell victim to an oildown in
his lane prior to his semifinal run. ³The exciting thing is that I feel
strongly that the Matco Tools team has turned the corner and, without
wanting to jinx us, we should be a stronger and more competitive team.

³We have that confidence for the rest of the season, so Iım looking forward
to racing in Reading.

³Reading is a hard track,² adds Bazemore, who has two runner-up finishes
here (2001 and 2002) and was No. 1 qualifier in Œ02. ³For some reason this
track gives you more of a sensation of speed, and our car feels fast right
now. Itıs not the easiest car Iıve ever driven. Itıs going to be challenging
and Iım looking forward to that.²

Bazemore stands seventh in the Funny Car point standings, has two season
wins and one No. 1 qualifying effort.

WHIT BAZEMORE QUICK FACTS:
* Two-time U.S. Nationals champion, 1997 and 2001
* Seventh in 2005 Funny Car point standings after 18 events, 203 points out
of lead, 148 points short of fifth place
* Won two events this year (Gainesville, Las Vegas), No. 1 qualifier once
(Columbus)
* Qualified No. 12 at 2004 Maple Grove Nationals, lost first round to Gary
Scelzi
* Runner-up here in 2001 and 2002
* No. 1 qualifier here in 2002
* 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 313 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 (same as Bazemore's birthday)
* 2005 is his fifth season with Don Schumacher Racing