Bazemore on consistent course heading to Dallas
DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2005 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES Round 20 of 23 O'REILLY NHRA FALL NATIONALS Texas Motorplex Dallas, Texas Race Dates: Sept. 23-25, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438; jstropus@earthlink.net BAZEMORE ON CONSISTENT COURSE HEADING TO DALLAS DALLAS (Sept. 21, 2005) - Whit Bazemore and the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus R/T Funny Car team are on a consistent course following their fourth semifinal finish in six races in Reading, Pa., on Sunday. The team's goal at this weekend's O'Reilly Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex is no different than at any other race, as the 2005 POWERade Drag Racing Series winds down to its last four races: qualify well, and win. "We've had two good races in a rows, the semis in Indy and then again at Maple Grove," said Bazemore, who has won twice this season. "They're good, consistent results. They're not exceptional, but on race day we seem to be able to perform pretty well and the Matco Tools team is working hard. "Obviously, we're coming to Dallas with the intention of winning the race, but we have to work harder to make our car the strongest car in the field, and right now we're not. My teammate (Gary) Scelzi (points leader) seems to have a very, very strong car right now. They're doing an outstanding job. And (other teammate Ron) Capps' car is running awfully well. "Our Matco Tools guys have their heads down and they're doing everything they know how to do and so am I. We have high hopes going into Dallas." Bazemore is seventh in the Funny Car point standings, 208 points out of first place. While Bazemore's chances of winning his first Funny Car championship are a longshot, he is not out of the running. Strong results in the upcoming events could vault him higher in the standings. SCHEDULE: On Friday, Sept. 23, professional qualifying sessions are at 4:30 and 7 p.m. On Saturday, Sept. 24, pro qualifying continues at noon and 3 p.m. On Sunday, Sept. 25, pre-race ceremonies are at 10 a.m., while final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. TELEVISION: On Saturday, Sept. 24, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 4 p.m. (ET). On Sunday, Sept. 25, ESPN2 will televise two hours, 30 min. of final eliminations at 11 p.m. (ET). WHIT BAZEMORE QUICK FACTS: * Two-time U.S. Nationals champion, 1997 and 2001 * Seventh in 2005 Funny Car point standings after 19 events, 208 points out of lead, 126 points short of fifth place * Won two events this year (Gainesville, Las Vegas), No. 1 qualifier once (Columbus) * Qualified No. 4 at 2004 O'Reilly Nationals, lost second round to Del Worsham * Has never won Funny Car here * No. 1 qualifier here in 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 314 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 ***