Bazemore eager to get NHRA season started in Pomona
(Note: Digital image of Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus Funny Car attached. Photo by Ron Lewis.) DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES ROUND 1 OF 23 CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals POMONA (CALIF.) RACEWAY RACE DATE: FEB 9-12, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438; jstropus@earthlink.net BAZEMORE EAGER TO GET SEASON STARTED IN POMONA INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 7, 2006) - With a fresh, flashy and unique design on the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus Funny Car, a new tuner and some new faces on the crew, Whit Bazemore is eager to get the 2006 POWERade Drag Racing Series show on the road this weekend at the CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals at Pomona Raceway. Always a strong contender for the Funny Car crown, the two-time U.S. Nationals champion finished a disappointing ninth in points last year, despite leading early in the year and winning two events. Following a mid-season crew chief change, the team made steady progress back to the front of the class and in the final 10 races of the season Bazemore had scored four semifinal finishes. Brian Corradi joined the team in late 2005 as the new crew chief and he, Todd Okuhara and Bazemore are ready to attack the 2006 season and the opening event in Pomona with renewed vigor and self-assurance. "I feel confident," said Bazemore. "Pomona is always a big challenge because it's one of the biggest races of the season and everything is new, usually, and everyone is starting off on a clean slate. "It's exciting because everyone is leading the championship right now. It's the first opportunity to make your season something special." Recent tests in Las Vegas and Phoenix were productive, Bazemore said. "In some aspects testing was good. We weren't the quickest, but we solved our problems. I feel like we're prepared. "The big question mark at Pomona is going to be the tire situation. We're going to have to make the most of each run and it's going to be hard to get a perfect run depending on the weather conditions and the tire that we choose. As a driver, I think I'm going to go in there with a little bit more aggressive mindset during qualifying than perhaps ever before where, if it shakes at all, we're going to try and save it and make every run count. There's no guarantee you won't have a shake-free run." At the 2005 Winternationals, Bazemore reached the semifinal round after defeating his teammate Ron Capps and Tony Pedregon, but lost to the eventual event winner, Tommy Johnson Jr. He is looking for his first victory at Pomona Raceway. SCHEDULE: On Thursday, Feb. 9, one pro qualifying session is scheduled for 2 p.m. On Friday, Feb. 10, a second pro qualifying session is scheduled for 2 p.m. On Saturday, Feb. 11, pro qualifying will continue with two sessions, at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 12. TELEVISION: On Saturday, Feb. 11, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 10 p.m. (ET). On Sunday, Feb. 12, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of eliminations at 7:30 p.m. (ET). WHIT BAZEMORE QUICK FACTS: * Two-time U.S. Nationals champion, 1997 and 2001 * Ninth in 2005 Funny Car point standings * Won two events in 2005 (Gainesville, Las Vegas), No. 1 qualifier once (Columbus) * Qualified No. 8 at 2005 Winternationals, lost semifinal round to Tommy Johnson Jr. * No. 1 qualifier twice here in 2001 (2 and 3); has two runner-up finishes here (both in 2001) * 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 * Has 19 career Funny Car event wins in 43 final rounds in 318 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 13 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) * 2006 is his sixth season with Don Schumacher Racing ***