Bazemore focused on return to winner's circle in Phoenix
DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES Round 2 of 23 CHECKER SCHUCK'S KRAGEN NHRA NATIONALS FIREBIRD INTL RACEWAY CHANDLER, Ariz. Race Date: Feb. 24-26, 2006 Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438; jstropus@earthlink.net BAZEMORE FOCUSED ON RETURN TO WINNER'S CIRCLE IN PHOENIX CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 22, 2006) - Although he's never won an NHRA Funny Car event at Firebird International Raceway, Whit Bazemore has had his share of victories won and records set during his dynamic POWERade Drag Racing Series career. He's a two-time U.S. Nationals champion, the first to reach 325 mph in a Funny Car, was second twice in the Funny Car championship in 2001 and 2003, third in 1997 and '99, has finished in the top five six times and 13 times in the top 10 since 1992, and has 19 national event wins to his credit. The outspoken driver of the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus R/T Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing has endured heart-wrenching, emotionally-draining seasons where he's come oh-so-close to winning his first championship only to have it snatched from his grasp at the end. The 2005 season was a heartbreaker. Bazemore came on strong at the start, led the point standings early, won two events and looked like he was headed to another year-end battle among the usual Funny Car players for the crown. But midway through the series the team began to struggle. A crew chief change was made and the team regrouped to end the season ninth in the point standings. A new tuner was brought on board for 2006, and Brian Corradi and assistant crew chief Todd Okuhara have already demonstrated the team's renaissance at the season-opening event in Pomona, Calif., where they produced a series of solid quick and fast passes to qualify No. 6. They're striving to return the team to the winner's circle by earning Bazemore a 20th career victory this weekend at the Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals en route to a serious challenge for the Funny Car championship. "We are feeling good," said Bazemore, despite going out in the first round in Pomona. "Pomona didn't go the way we intended, but it's still a positive experience for the team, despite the results. "I'm excited about going to Phoenix and working with the Matco Tools team and having the opportunity again for us to show what we are made of. "It's a decent track, we have done a lot of testing here, so I think we'll be all right. "Our potential here is tremendous. Phoenix is one of 22 remaining races where we have to have a good result to end up being competitive for the championship. I look at every race as being equally important as the other one, even though it may not have the history and prestige of Pomona's Winternationals. But it still pays the same money and the same points. And we come to the race to win. "For me to have fun doing my job I have to win. We give a 100-percent effort toward winning. We did that in Pomona and came up short and we're going to do that in Phoenix and we're going to keep doing it. And at some point we're going to get this Matco Tools team back in the winner's circle, where it's been a lot in the past. "We've never won in Phoenix, but we've been in the semis a few times. It's a track we need to conquer." SCHEDULE: On Friday, Feb. 24, professional qualifying sessions are at 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. On Saturday, Feb. 25, pro qualifying continues at 12 noon and 2:30 p.m. On Sunday, final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. TELEVISION: On Feb. 25 qualifying rounds will air from 8-10 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Eliminations are scheduled to air on Feb. 26 from 7-10 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Eliminations show will repeat on Feb. 28 from 3-5 a.m. ET on ESPN2. WHIT BAZEMORE QUICK FACTS: * 11th in 2006 Funny Car point standings after one event * 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. 14 at 2005 CSK Nationals, lost second round to Phil Burkart Jr. * Has never won CSK Nationals or qualified No. 1 * 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 319 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 ***