Bazemore and Matco Tools host vocational students at CSK Nationals

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

BAZEMORE AND MATCO TOOLS HOST GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS AT CSK
NATIONALS

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 25, 2006) - Whit Bazemore and Matco Tools hosted
a group of more than 30 vocational tech students from Glendale (Ariz.)
Community College Friday afternoon at the CSK Nationals at Firebird Raceway.
The students were here on a college field trip and to participate in a pit
crew challenge Friday morning as part of their school's vocational program.

Guests of Marde Anderson, Matco Tools' district vocational manager, who
works with vocational schools to provide students with the Matco Tools they
need to help excel in their training, the students visited the DSR pit area
to meet Bazemore, driver of the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus Funny
Car, and the Matco Tools crew members.

The two-time U.S. Nationals champion spoke with the students about the
unique technology and science required in professional drag-racing, the
experience of going down the quarter mile at 333 mph, and what it takes to
work in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

Bazemore easily related to the students, as he was once an outsider looking
into the NHRA world. "I think it's important for young people to realize
that they can achieve anything in life, in business, career-wise that they
want to. If they have a commitment and dedication, and make good decisions
in education, then they can do anything in the world, and I firmly believe
that.

"The goal in talking to them is to expose them to our sport a little
bit, and show them that there is an open door here for young people to
come in and have a good career - whether it's as a mechanic, or in any
other way that you can work in the sport," added the 42-year-old Funny Car
veteran. "There's lots of opportunities out here. It's not a walled
community, where you have to know somebody to get involved. It's available
to anyone."

John Torok, motorsports marketing manager for Matco Tools, said that
building a relationship between Matco Tools, vocational schools, and
the Funny Car team is important. "It gives us an opportunity to get
everyone together, get the students around the car, and make the
program better," he said. "They were able to have a meet-and-greet with
Whit, see the car and how it performs, and talk with the crew guys."

The students were also granted a DSR VIP tour of the Matco Tools pit,
race trailer and technology trailer. "We've done some school
appearances at some tech schools before," said Bazemore, "and they've gone
real well. It's cool for them to experience the sport first hand, and get a
real feel for what it's all about. Being right here in the Matco Tools
pit area, they get to see first hand what life is like for the crew guys. If
they want to be part of that they can be."

Part of Matco Tools' vocational commitment includes providing their
products at a vocational rate to students who visit its website
(www.matcotools.com/Votech/votech) and provide proof of enrollment in
their respective program.

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