Bazemore and Matco Tools team continue to improve, grab No. 4 in Columbus qualifying

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 8 of 23
Pontiac Performance NHRA Nationals
National Trail Raceway
Columbus, Ohio
Race Date: May 19-21, 2006

BAZEMORE AND MATCO TOOLS TEAM CONTINUE TO IMPROVE, GRAB NO. 4 IN COLUMBUS
QUALIFYING

HEBRON, Ohio (May 20, 2006) - Whit Bazemore and the Matco Tools Iron Eagle
Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team continue to improve, as evidenced by
Bazemore's earning another stout qualifying spot today at National Trail
Raceway. He qualified No. 4, marking the fifth time this season he's
qualified in the top half.

Bazemore's best pass of the weekend, a 4.741-second elapsed time at 327.11
mph, came in the cool Friday evening session. His other runs include a
4.847/311.49, a 6.710/126.71 and a 4.804/321.96.

"It's a really good effort all the way around," he said. "The Matco Tools
team is doing a tremendous job, the car is running very competitively and
we're in a good position.

"To me it shows the effort and the ability that everyone has put in and it's
all good. We tuned the car that last run to finish today's earlier run, and
basically it did. The car is consistently responding well to input and
that's what it takes.

"You have to have a car that does what you tell it to do and our car is
doing that right now. Todd (Okuhara) and Brian (Corradi) have a lot of
confidence, and when the crew chiefs have a lot of confidence, the driver
ends up having a lot of confidence, so we're feeling good."

Bazemore faces Bob Gilbertson in first round of eliminations on Sunday.