Bazemore returns to site of first win in Topeka
DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES Round 9 of 23 O'REILLY NHRA SUMMER NATIONALS Heartland Park Topeka (Kan.) Race Date: May 26-28, 2006 TOPEKA, Kan. (May 23, 2006) - Whit Bazemore always has a soft spot in his heart for Heartland Park Topeka. It's the site of his first Funny Car win, back in 1997, and also where he won in 2004. So, the driver of the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car, who's made a huge turnaround in performance the last few races of the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, would like to three-peat here this weekend at the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals. He's fresh off a strong showing in Columbus, Ohio, last weekend, where he had the car to beat. Bazemore made it into his first final round of the season, with lane choice every time. Then a mechanical problem put him out of the running in the money round. That's all right, though, according to Bazemore, who moved into eighth in the point standings. "The important thing is that we're running well and I feel like we have momentum and it's great," he says. "That's what this sport is all about and you have to have that to be successful. "It doesn't matter where we are racing this weekend, I'd be excited. But the fact that it is Topeka, where we won our first race ever back in 1997 - my first race as a driver, my second as a team owner - is very exciting. "I'm really looking forward to getting back to Heartland Park. It's a good track. It's a special place for me, obviously, and I like it." He recalls that first win: "I remember exactly. It was a hot day, it was in June, and we had Randy Anderson in the final. He was kind of a rookie, but very well-funded, a good team, and they had won two races already that year. And I remember going into the final thinking, I'm not going to give my trophy to this guy. And that's how we approached it. We were in a very aggressive state of mind and we got the job done." Since then, Bazemore has won 18 additional national events and is looking for this 20th career victory this weekend. His Topeka record also includes qualifying No. 1 here in 2004 and 1999, and a runner-up finish in 2003. WHIT BAZEMORE QUICK FACTS: * Eighth in 2006 Funny Car point standings after eight events (254 out of lead), with one runner-up and two semifinal finishes * Two-time U.S. Nationals champion, 1997 and 2001 * Ninth in final 2005 Funny Car point standings * Won two events in 2005 (Gainesville, Las Vegas), No. 1 qualifier once (Columbus) * Qualified No. 6 at 2005 O'Reilly Summer Nationals, lost first round to teammate Ron Capps * Has won twice in Topeka, in 1997 (first win) and 2004. Was runner-up in 2003 and No. 1 qualifier in 1999 and 2004 * 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 326 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 43, 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 WEEKEND SCHEDULE: Friday, May 26, Professional Qualifying Sessions are at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 27, Professional Qualifying Sessions are at noon and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 28, Final Eliminations begin at 11 a.m. TELEVISION: Saturday, May 27, ESPN and ESPN2 HD will televise one hour of qualifying highlights at 8 p.m. (ET). Sunday, May 28, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute magazine show at 11:30 a.m. (ET). Sunday, May 28, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of eliminations at 10 p.m. (ET). SATELLITE: Friday, May 26, 10:30-11 p.m. (ET) SBS 6 / Transponder 17K (12117 MHz, horizontal) Saturday, May 27, 9:30 -10 p.m. (ET) SBS 6 / Transponder 17K (12117 MHz, horizontal) Sunday, May 28, 8:30-9 p.m. (ET) SBS 6 / Transponder 17K (12117 MHz, horizontal) Feeds include action with natural sound of Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock, plus interviews with winners on Sunday.