Parts failure takes out Bazemore in Chicago's first round

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 10 of 23
CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals
Route 66 Raceway
Joliet, Ill.
Race Date: June 9-11, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438;
jstropus@earthlink.net

PARTS FAILURE TAKES OUT BAZEMORE IN CHICAGO'S FIRST ROUND

JOLIET, ILL. (June 11, 2006) - Whit Bazemore and the Matco Tools Iron Eagle
Dodge Charger Funny Car team were looking very strong this weekend after
qualifying No. 2 at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66
Raceway.

The team spent a large part of the early stages of the 2006 NHRA POWERade
Drag Racing Series getting back on their feet as championship contenders,
and they were clearly on their way. So, today, following an elapsed-time
personal-best performance in qualifying (4.674 seconds at 330.88 mph),
Bazemore and the team were ready to showcase their improvement in
eliminations.

But it was not to be, as the car suffered a freak parts failure in the
opening around against Phil Burkart Jr., taking Bazemore out of the race and
into a cloud of frustration.

The pair took off with nearly identical reaction times: .080 for Bazemore,
.075 for Burkart. By half-track, Bazemore was .057 of a second in the lead
and .056 of a second out in front at the 1000-ft. point. Then, in a flash,
it was over for Bazemore, as he slowed to a 4.904-second ET at 241.63 mph at
the finish to Burkart's winning 4.811/318.32. Margin of victory: .0983 of a
second.

"We had the best car," said Bazemore. "No one went quicker than our
qualifying time in that first round, but we had a problem with the motor. It
was just freak breakage, and it's happened to us before. I tell you, the
whole team is not only disappointed but frustrated because it's a brand-new
part and it just happened again.

"It's not tune-up related. We're frustrated because the Matco Tools Dodge
Charger was on track to run what we ran last night (4.674) and I was in
(staged) a hundredth (of a second) or two, so it was going to be a 4.69
probably.

"So, we're leaving here with the fastest car and not the win, which is
frustrating. Everyone did their jobs right and we didn't win. Sometimes it's
easier to screw up and make a mistake, either driving or tune-up-wise, and
lose that way than it is to be way ahead and have something stupid break on
the car. It's very, very disheartening."

Bazemore is seventh in the Funny Car point standings.

Next up is the K&N Filters Supernationals in Englishtown, N.J., June 16-18.

FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Ron Capps, 833
2. John Force, 785 (winner today)
3. Robert Hight, 647
4. Eric Medlen, 604
5. Tony Pedregon, 562
6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 536
7. Whit Bazemore, 503
8. Gary Scelzi, 473
9. Del Worsham, 469
10. Cruz Pedregon, 467

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