2003 E'Town Funny Car champ Bazemore ready to repeat

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 11 of 23
K&N Filters SuperNationals
Old Bridge Township Raceway
Englishtown, N.J.
Race Date: June 16-18, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

2003 E'TOWN FUNNY CAR CHAMP BAZEMORE SET TO REPEAT

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 14, 2006) - Whit Bazemore and the Matco Tools Iron
Eagle Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team have demonstrated a marked
improvement in the car's performance in the last several races, including a
No. 2 qualifying spot in Chicago last weekend, a new career-best elapsed
time (4.674 seconds - at 330.88 mph!) set there, as well as a move into
seventh in the point standings.

So, they're ready to rock their world at the K&N Filters SuperNationals this
weekend at historic Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, a favorite for
Bazemore, who won here in 2003.

"Englishtown is a track that we really like," said the two-time U.S.
Nationals champion who is seeking his first Funny Car crown. "We like coming
here and right now we have a bad-ass hot rod and that always makes it more
enjoyable. 

"I think we'll be able to still have the performance in Englishtown that
we've had in the last couple of races, and that makes it exciting."

There's other history at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park for the Don
Schumacher Racing team: Team owner Don Schumacher was the Funny Car winner
here in 1972!

WHIT BAZEMORE QUICK FACTS:
* Seventh in 2006 Funny Car point standings after 10 events (330 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)
* No. 15 qualifier at 2005 K&N Filters SuperNationals, lost second round to
Ron Capps
* Is winner here in 2003
* First Funny Car driver to break 325-mph barrier (U.S. Nationals 2001)
* Career quickest ET is 4.6.74 seconds (Chicago 2006), career fastest speed
is 333.25 mph (Chicago 1 2004)
* Has 19 career Funny Car event wins in 44 final rounds in 327 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

SCHEDULE: 
Pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June
16. Qualifying continues at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 17 and
final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 18.

ON TV: 
ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying of the K&N Filters
NHRA SuperNationals at 5 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, June 17. ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD
will televise three hours of final eliminations coverage beginning at 4 p.m.
(ET) on Sunday, June 18.


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