NHRA: Bazemore determined to rediscover winning form in Columbus
14 June 2000
Putnam, Connecticut, June 14, 2000 - Throughout the course of a season, there are many challenges which face an NHRA Nitro Funny Car team. To start, there are the simple logistics of transporting a race team and its equipment to twenty-three events at twenty-one tracks across the country. At every stop, teams must adjust to different racing surfaces and varying weather conditions. In addition, the technology required to extract the maximum performance from a world-class "fuel coupe" is constantly evolving. This year has also seen the implementation of several major rule changes, which have required a totally new approach in setting up the vehicle. The support of a corporate sponsor comes with its own inherent responsibilities. Finally, there is the pressure of facing a field of equally talented competitors, each of which has similar aspirations for victory. However, the sternest test is the one currently faced by crew of the Kendall Motor Oil/Matco Tools Camaro Z28. For the last decade, the Chuck Etchells Racing entry has been a perennial championship contender, and a threat to win anytime it took to the track. Although this year has seen glimpses of this veteran team's true potential, such as a career best elapsed time in Gainesville and several strong qualifying efforts, the results to date have fallen well short of pre-season expectations. Each week, the pressure to perform grows even greater. As driver Whit Bazemore will attest, every member of the Etchells organization realizes how crucial it is that they perform well at this weekend's Pontiac Excitement Nationals in Columbus. "We're nearing the midpoint of the season and we're in 10th place, which is certainly not where we expected or wanted to be," stated Bazemore. "I believe we are at the stage where we must succeed. Not only can't we afford to make any mistakes, but we have to be almost perfect if we hope to move up and beat the teams that right now are doing better than we are. It won't be easy, but the Kendall/Matco team is fully capable, and they're working feverishly to get our Camaro back on track." One factor that Bazemore feels will help the Etchells team is that the year is heading into the summer months. With the combination of warmer temperatures and tricky racetracks on the horizon, the tuning emphasis now shifts from simply applying massive doses of horsepower to maintaining a delicate balance to ensure the racecar remains glued to the track. Under these circumstances, the pilots of these 6,000 horsepower machines are often the difference between a successful pass and a futile exhibition of tire smoke. "The heat and less-than perfect racetracks should even out the field a little bit," said Bazemore. "Which then puts things more in the driver's hands. Instead of just flooring it and seeing what the car will run, you'll see pedaling contests, where two Funny Cars are fighting for traction. In that case the better driver is going to win. I truly enjoy those situations, and believe that could work in the Kendall/Matco team's favor." But changing conditions aside, Bazemore and the entire Etchells crew know the key to success remains in discovering the consistency necessary to run well on every pass, something that has eluded them to this point. "We know the potential is here for a stellar remainder of the season," detailed Bazemore. "The Kendall/Matco Camaro has made some outstanding runs, but has had difficulty reproducing them. The bottom line is that we have to get a consistent and competitive tune-up, with a bigger window of adjustment. Right now, we're walking a very thin line between flying and not running. Our goal is to simply have a car in Columbus that's more raceable. If we do that, I'm confident the rest of the pieces will fall into place." Quick Whits: This will be Whit Bazemore's eleventh appearance at National Trail Raceway, where he hopes to improve upon his runner-up performance from 1997 …. Bazemore's best qualifying performance in Columbus to date is 2nd, which he accomplished last year…. One year ago, Whit qualified 8th, and advanced to the semi-finals….Bazemore is also looking to move up from his current 10th place position in the Winston Drag Racing Series season's points standings. Fast Facts WHAT: 36th annual Pontiac Excitement Nationals, the eleventh event on the 23-race 2000 NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series Schedule. WHEN: June 15-18, 2000 WHERE: National Trail Raceway, Hebron, Ohio SCHEDULE: Pro qualifying sessions start with two sessions on Friday, June 16 at 4:00 and 8:00 p.m., and conclude on Saturday, June 17 with two rounds at 12:15 and 4:00 p.m. Final eliminations begin at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 18. TV: ESPN2 will air two hours of qualifying highlights on Saturday, June 17 from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m., followed by two hours of final eliminations coverage on Sunday, June 18 from 5 - 7:00 p.m.. (Times given are Eastern. As always, please check your local listings.)