BAZEMORE AIMS FOR TURN-AROUND IN OHIO
DON SCHUMACHER RACING
Contact: Judy Stropus
HEBRON, Ohio (May 18, 2005) - Whit Bazemore is very much in the Funny Car points championship chase, despite his first-round loss in Atlanta last Sunday and a fall to second in points after a strong early-season lead. The driver of the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus R/T is just 24 points out of first place in what is becoming the annual Bazemore vs. Force show in the POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car class.
The pair met in the first round of eliminations in Atlanta. It was an important race for both of them. While Bazemore had the edge after launching first at the light, he lost traction early, allowing Force to take the round win and eventually the event victory and the points lead.
Bazemore, who has not won at National Trail Raceway (just east of Columbus, Ohio), but was low qualifier in 2002 and runner-up in 1997, is seeking his first Funny Car championship of his 16-year pro career, and hopes to see a turn-around in this weekend's NHRA Nationals, the second of a three-race back-to-back swing.
"We're coming to Columbus and try to turn our season around," said the two-time U.S. Nationals champion who lives in Indianapolis. "Even though we were up there at the top of the points for quite a while, we're just not the team to beat right now and we're not the team that we can be.
"We have to go to Columbus and really have our luck change. We have to do whatever it takes to change our luck. We desperately need to have a good weekend here, if we want to continue to fight for this championship.
"Otherwise, we're going to be fighting for fifth place or worse."
SCHEDULE:
On Friday, May 20, pro qualifying sessions are at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. On Saturday, May 21, pro qualifying sessions are at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. On Sunday, May 22, final eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
On Saturday, May 21, ESPN will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 11 p.m. (ET). On Sunday May 22, ESPN2 will broadcast NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute weekly news magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET). Also on Sunday, May 22, ESPN2 will televise three hours of eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
WHIT BAZEMORE QUICK FACTS:
* Two-time U.S. Nationals champion, 1997 and 2001
* Second in 2005 Funny Car point standings after seven events, 24 points out of lead
* Qualified No. 2 at 2004 National Trail Raceway Nationals, lost second round to Eric Medlen
* Was low qualifier here in 2002, runner-up in 1997
* Qualified in the top two in nine events in 2004, four times in No. 1
* No. 6 in 2004 Funny Car points, with two wins, five final rounds
* 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
* Won three times in 2003, runner-up five times
* Has 19 career Funny Car event wins in 302 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 12 times in the top 10 since 1992
* Age 42, 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
* 2005 is his fifth season with Don Schumacher Racing
Contact: Judy Stropus
HEBRON, Ohio (May 18, 2005) - Whit Bazemore is very much in the Funny Car points championship chase, despite his first-round loss in Atlanta last Sunday and a fall to second in points after a strong early-season lead. The driver of the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus R/T is just 24 points out of first place in what is becoming the annual Bazemore vs. Force show in the POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car class.
The pair met in the first round of eliminations in Atlanta. It was an important race for both of them. While Bazemore had the edge after launching first at the light, he lost traction early, allowing Force to take the round win and eventually the event victory and the points lead.
Bazemore, who has not won at National Trail Raceway (just east of Columbus, Ohio), but was low qualifier in 2002 and runner-up in 1997, is seeking his first Funny Car championship of his 16-year pro career, and hopes to see a turn-around in this weekend's NHRA Nationals, the second of a three-race back-to-back swing.
"We're coming to Columbus and try to turn our season around," said the two-time U.S. Nationals champion who lives in Indianapolis. "Even though we were up there at the top of the points for quite a while, we're just not the team to beat right now and we're not the team that we can be.
"We have to go to Columbus and really have our luck change. We have to do whatever it takes to change our luck. We desperately need to have a good weekend here, if we want to continue to fight for this championship.
"Otherwise, we're going to be fighting for fifth place or worse."
SCHEDULE:
On Friday, May 20, pro qualifying sessions are at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. On Saturday, May 21, pro qualifying sessions are at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. On Sunday, May 22, final eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
On Saturday, May 21, ESPN will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 11 p.m. (ET). On Sunday May 22, ESPN2 will broadcast NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute weekly news magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET). Also on Sunday, May 22, ESPN2 will televise three hours of eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
WHIT BAZEMORE QUICK FACTS:
* Two-time U.S. Nationals champion, 1997 and 2001
* Second in 2005 Funny Car point standings after seven events, 24 points out of lead
* Qualified No. 2 at 2004 National Trail Raceway Nationals, lost second round to Eric Medlen
* Was low qualifier here in 2002, runner-up in 1997
* Qualified in the top two in nine events in 2004, four times in No. 1
* No. 6 in 2004 Funny Car points, with two wins, five final rounds
* 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
* Won three times in 2003, runner-up five times
* Has 19 career Funny Car event wins in 302 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 12 times in the top 10 since 1992
* Age 42, 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
* 2005 is his fifth season with Don Schumacher Racing
posted by David @ 1:07 AM
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