BAZEMORE HAS HICCUP IN FINAL SESSION, QUALIFIES SIXTH IN TOPEKA
DON SCHUMACHER RACING
O'REILLY NHRA SUMMER NATIONALS
HEARTLAND PARK TOPEKA, Kan.
Contact: Judy Stropus
TOPEKA, Kan. (May 28, 2005) - Whit Bazemore and Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus Funny Car crew chief Lee Beard put together three excellent passes during qualifying for the O'Reilly Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka, but failed to start the final session because of a starter problem.
The defending Topeka Funny Car champion ended up sixth in the field and will face his teammate Ron Capps in the first round of final eliminations on Sunday.
Bazemore posted a 4.847/317.19 in the first round, followed by a 4.806/316.90 in Friday's night session and a 4.922/307.79, before aborting the final run at the starting line.
"It's been an up and down weekend," said Bazemore. "It's been OK. We went down the track every time except in the last session, where we had a really freak situation with the starter motor and the batteries. We couldn't get the car to start, because one starter motor failed, and then it caused a problem with the battery pack.
"We were unable to make the last run, which was really unfortunate, because the conditions were good (a cloud cover came over because of an impending storm) and with the information that we learned from last night we all feel pretty confident that we could have run considerably better and improved our position in the field.
"But, as it is, sixth is not bad. It's in the top half, so we're not unhappy with the job that we've done so far."
O'REILLY NHRA SUMMER NATIONALS
HEARTLAND PARK TOPEKA, Kan.
Contact: Judy Stropus
TOPEKA, Kan. (May 28, 2005) - Whit Bazemore and Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus Funny Car crew chief Lee Beard put together three excellent passes during qualifying for the O'Reilly Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka, but failed to start the final session because of a starter problem.
The defending Topeka Funny Car champion ended up sixth in the field and will face his teammate Ron Capps in the first round of final eliminations on Sunday.
Bazemore posted a 4.847/317.19 in the first round, followed by a 4.806/316.90 in Friday's night session and a 4.922/307.79, before aborting the final run at the starting line.
"It's been an up and down weekend," said Bazemore. "It's been OK. We went down the track every time except in the last session, where we had a really freak situation with the starter motor and the batteries. We couldn't get the car to start, because one starter motor failed, and then it caused a problem with the battery pack.
"We were unable to make the last run, which was really unfortunate, because the conditions were good (a cloud cover came over because of an impending storm) and with the information that we learned from last night we all feel pretty confident that we could have run considerably better and improved our position in the field.
"But, as it is, sixth is not bad. It's in the top half, so we're not unhappy with the job that we've done so far."
posted by David @ 11:00 PM
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