BAZEMORE LOOKS FOR MORE IN READING
DON SCHUMACHER RACING
Contact: Judy Stropus
READING, Pa. (Sept. 14, 2005) - Whit Bazemore is on the comeback trail after reaching the semifinals at the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day, and is looking for more at this weekend's Toyo Tires Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.
After three trips to the semifinals in the last five POWERade Drag Racing Series events, Bazemore continues to see progress with the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus Funny Car team that struggled mid-year, as the 2005 season begins to wind down to the last five races.
"The disappointment of Indy is still there," says Bazemore, who felt he had a strong chance to reach the final round, but fell victim to an oildown in his lane prior to his semifinal run. "The exciting thing is that I feel strongly that the Matco Tools team has turned the corner and, without wanting to jinx us, we should be a stronger and more competitive team.
"We have that confidence for the rest of the season, so I'm looking forward to racing in Reading.
"Reading is a hard track," adds Bazemore, who has two runner-up finishes here (2001 and 2002) and was No. 1 qualifier in '02. "For some reason this track gives you more of a sensation of speed, and our car feels fast right now. It's not the easiest car I've ever driven. It's going to be challenging and I'm looking forward to that."
Bazemore stands seventh in the Funny Car point standings, has two season wins and one No. 1 qualifying effort.
WHIT BAZEMORE QUICK FACTS:
* Two-time U.S. Nationals champion, 1997 and 2001
* Seventh in 2005 Funny Car point standings after 18 events, 203 points out of lead, 148 points short of fifth place
* Won two events this year (Gainesville, Las Vegas), No. 1 qualifier once (Columbus)
* Qualified No. 12 at 2004 Maple Grove Nationals, lost first round to Gary Scelzi
* Runner-up here in 2001 and 2002
* No. 1 qualifier here in 2002
* 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 43 final rounds in 313 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 (same as Bazemore's birthday)
* 2005 is his fifth season with Don Schumacher Racing
Contact: Judy Stropus
READING, Pa. (Sept. 14, 2005) - Whit Bazemore is on the comeback trail after reaching the semifinals at the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day, and is looking for more at this weekend's Toyo Tires Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.
After three trips to the semifinals in the last five POWERade Drag Racing Series events, Bazemore continues to see progress with the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus Funny Car team that struggled mid-year, as the 2005 season begins to wind down to the last five races.
"The disappointment of Indy is still there," says Bazemore, who felt he had a strong chance to reach the final round, but fell victim to an oildown in his lane prior to his semifinal run. "The exciting thing is that I feel strongly that the Matco Tools team has turned the corner and, without wanting to jinx us, we should be a stronger and more competitive team.
"We have that confidence for the rest of the season, so I'm looking forward to racing in Reading.
"Reading is a hard track," adds Bazemore, who has two runner-up finishes here (2001 and 2002) and was No. 1 qualifier in '02. "For some reason this track gives you more of a sensation of speed, and our car feels fast right now. It's not the easiest car I've ever driven. It's going to be challenging and I'm looking forward to that."
Bazemore stands seventh in the Funny Car point standings, has two season wins and one No. 1 qualifying effort.
WHIT BAZEMORE QUICK FACTS:
* Two-time U.S. Nationals champion, 1997 and 2001
* Seventh in 2005 Funny Car point standings after 18 events, 203 points out of lead, 148 points short of fifth place
* Won two events this year (Gainesville, Las Vegas), No. 1 qualifier once (Columbus)
* Qualified No. 12 at 2004 Maple Grove Nationals, lost first round to Gary Scelzi
* Runner-up here in 2001 and 2002
* No. 1 qualifier here in 2002
* 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 43 final rounds in 313 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 (same as Bazemore's birthday)
* 2005 is his fifth season with Don Schumacher Racing
posted by David @ 2:54 PM
<< Home