WJ Will Roll Off Eighth in Seattle

Contact: Jon Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing, Inc.

Confident that his 6.695-second, 206.07-mph run from Friday evening would maintain his position in the top half of Sunday's starting field at the Carquest Auto Parts Nationals in Seattle, WA, Warren Johnson used the second day of qualifying at Pacific Raceways as a 200-mph test session, gaining valuable tuning information on his GM Performance Parts Pontiac.

Although his 6.715-second, 206.45 mph effort on Saturday afternoon was among the quickest in the final Pro Stock session, his effort from the previous day remained his run of record, and earned "The Professor" the eighth starting position.

"We got a little greedy with the optimum conditions this morning and overpowered the track. It shook and spun, which pulled it out of the groove, and even though we were able to run a pretty good speed, we had simply scrubbed off too much to have a good e.t..

"We then decided to change motors to see what this new piece could do. Without any track time, it was a relative unknown, so we wanted to see if it was at least competitive. Obviously, it is, and now it's a matter of working with it in the future.

"We learned a little more about what this GM Performance Parts Pontiac needs, so overall, it was a good day. We'll probably put the original engine back in for tomorrow, make a few changes, and go from there."

Dixon, Medlen and Thomas Top Pro Qualifiers at the NHRA POWERade CARQUEST Auto Parts Nationals

NHRA Saturday Recap

Dixon, Medlen and Anderson Lead Pro Qualifying at the NHRA POWERade CARQUEST Auto Parts Nationals

More Info at NHRA.com

Bazemore back in Funny Car hunt

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
Contact: Judy Stropus

KENT, Wash. (July 22, 2005) - Whit Bazemore is back in the hunt for the POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car championship, having qualified No. 2 at the Mopar Mile-High Nationals in Denver last week and twice breaking the track ET record at Bandimere Speedway that he owned coming into that race.

Event winner Robert Hight eventually took the track record away from Bazemore, but the two-time U.S. Nationals champion was encouraged by the performance of the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus Funny Car, tuned now by Dan Olson and Todd Okuhara, and is ready to attack this weekend's CARQUEST Auto Parts Nationals at Pacific Raceways, the second round of the three-race Western Swing.

Bazemore has a strong record at this Northwest track. He's won here twice (1997, 2001), was runner-up twice (1999 and 2003), and was No. 1 qualifier in 2000.

"We have done well here in the past, but this year we're coming basically with a new team," he said. "So, it's a challenge, as always, and we're grateful that they re-paved this track last year, which seemed to help it quite a bit.

"Our priority is to be able to get the Matco Tools Dodge to go down the track without smoking the tires right now, because we're making a lot of power, and that seems to be what cost us the most in the last couple of races, is smoking the tires.

"The goal is to go down the track in qualifying, get a good handle on it, go into race day and take it as it comes."

Bazemore started out strong in the 2005 season, winning two races and leading the Funny Car points through three events. He has been in a slump since the sixth race of the year and is gradually getting back into the hunt with his new crew chiefs Olson and Okuhara on board. He's seventh in points, 204 behind first place, and definitely in the mix. "As far as the championship goes, we've come back before from a 300 or 400-points deficit in the past (to vie for the crown). But, we have to get down the track consistently and if we do that we'll have a car that's going to win a lot of rounds.

"You have to assess where you are five, six or seven races to go (in the season) and just make progress each race."

SCHEDULE:
On Friday, July 22, pro qualifying sessions are at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. On Saturday, July 23, pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. (Pro Stock), noon (TF, FC); and 3 p.m. (all classes). On Sunday, July 24, pre-race ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:
On Saturday, July 23, ESPN HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 8 p.m. (ET). On Sunday, July 24, ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of eliminations at 9 p.m. (ET). On Sunday, July 24, ESPN2 HD will televise NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute magazine show at 11:30 a.m. (ET).

WHIT BAZEMORE QUICK FACTS:
* Two-time U.S. Nationals champion, 1997 and 2001
* Seventh in 2005 Funny Car point standings after 13 events, 204 points out of lead
* Won two events this year (Gainesville, Las Vegas), No. 1 qualifier once (Columbus)
* Qualified No. 7 at 2004 CARQUEST Auto Parts Nationals, lost semis to Cruz Pedregon
* Won here in 1997 and 2001; was runner-up in 1999 and 2003
* No. 1 qualifier here in 2000
* 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 in 43 final rounds in 308 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

Barry Grant Builds Pro Stock R&D Facility in Charlotte

NHRA article

Hemi Hurricane added to Southeastern Dragway's 50th Anniversary Celebration August 6

I've just been informed that Bunky Bobo will bring his "Hemi Hurricane" Willys Gasser to Dallas, GA for Southeastern Dragway's rescheduled 50th anniversary race. The Bobo family had just finished the restoration of the Hemi Hurricane in time for the 2005 National Hot Rod Reunion and won the Best of the Best - Memory Lane category when they made that event their first outing with the car. This great looking car had been raced at Dallas in the 1960s.

The headliners for the race are nitro burning nostalgia (or classic style) funny cars. Virgil Hartman (two cars - Mustang and Trans Am), Rob Bruce (Zombie Charger), Steve Nichols (Mill Road Boys Camaro), Rick Stambaugh (Corvette), Donnie Reeves (Mustang) and Troy Martin (Chi-Town Hustler Charger) will be bringing their nitro powered funny cars. Two alky funny cars will also be in attendance (Big Sexy's Mustang and Don Burge's Soul Shaker Vette). Gary Fore will be adding more fire and smoke with his jet funny car. Bob Gibson and Dale Wilson will have their front engine dragsters on hand, also.

Add in all the bracket cars and the Dallas pits will be packed. This should be even bigger and better than the first attempt on July 9th!

For more information:
Southeastern Dragway

KJ & Pacific Raceways Have a Permanent Bond

Contact:Jon G. Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing

ACDelco Crew Returns to Site of First NHRA National Event Win

Sugar Hill, Ga., July 20, 2005 - Over the course of the 23-race NHRA POWERade Drag Racing season, drivers and teams will arrive at a racetrack with which they have a special connection. It might be located close to their home or the team's shop, or could be the site of a particularly memorable performance, good or bad. Whatever the reason, each time they pull into the front gate at that particular facility, the memories will return as if they had just happened.

Such is the case for ACDelco Cobalt pilot Kurt Johnson and Pacific Raceways, site of this weekend's Carquest Auto Parts Nationals. It was twelve years ago that a heralded young rookie from Sugar Hill, GA who at that point was known more for being the son of defending Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson, first appeared in the Pacific Northwest. He had already shown flashes of the success that was to come, with three final round appearances in his first eleven races.

However, it was on that mid-summer weekend in the outskirts of Seattle that he put it all together, qualifying third and powering through four veterans (including his famous father) to score the first NHRA national event win of his career en route to being named Rookie of the Year.

"Naturally, every time we come back to Seattle, I remember that first win," said Johnson. "Even with the acheivements that we have experienced since then, as anyone will tell you, the first one always has a special place in your mind.

"But a lot has changed since then. The cars have gotten faster, the competition has gotten tighter, and they've even resurfaced the old race track, turning one of our most challenging and bumpy racing surfaces into one of the smoothest on the circuit. The one thing that hasn't changed, however, is this ACDelco Cobalt Racing team's desire to win."

Of course, previous accomplishments at the Kent quarter-mile have little influence on how the team will do this weekend. Coming off a win and two semi-final finishes in their last three races, Johnson & Co. have started to make their way back into the thick of the championship battle. But, with the number of remaining races starting to dwindle, they know that every opportunity to advance must be maximized.

"The best way to make up ground is to win races, scoring more points than anyone else," stated Johnson. "The good news is that we know our ACDelco Cobalt is capable of winning every race we enter, as we showed in St. Louis. But as close as the competition has gotten in Pro Stock, a fast car alone doesn't guarantee a trip to the winner's circle. You have to have the complete package with everyone on the crew and back at the shop doing their job to the best of their ability, avoiding mistakes, and even having a little luck thrown in.

"The forecast is calling for cooler temperatures, which means it will be fast. Coming from the thin air in Denver, we'll be making substantially more power than we were a week ago, which will require a completely different tune-up, and the team that is best able to adapt to the new conditions will have the greatest chance for success.

"Fortunately, our ACDelco Cobalt has been good in telling us what it needs, and responding to whatever changes we make. We'll look at our notes, come up with a starting tune-up for Friday afternoon, and work from there. This will be our 13th race at Pacific Raceways, and so far we've won every six years, so we're looking to keep things on schedule this weekend. We're definitely ready to win again."

Notes on Kurt Johnson and the ACDelco Cobalt Racing team entering
the Carquest Auto Parts Nationals:

* KJ Knows How to Win in Washington: This will be Kurt's 13th appearance at Pacific Raceways, where he has two wins in 1993 and 1999, and a strong 23-9 elimination round record in his 11 previous starts.

* Kurt Starts Strong in Seattle: In 11 starts at the Kent quarter-mile, Kurt has one No. 1 qualifying performance in 1997, and only one start outside the top half of the field, with an average starting position of 4.09.

* One year ago: Kurt qualified tenth with an elapsed time of 6.801 seconds and a top speed of 203.84 mph, but fell in the first round.

* Career Best Elapsed Time: 6.671 sec., Gainesville, FL, 3/20/05

* Career best top speed: 207.13 mph, Gainesville, FL, 3/20/05


Event Schedule:

Friday, July 22 - Two qualifying sessions at 3:30 & 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 23 - Two qualifying sessions at 10:30 a.m. & 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 24 - Pre-race ceremonies begin at 11:00 a.m. followed by
the first round of eliminations at 12:00 noon.

Television Schedule:

Qualifying: Saturday, July 23 - 8:00 - 10:00 p.m.
(Repeat) Sunday, July 24 - 3:00 - 5:00 a.m.

Eliminations: Sunday, July 24 - 9:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
(Repeat) Monday, July 25 - 3:00 - 4:30 a.m.

NHRA2Day: Sunday, July 24 - 11:30 a.m. - 12 noon.

(Please consult your local listings for exact times, as the schedule is subject to change.)

Warren Johnson - First Drag Racer Inducted into Infineon Raceway's Wall of Fame

More Info

This photo may be partially recreated August 6th when Troy Martin brings his Chi-Town Hustler recreation to Dallas, GA for the rescheduled 50th Anniversary of Southeastern Dragway. This photo was taken at Dallas, GA 30+ years ago by Garry Grimes. Thanks for the use of the photo, Garry!

New Southeastern Dragway 50th Anniversary Race Date & Details

Courtesy Berserko Bob

Dallas, Georgia - Southeastern Dragway, one of the nation's oldest drag strips, was to have celebrated their 50th anniversary earlier this month but an un-announced entry, Hurricane Dennis spoiled the party and the event has been re-scheduled for Saturday, August 6, 2005.

The event will feature nitro and alcohol Funny Cars, a jet powered Funny Car and over 300 of the southeast's best sportsman racers.

Southeastern Dragway opened it's gates for the first time on July 4, 1955 and has been in continuous operation ever since and is the oldest drag strip in the southeast. Many of the superstars of drag racing have raced at the track and the 50th anniversary celebration is sure to bring back memories from years past.

"We've got a great line-up of nostalgia Funny Cars headlining the show that will be doing battle on the Southeastern Dragway 1/8th mile. This will be the biggest event we've ever produced and the Funny Cars running under the lights will be the highlight of the event.

Nitro Funny Cars include two cars out of the Hartman Racing stable, with John "Bodie" Smith driving Steve Allred's brand new "Sasquach" '77 Trans-Am and his brother in law, Richard Hartman, driving father Virgil's "Running Wild" '71 Mustang. Both entries are powered by 500 cubic inch engines out of the team's Top Fuel cars.

Other nitro entries include Steve Nichols driving the hard to beat "Mill Road Boys" Chevy powered Camaro out of Delaware, Rob Bruce's powerful hemi-powered "Zombie" '69 Dodge Charger, Rick Stambaugh's wild Corvette out Virginia, home state favorite Donnie Reeve's hemi-powered '71 Mustang and Troy Martin's beautiful replica of one of the most famous Funy Cars ever, The "Chi-Town Hustler.

"Many alcohol Funny Cars will also be a part of the evening's festivities along with special exhibition runs by Gary Fore's jet powered Mustang Funny Car who will make the long tow in from Missouri to literally set the night on fire.

Tickets for Saturday night's show are $25 and kids under 12 will be admitted free with a paying adult.

For more information contact the track at: (770) 445-2183 or Donnie Reeves at: (770) 546-4759.
Southeastern Dragway
Photos from the rained-out July 9th original event

Kelly, Payne, Bourgeois, LoCicero, Johnson, Miller, Furr, Goodman and Vaughn Win Montgomery NHRA Lucas Oil Divisional Race

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Guy Kelly, 25.356, 35.04 was unopposed in final

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:
Jay Payne, 6.017, 243.44 def. Todd, foul

COMP ELIMINATOR
Craig Bourgeois, Metairie, La., dragster, A/ND, 7.068, 174.24 def.
David Eaton, Merritt Island, Fla., '32 Bantam, A/AP, 7.017, 177.54.

SUPER STOCK
Joe LoCicero, Snellville, Ga., '88 Camaro, GT/CA, 9.905, 125.52 def.
Jimbo Fields, Gallatin, Tenn., '68 Corvette, SS/IA, 10.257, 125.94.

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Rod Johnson, Palmetto, Fla., '72 Nova, J/SA, 12.104, 106.11 def.
Jimmy Parker, Columbus, Ga., '71 Corvette, C/SA, 11.234, 114.67.

SUPER COMP
Ray Miller, Spring Hill, Fla., dragster, 9.007, 134.83 def.
Jim Perry, Orlando, Fla., dragster, 14.383, 55.46.

SUPER GAS
Steve Furr, Harrisburg, N.C., '68 Camaro, 9.918, 140.58 def.
Sherman Adcock Jr., Columbus, Ga., '91 Trans Am, 9.889, 152.43.

SUPER STREET
Jeff Goodman, Hendersonville, Tenn., '67 Nova, 10.889, 125.06 def.
Tony Fuller, Ouiedo, Fla., '69 Camaro, 10.883, 128.90.

TOP SPORTSMAN
Billy Vaughn, Knoxville, Tenn., '92 Camaro, 7.694, 151.48 def.
Daniel Morrow, Bradenton, Fla., '01 Corvette, broke.


DragRaceCentral Recap

Kurt Johnson Powers to Denver Semifinals

Contact: Jon Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing, Inc.

After qualifying fourth for Sunday's final eliminations of the Mile-HighNationals, Kurt Johnson looked to score consecutive wins for the fifth time in his career. From the very first round, the ACDelco Cobalt Racing team showed their intentions by posting a very quick 7.162-second, 192.82 mph pass in eliminating Ben Watson in the firs tround. After another fast 7.168-second, 192.77 mph run to trailer Jeg Coughlin, the last obstacle between KJ and a final-round match-up with his father, Warren Johnson, was rival David Connolly.

However, just as the teams had completed their burnouts, a brief rain shower forced them to push back from the line while officials dried the track. In addition, the combination of the lowered temperatures and humidity created a completely different racing surface from what the crews had prepared for.

Finally, after forty-five minutes, the two cars rolled to the line.Launching with a solid .033 reaction time, Johnson soon found himself fighting to keep his car under control, resulting in a 7.184-second,192.14 mph run. Unfortunately, this allowed his opponent, who had gained the advantage at the line with a .010, to hold off a charging Johnson with a 7.199-second time. Despite another strong semi-final showing, Johnson still expressed disappointment at having his day cut short.

"The rain and the track bit us. When I put in third gear it started spinning the tires, which shot me directly towards the wall, and then it just shook extremely hard to where I thought it would flip around and scrape some paint off the car. It turned out the right lane just was not as good as the left, but we had been in the right hand lane all day and it looked good to the 300 foot mark before the semis, but down track it was a mess. Basically, I got out of the groove and couldn't get it hooked back up, which cost us about five hundredths. We should have run a 7.16 or maybe even a 7.13.

"The way our ACDelco Cobalt was running today, I expected to win and gain ground on everyone. I had run against Connolly three times in qualifying and ran better each time. I had a decent light against him, but we just didn't go straight, and it cost us. We'll leave here disappointed to not have won or even made it to the final, but knowing we have a fast race car that we will take to Seattle and see what we can do there."

Atlanta Dragway Results

By Tim Glover


MILFORD AND ADAMS WIN IN KING AND REED OWNED CARS, ANOTHER SNELGROVE IN
WINNER'S CIRCLE, LEWIS IN SECOND FINAL IN AS MANY WEEKS
Photos

(Commerce, GA - July 16) Another Snelgrove found his way to the winner's circle for the second week in a row. This time, it was 13 year old Harvey Snelgrove's turn, in the Jr Dragster combo. Car owners Max King and Wayne Reed enjoyed watching not one, but two of their race cars win, with Gary Adams taking the Sportsman win in their Dynasty Homes '64 Chevy II and Mark Milford winning Super Pro with their Horton Mobile Homes '02 Racecraft dragster. Eric Lewis enjoyed racing in his second straight Trophy Street final, taking the win this time. Travis Bryant and Hank Wilhelm had a pretty good day, winning the Run for the Money event early in the day, and then making it to the semi-final round in their respective classes.

Super Pro racer Mark Milford stepped up to the plate to win with his Canon, GA based Horton Mobile Homes '02 Racecraft Dragster. Milford stopped what would have been an all former Jr Dragster "graduate" final by defeating Hank Wilhelm ('88 Spitzer dragster - Commerce, GA) in the semi-final round. Milford would have been difficult to beat in the finals anyway, reacting with a .009 light and running a dead-on 5.057 at 137.13mph. However, the race was over before Milford's car even left the starting line; after Jeremy Hancock bulbed in his '05 M&M dragster with the closest of losing margins, at -.001 seconds. Hancock chose to save his parts and motored to a 6.878 at 82.40mph. Milford overcame the gremlins that have been plaguing his car for the past seven races, including a broken fuel pump, battery cable and master cylinder, refusing to give up. "It's been a lot of adversity, but I never gave up," added Milford. He thanked car owners Max King and Wayne Reed for their help and patience.

Carnesville, GA racer Gary Adams actually built the car he won Sportsman with tonight, back in the late 1970s. He sold it in 1992, and although he has been around the Max King and Wayne Reed owned Dynasty Homes '63 Chevy II, he had not driven it for 13 years. When he found out regular driver Joe Cheek went to Myrtle Beach, Adams borrowed the car to race in Sportsman. He put a 10.79 dial in time on it before the race, and left it on the car all day. "I had a good day, and cut some good lights. This really is a good Footbrake car," added Adams. To Cheek's relief, he also said he probably wouldn't drive it again for a while. En route to victory, Adams earned a bye run with a .005 second reaction time, then topped that number with a .000 during the bye run. Adams faced the ever tough Jacob "Lucky" Rutledge ('79 Capri - Braselton, GA) in the final, and beat Rutledge on both ends of the track (.021 to Rutledge's .062 react, and an off the throttle 10.84 at 114.92mph on a 10.79 dial). Rutledge's car fell off a bit, running 11.83 at 105.53mph (11.75 dial). Travis Bryant ('68 Camaro - Bowman, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. Although he didn't do well in the regular Super Pro bracket, Adams also enjoyed a late round finish with his Horton Mobile Homes backed '75 Vega wagon in the special Quick 32 race held later in the day. After the event was over, Adams counted 20 time slips from his day's activity. "I'm not used to working this hard," he commented with a smile.

Eric Lewis of Cornelia, GA put his straight shift '82 Mustang into its second Trophy Street final in a row, this time taking the winner's trophy home. Lewis met Team PTI racer Joe Swaim (older brother of last week's 13-17 Jr Dragster double winner, Jake Swaim) in the final, and used a reaction time advantage to take the final round win light. Swaim's Jefferson, GA based '91 Chevy pickup missed its target time of 17.49, running 17.71at 73.18mph and Lewis carded a 13.66 at 98.84mph (13.39 dial). In his younger days, Lewis enjoyed racing at Atlanta Dragway, but he took time off from the sport to raise his kids in the late 1980s. The kids are grown now, so he says he's back. "Thanks to the guys at Ace Audio in Cleveland, including Lofton and Chad. Also, thanks to Ted and Chad of Pro-Flow (custom exhaust, chassis dyno, flow bench and more) and all the guys at Outlaw Racing Engines," added a happy Lewis. John Oliver ('99 Durango - Buford, GA) and Mardy Kennedy ('64 Econoline pickup - Auburn, GA) finished in the semi-final round. Just for fun, Lewis tried his hand in the special Quick 32 race staged after the main event, but was a first round casualty. Joe Swaim normally helps with the Team PTI Jr Dragster program, but since none of them ran today at Atlanta, he decided to enter his '91 Chevy pickup in the Trophy Street competition. Swaim, who had never raced prior to today, apparently learned how to win from his team, making it all the way to the final round on his first try.

Since many of Atlanta Dragway's Jr Dragster racers were at Bristol for the Eastern Conference finals, the two regular Jr Dragster classes were combined. "It was nice. I was glad to see Harvey get his second win in 2005," said older brother and last week's winner Henry Snelgrove, Jr.. Thirteen year old Harvey Snelgrove and his crew knew their car was vulnerable for the final round, as a spring in the torque converter had broken. However, his crew simply put a slower dial on the car (9.58 seconds) and took a shot at victory. To his delight, Snelgrove enjoyed watching his win light come on shortly after he left the starting line, when opponent Brandi Moulton turned on the dreaded cherry colored bulb with a heartbreaking -.003 second react. Moulton then ran a close to the dial 9.160 at 70.88mph. Snelgrove's machine fell way off to an 11.67 at 58.74mph. "I got lucky. The car was messed up for the last round," Harvey added. He then thanked his dad, Henry Snelgrove, Sr, his brothers, and Charles for all their help with his win. Brett Bowman (13 - Homer, GA) earned the semi-finalist trophy.

Thomas Bell used his Toccoa, GA based '02 Undercover dragster to win all the marbles in Quick 32, a special bracket race where the quickest 32 cars on the grounds are paired according to their elapsed time. Bell faced off and defeated the red hot Jesse Young ('00 Undercover dragster - Danielsville, GA) in the final. Young has been in the money numerous times in the last two weeks, including two final rounds and a semi-final finish. During the semi-final round, Young defeated former boss Gary Dunn ('92 S&W dragster - Flowery Branch, GA) in a rematch of last week's race. Gary Adams, who already had a great day winning Sportsman, also finished in the
semi-finals, with his '75 Vega wagon.

------------------------------------------------
PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Mark Milford dragster Canon, GA 5.05 137.13 (5.05)
R/U: Jeremy Hancock dragster Commerce, GA (foul) 6.87 82.40 (5.28)
Semi: Hank Wilhelm '88 Spitzer dragster Commerce, GA
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Gary Adams '64 Chevy II Carnesville, GA 10.84 114.92 (10.79)
R/U: Jacob Rutledge '79 Capri Braselton, GA 11.83 105.93 (11.75)
Semi: Travis Bryant '68 Camaro Bowman, GA
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Eric Lewis '82 Mustang Cornelia, GA 13.66 98.84 (13.39)
R/U: Joe Swaim '91 Chevy pickup Jefferson, GA 17.71 73.18 (17.49)
Semi: John Oliver '99 Durango Buford, GA
Semi: Mardy Kennedy '64 Econoline pickup Auburn, GA
------------------------------------------------
JR. DRAGSTER combo AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Harvey Snelgrove 13 Dahlonega, GA 11.67 58.74 (9.58)
R/U: Brandi Moulton 14 Lawrenceville, GA (foul), 9.16 70.88 (9.15)
Semi: Brett Bowman 14 Homer, GA
------------------------------------------------
QUICK 32 CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Thomas Bell '02 Undercover Toccoa, GA
R/U: Jesse Young '00 Undercover Danielsville, GA
Semi: Gary Adams '75 Vega Wagon Carnesville, GA
Semi: Gary Dunn '92 S&W dragster Flowery Branch, GA

BAZEMORE ADVANCES TO SECOND ROUND AT MOPAR MILE-HIGH NATIONALS

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
Contact: Judy Stropus

MORRISON, Colo. (July 17, 2005) - No. 2 qualifier Whit Bazemore advanced to the second round of eliminations today at the Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway under the heat of the Colorado sun, and the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus Funny Car team, which changed tuners two races ago, is encouraged by the progress that's been made.

Bazemore was looking strong following his first-round win against Bob Gilbertson in the dry but hot conditions. He took off at the starting light with an outstanding .058 reaction time to Bob Gilbertson's .081, and despite a slight wobble when the tires hazed, Bazemore took the victory with a 5.164-second ET at 284.03 mph. Gilbertson lost traction and posted a slower and losing 5.484/206.73.

Track and atmospheric conditions changed in the second round as the temperature rose. Bazemore's opponent Tim Wilkerson launched with a slow .148 light to Bazemore's .072. Both cars smoked the tires, but it was Wilkerson who recovered first and drove to the finish line with a winning 5.195/268.06 to Bazemore's 5.759/245.09.

"We have a really good race car and it's making a lot of power," said Bazemore, a two-time winner here. "We just haven't been able to back it down far enough yet. It's an animal. Based on the first round, there's just no reason to believe that it wouldn't have gone down the race track (in the second round). The track was a little worse, we knew that. The air was worse. (Crew chiefs) Dan (Olson) and Todd (Okuhara) and the Matco Tools team made very significant changes in it.

"So, it smoked the tires. We just have to mellow it out a little bit and I think when we do that and the car goes down the track it's going to run really well, without really trying hard, which is kind of like what it did Friday (in qualifying). We weren't trying to rotate the earth and we ended up No. 2 with two runs that weren't really perfect yet.

"It's a time thing. The guys need more time. They're getting more experience with the car and the tune-up, figuring out what it likes, what it doesn't like. A couple of races ago we started over, so I think, with that thought in mind, we're not really in a bad place, so we're very optimistic."

Bazemore remains in seventh place in the POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings, with 689 points. He's just six points short of sixth place and 42 out of fifth.

FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Robert Hight, 873/893 (in final round today against Phil Burkart Jr.)
2. John Force, 871
3. Gary Scelzi, 857
4. Ron Capps, 812
5. Tommy Johnson Jr., 731
6. Cruz Pedregon, 695
7. Whit Bazemore, 689
8. Eric Medlen, 656
9. Del Worsham, 633
10. Tony Pedregon, 596

WJ Takes Over Pro Stock Points Lead with Win; Schumacher, Hight and Schnitz other Pro Winners at the NHRA POWERade Mopar Mile-High Nationals

Tony Schumacher won Top Fuel over Morgan Lucas 4.617 @ 331.45 mph to Lucas' 4.778 @ 309.91 mph. Schumacher's 331.45 final round pass was Top Speed of the event. Brandon Bernstein set Low ET in qualifying (4.596), but lost fire during his first round burnout (on an single run) and was disqualified after not being able to stage the car.

Robert Hight won Funny Car, set Low ET (4.796 seconds), set Top Speed (322.58 MPH) and took over the points lead in a dominating performance in Colorado. Hight beat Phil Burkart in the final round 4.897 @ 316.60 mph to Burkart's 5.650 @ 187.57 mph. Whit Bazemore was defeated by Tim Wilkerson in the second round.

Warren Johnson defeated Dave Connolly in the final round of Pro Stock after a 90 second staging duel. WJ finally moved in and cut a 0.011 light to Connolly's too quick -0.001 foul. WJ ran 7.131 @ 193.16 mph to beat Connolly's 7.928 @ 130.78 mph. WJ also had Top Speed at 194.24 mph and Greg Anderson set Low ET with a 7.106. Kurt Johnson was defeated by Dave Connolly in the semi-final round.

Ryan Schnitz defeated Antron Brown in the Pro Stock Bike final, 7.513 @ 184.37 mph to 7.555 @ 176.60 mph. Schnitz had Top Speed at 186.54 mph while Andrew Hines set Low ET at 7.436 seconds. Georgian Chip Ellis made it to the semi-final round before being defeated by Schnitz.

NHRA Recap