MOST SUCCESSFUL BRISTOL FUNNY CAR DRIVER BAZEMORE SET TO DELIVER AGAIN
DON SCHUMACHER RACING
Contact: Judy Stropus
MOST SUCCESSFUL BRISTOL FUNNY CAR DRIVER BAZEMORE SET TO DELIVER AGAIN
Will skip usual bicycle ride on Blue Ridge Parkway to return for major
October trek
BRISTOL, Tenn. (April 26, 2006) - Whit Bazemore, the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Charger Funny Car team and Bristol Dragway are made for each other. The two-time U.S. Nationals champion has bragging rights as Bristol's most successful Funny Car driver, having reached three of the five final rounds run here, winning once.
Bazemore's victory came in 2002 and his runner-up finishes were earned in 2003 and in 2004 (as low qualifier).
"We like Bristol a lot," says Bazemore. "It's another Bruton Smith track where he's done it right, invested a lot of money in our sport, and made it a showcase.
"We really like coming here. It's a great place for the fans. It's one of the best drag-racing facilities in the country in terms of cleanliness, acoustics, fan-friendliness. It's first-class all the way. It's motivating, because you're proud to be part of it.
"It's very cool to hear that we're the most successful Funny Car racer here. I wish I could say that about every other track we race on."
After struggling in the first four races of the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Bazemore landed in the semifinal round at the last event in Las Vegas. He's confident that testing sessions and continuous development by the Matco Tools team to adapt to the new Goodyear tire have made a difference as he seeks to add to his Bristol record this weekend at the O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
"Our team is definitely on the upswing," he says. "We've had a pretty difficult start to the season (first-round losses in the first four events), but the last race was good. We went to the semis in Vegas at a track where we typically do well, and Bristol is one of those, too.
"I'm the most confident I've been all year with the performance of the Matco Tools Dodge Charger and the way our team is working. We're coming to Bristol with confidence and with every intention of being in a position to win the race."
NO BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY BIKE RIDE THIS TRIP
An avid cyclist, Whit Bazemore has attacked the hills of the Blue Ridge Parkway in years past en route to Bristol and again the day following the event. He originally planned to do the same this trip, but has since postponed it until October, when he and ESPN broadcaster Mike Dunn will
endure a six-day treacherous trek.
"Normally, at Bristol we'll ride on Thursday and Monday," says Bazemore, who rides a Seven Bicycle. "This year I'm just coming in late on Thursday and leaving Sunday night. So, we're not going to ride the Blue Ridge this trip. But, we are going to ride the entire Blue Ridge Parkway in October, which will be a very special trip.
"I want to do it in five days, Dunn wants to do it in seven, so we'll probably settle on six. It's about 500 miles with some 50,000 feet of climbing and elevation change, which is just stupendous. It will be the hardest week of riding a bike you can do without racing the whole week.
"In terms of terrain, it's some of the most challenging in this country for a 500-mile ride. For that length of continuous riding it's very challenging."
WHIT BAZEMORE QUICK FACTS:
* 10th in 2006 Funny Car point standings after five events
* Two-time U.S. Nationals champion, 1997 and 2001
* Ninth in 2005 Funny Car point standings
* Won two events in 2005 (Gainesville, Las Vegas), No. 1 qualifier once (Columbus)
* Qualified No. 11 at 2005 O'Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals, lost first round to Tommy Johnson Jr.
* Is the most successful Funny Car driver at Bristol: 2002 winner, runner-up twice (2003 and 2004) and No. 1 qualifier in 2004
* 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
* Has 19 career Funny Car event wins in 43 final rounds in 323 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 13 times in the top 10 since 1992
* Age 43, 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)
* 2006 is his sixth season with Don Schumacher Racing
WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
Friday, April 28, professional qualifying sessions are at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, April 29, pro qualifying sessions continue at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. On Sunday, April 30, pre-race ceremonies are at 11 a.m. Final eliminations begin at noon.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, April 29, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 10 p.m. (ET). Sunday April 30, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will telecast NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute news magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET). Sunday, April 30, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE:
Friday, April 28, 10-10:30 p.m. (ET) SBS 6, Transponder 2 K (11749.5 MHz, vertical).
Saturday, April 29, 8-8:30 p.m. (ET) SBS 6, Transponder 2 K (11749.5 MHz, vertical).
Sunday, April 30, 8-8:30 p.m. (ET) SBS 6, Transponder 2 K (11749.5 MHz, vertical).
Contact: Judy Stropus
MOST SUCCESSFUL BRISTOL FUNNY CAR DRIVER BAZEMORE SET TO DELIVER AGAIN
Will skip usual bicycle ride on Blue Ridge Parkway to return for major
October trek
BRISTOL, Tenn. (April 26, 2006) - Whit Bazemore, the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Charger Funny Car team and Bristol Dragway are made for each other. The two-time U.S. Nationals champion has bragging rights as Bristol's most successful Funny Car driver, having reached three of the five final rounds run here, winning once.
Bazemore's victory came in 2002 and his runner-up finishes were earned in 2003 and in 2004 (as low qualifier).
"We like Bristol a lot," says Bazemore. "It's another Bruton Smith track where he's done it right, invested a lot of money in our sport, and made it a showcase.
"We really like coming here. It's a great place for the fans. It's one of the best drag-racing facilities in the country in terms of cleanliness, acoustics, fan-friendliness. It's first-class all the way. It's motivating, because you're proud to be part of it.
"It's very cool to hear that we're the most successful Funny Car racer here. I wish I could say that about every other track we race on."
After struggling in the first four races of the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Bazemore landed in the semifinal round at the last event in Las Vegas. He's confident that testing sessions and continuous development by the Matco Tools team to adapt to the new Goodyear tire have made a difference as he seeks to add to his Bristol record this weekend at the O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
"Our team is definitely on the upswing," he says. "We've had a pretty difficult start to the season (first-round losses in the first four events), but the last race was good. We went to the semis in Vegas at a track where we typically do well, and Bristol is one of those, too.
"I'm the most confident I've been all year with the performance of the Matco Tools Dodge Charger and the way our team is working. We're coming to Bristol with confidence and with every intention of being in a position to win the race."
NO BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY BIKE RIDE THIS TRIP
An avid cyclist, Whit Bazemore has attacked the hills of the Blue Ridge Parkway in years past en route to Bristol and again the day following the event. He originally planned to do the same this trip, but has since postponed it until October, when he and ESPN broadcaster Mike Dunn will
endure a six-day treacherous trek.
"Normally, at Bristol we'll ride on Thursday and Monday," says Bazemore, who rides a Seven Bicycle. "This year I'm just coming in late on Thursday and leaving Sunday night. So, we're not going to ride the Blue Ridge this trip. But, we are going to ride the entire Blue Ridge Parkway in October, which will be a very special trip.
"I want to do it in five days, Dunn wants to do it in seven, so we'll probably settle on six. It's about 500 miles with some 50,000 feet of climbing and elevation change, which is just stupendous. It will be the hardest week of riding a bike you can do without racing the whole week.
"In terms of terrain, it's some of the most challenging in this country for a 500-mile ride. For that length of continuous riding it's very challenging."
WHIT BAZEMORE QUICK FACTS:
* 10th in 2006 Funny Car point standings after five events
* Two-time U.S. Nationals champion, 1997 and 2001
* Ninth in 2005 Funny Car point standings
* Won two events in 2005 (Gainesville, Las Vegas), No. 1 qualifier once (Columbus)
* Qualified No. 11 at 2005 O'Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals, lost first round to Tommy Johnson Jr.
* Is the most successful Funny Car driver at Bristol: 2002 winner, runner-up twice (2003 and 2004) and No. 1 qualifier in 2004
* 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
* Has 19 career Funny Car event wins in 43 final rounds in 323 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 13 times in the top 10 since 1992
* Age 43, 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)
* 2006 is his sixth season with Don Schumacher Racing
WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
Friday, April 28, professional qualifying sessions are at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, April 29, pro qualifying sessions continue at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. On Sunday, April 30, pre-race ceremonies are at 11 a.m. Final eliminations begin at noon.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, April 29, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 10 p.m. (ET). Sunday April 30, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will telecast NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute news magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET). Sunday, April 30, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE:
Friday, April 28, 10-10:30 p.m. (ET) SBS 6, Transponder 2 K (11749.5 MHz, vertical).
Saturday, April 29, 8-8:30 p.m. (ET) SBS 6, Transponder 2 K (11749.5 MHz, vertical).
Sunday, April 30, 8-8:30 p.m. (ET) SBS 6, Transponder 2 K (11749.5 MHz, vertical).
posted by David @ 12:39 AM
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