The Bazemore Bulletin

The prerace release of 20-time NHRA winner Whit Bazemore and the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Top Fuel team

Contact: Ted Yerzyk

"It's a big race. It's an important race. It's important for our team in the circumstances that we're in. We've got some momentum, we're new to the class, I'm new to the team, and we're fourth in the points. We want to expand on that. It's important to get our first win in Top Fuel sooner rather than later to prove that we belong here. To do that at Gainesville would be the perfect scenario being it's one of my favorite races."

Bazemore Gatornationals Notebook

Last March, Bazemore qualified 2nd at the Gatornationals with a run of 4.769 seconds. He was defeated in the opening round of eliminations by Cruz Pedregon. It was the fourth time that he qualified in the No. 2 position at the Gainesville race.

Bazemore has one career victory at Gainesville Raceway. In 2005, he defeated Bob Gilbertson in the Funny Car final. Bazemore used a run of 4.897 at 315.67 to earn the win. Gilbertson fouled at the start forcing an automatic disqualification. It is one of 12 tracks where Bazemore has scored a win.

Bazemore qualified first at the Gainesville race in 1999 (4.856, 307.58). He has 29 career poles.

Bazemore raced his Matco Tools Funny Car to top speed of the meet at the Gatornationals in 2003 after blasting to a run of 324.32 mph. He has earned the top speed of the meet 27 times in his career.

Bazemore enters the Gatornationals fourth in the POWERade Top Fuel standings following a quarterfinal effort at Pomona, Calif. and a semifinal finish at Phoenix three weeks ago. He was defeated by teammate Rod Fuller at both races. Fuller leads the points standings.

Baze Banters About Gainesville...

Gainesville: "Fun town"

Gainesville Raceway: "Traffic"

Favorite Gainesville-area cycling route: "Out of the track and go right"

Favorite local restaurants: "The nice restaurant next to Starbucks downtown"

Favorite Gainesville Raceway memory: "Winning there in ‘05 and getting my TA/FC license in 1986"

2007 NHRA Top Fuel Standings

1. ROD FULLER (1) 194 - - - -

2. Brandon Bernstein 151 -43

3. J.R. Todd (1) 147 -47

4. WHIT BAZEMORE 127 -67

5. Melanie Troxel 126 -68

6. Tony Schumacher 116 -78

7. Dave Grubnic 104 -90

8. Bob Vandergriff, Jr. 89 -105

9. Doug Kalitta 86 -108

10. Cory McClenathan 84 -110

Whit Bazemore's Career Results at Gainesville Raceway

Year Qualified Finish & Winning Driver

1989 DNQ* 2nd round—Chuck Etchells

1991 DNQ

1992 No. 8 2nd round—John Force

1993 No. 12 2nd round—Gary Bolger

1994 No. 13 1st round—Cruz Pedregon

1995 No. 13 Semifinals—John Force

1996 No. 9 1st round—Cruz Pedregon

1997 DNQ

1998 No. 6 1st round—Dean Skuza

1999 No. 1 2nd round—Jerry Toliver

2000 No. 2 1st round—Kenny Sayers

2001 No. 13 1st round—Del Worsham

2002 No. 2 2nd round—Tony Pedregon

2003 No. 4 Semifinals—Del Worsham

2004 No. 2 1st round—Cory Lee

2005 No. 8 WINNER—def. Bob Gilbertson

2006 No. 2 1st round—Cruz Pedregon

*Alternate for Doc Halliday

Whit Bazemore’s Gainesville Schedule

Date & Time Event and Location

Thurs., March 15 Tampa/St. Petersburg Press Tour

Fri., March 16, 1/3:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 1/2, Gainesville Raceway

Sat., March 17, 1/3:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Gainesville Raceway

Sun., March 18, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Gainesville Raceway

Whit Bazemore's Career-Best Performances

E.T.—4.507 seconds Pomona, Calif. Feb. 2007

MPH—329.75 MPH Pomona, Calif. Feb. 2007 (TF)

MPH- 333.25 MPH Joliet, Ill. June, 2004 (FC)

ACDelco Gatornationals TV Schedule (ESPN2)

Date & Time (ET) Coverage

Sun., March 18, 1:30-3:30 a.m. Qualifying Highlights

Sun., March 18, 11-11:30 a.m. NHRA Race Day

Sun., March 18, 5-7 p.m. Final Eliminations Coverage

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