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BRISTOL, Tenn. (July 7, 2007) – Always determined and driven to be the best, 20-time NHRA Funny Car winner Whit Bazemore and Olympic champion Marty Nothstein have partnered to drive attention towards a bigger cause, cancer research. The avid cyclists are asking racing and cycling fans to support Larry O’Reilly in his Larry Rides America campaign.
The 60-year-old former COO of O’Reilly Auto Parts embarked on a 4,500-mile ride form Astoria , Ore. to Yorktown , Va. on April 30, 2007. His goal is to raise $250,000 for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks. Bazemore and Nothstein each have donated $250 in support of O’Reilly and they’re asking fans to support O’Reilly in his journey.
“Larry (O’Reilly) obviously is a big supporter of our sport through O’Reilly Auto Parts sponsoring many races as well as our most prestigious race track on the tour,” Bazemore said. “This is a chance for the drag racing community to support an individual who has made huge contributions to our sport. Cycling is something that both Marty (Nothstein) and I are passionate about as well. What Larry is doing is an unbelievable challenge and something not many people would tackle. It’s something we want to get behind and support and we ask the drag racing fans to get behind this effort and support the O’Reilly’s for all they’ve done for our sport.”
Bazemore, driver of the David Powers-owned Matco Tools dragster, is an avid cyclist who rides more than 5,000 miles annually on his custom Seven bike. The veteran racer has compiled an impressive drag racing resume that includes 20 career victories and 30 poles. He is one of just 15 racers in NHRA history to have captured poles in both the Top Fuel and Funny Car divisions. Bazemore resides in Eugene , Ore.
Nothstein retired following an 18-year cycling career after the 2006 season. He now serves as the Executive VP and Director of Racing and High Performance of the Leigh Valley Velodrome in Trexlertown , Pa. Nothstein captured Olympic gold at the Sydney games in 2000 and was a Silver medalist at the ’96 Atlanta games. He also is a three-time world champion (1994, ’96-97) with 35 national event wins. He resides in Orefield , Pa. and is the driver of the Texas Roadhouse Top Alcohol Funny Car.
“This is special for me as a cyclist and drag racer,” Nothstein said. “We want to bring awareness to Larry’s (O’Reilly) ride since O’Reilly Auto Parts is such a great supporter of the sport of drag racing. We’re doing this to not only raise awareness for cancer, but to alert the drag racing community of Larry’s efforts. This is a huge feat for any cyclist; Larry is doing this unsupported without a car or van following him and he’s not taking days off. He’s doing it the right way and deserves the support of both the drag racing and cycling communities ”
For more information on Larry Rides America or to make a donation, please visit: Lance Armstrong Foundation: Larry O'Reilly Rides Across America or larryridesamerica.blogspot.com. O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. operates 1,687 stores in 25 states across the country.
Matco Tools - Professional Hand Tools, Tool Storage and Automotive Service Equipment
BAZEMORE AND NOTHSTEIN OFFER SUPPORT TO LARRY RIDES AMERICA CANCER AWARENESS RIDE
BRISTOL, Tenn. (July 7, 2007) – Always determined and driven to be the best, 20-time NHRA Funny Car winner Whit Bazemore and Olympic champion Marty Nothstein have partnered to drive attention towards a bigger cause, cancer research. The avid cyclists are asking racing and cycling fans to support Larry O’Reilly in his Larry Rides America campaign.
The 60-year-old former COO of O’Reilly Auto Parts embarked on a 4,500-mile ride form Astoria , Ore. to Yorktown , Va. on April 30, 2007. His goal is to raise $250,000 for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks. Bazemore and Nothstein each have donated $250 in support of O’Reilly and they’re asking fans to support O’Reilly in his journey.
“Larry (O’Reilly) obviously is a big supporter of our sport through O’Reilly Auto Parts sponsoring many races as well as our most prestigious race track on the tour,” Bazemore said. “This is a chance for the drag racing community to support an individual who has made huge contributions to our sport. Cycling is something that both Marty (Nothstein) and I are passionate about as well. What Larry is doing is an unbelievable challenge and something not many people would tackle. It’s something we want to get behind and support and we ask the drag racing fans to get behind this effort and support the O’Reilly’s for all they’ve done for our sport.”
Bazemore, driver of the David Powers-owned Matco Tools dragster, is an avid cyclist who rides more than 5,000 miles annually on his custom Seven bike. The veteran racer has compiled an impressive drag racing resume that includes 20 career victories and 30 poles. He is one of just 15 racers in NHRA history to have captured poles in both the Top Fuel and Funny Car divisions. Bazemore resides in Eugene , Ore.
Nothstein retired following an 18-year cycling career after the 2006 season. He now serves as the Executive VP and Director of Racing and High Performance of the Leigh Valley Velodrome in Trexlertown , Pa. Nothstein captured Olympic gold at the Sydney games in 2000 and was a Silver medalist at the ’96 Atlanta games. He also is a three-time world champion (1994, ’96-97) with 35 national event wins. He resides in Orefield , Pa. and is the driver of the Texas Roadhouse Top Alcohol Funny Car.
“This is special for me as a cyclist and drag racer,” Nothstein said. “We want to bring awareness to Larry’s (O’Reilly) ride since O’Reilly Auto Parts is such a great supporter of the sport of drag racing. We’re doing this to not only raise awareness for cancer, but to alert the drag racing community of Larry’s efforts. This is a huge feat for any cyclist; Larry is doing this unsupported without a car or van following him and he’s not taking days off. He’s doing it the right way and deserves the support of both the drag racing and cycling communities ”
For more information on Larry Rides America or to make a donation, please visit: Lance Armstrong Foundation: Larry O'Reilly Rides Across America or larryridesamerica.blogspot.com. O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. operates 1,687 stores in 25 states across the country.
Matco Tools - Professional Hand Tools, Tool Storage and Automotive Service Equipment
