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CHANDLER, Ariz. (Jan. 22, 2007) – The last time Whit Bazemore was in a race car, he drove to a runner-up finish coming within inches of capturing his third career U.S. Nationals victory. That was September 4, 2006. More than four months later, the 20-time NHRA Funny Car winner is just days away from beginning the next chapter in his racing career – Top Fuel driver.
Having piloted nitro Funny Cars since 1989, the former professional photographer and longtime Matco Tools racer has swapped his fuel couple for a Top Fuel dragster. Now a member of David Powers Motorsports and teammate of three-time NHRA Top Fuel winner “Hot” Rod Fuller, the avid cyclist couldn’t be more excited to stage his Lee Beard-tuned Matco Tools Iron Eagle dragster for the first time. Baze will have that chance when preseason testing begins for the Powers team on January 26 at the National Time Trails at Firebird Raceway near Phoenix.
“I can’t wait to get on the airplane to Phoenix knowing I’ll be back in the full swing of things,” Bazemore said. “I’m really looking forward to getting to the track and hanging with the team. It’s exciting being part of something new and I’m excited about getting in the car for the first time. I’m really looking forward to experiencing what it’s like to drive a Top Fuel car.”
The veteran flopper pilot has posted some of the quickest and fastest times in the Funny Car class, but his career best elapsed time, 4.674 seconds, would be hard pressed to even make the 16-car cut in the Top Fuel category. While a slight transition period is expected, Bazemore hopes to quickly adapt to his new ride and clock some impressive numbers before the six-day test session ends on January 31.
“You see people running 4.40s already and we should be right there in the next week,” Bazemore said. “I’m thinking that’s awfully quick, but I’ve run 4.67 in a Funny Car and it felt really good. I think going that quick in a dragster is going to be really fun.”
BAZEMORE ENTHUSED TO MAKE FIRST RUNS IN A TOP FUEL CAR
CHANDLER, Ariz. (Jan. 22, 2007) – The last time Whit Bazemore was in a race car, he drove to a runner-up finish coming within inches of capturing his third career U.S. Nationals victory. That was September 4, 2006. More than four months later, the 20-time NHRA Funny Car winner is just days away from beginning the next chapter in his racing career – Top Fuel driver.
Having piloted nitro Funny Cars since 1989, the former professional photographer and longtime Matco Tools racer has swapped his fuel couple for a Top Fuel dragster. Now a member of David Powers Motorsports and teammate of three-time NHRA Top Fuel winner “Hot” Rod Fuller, the avid cyclist couldn’t be more excited to stage his Lee Beard-tuned Matco Tools Iron Eagle dragster for the first time. Baze will have that chance when preseason testing begins for the Powers team on January 26 at the National Time Trails at Firebird Raceway near Phoenix.
“I can’t wait to get on the airplane to Phoenix knowing I’ll be back in the full swing of things,” Bazemore said. “I’m really looking forward to getting to the track and hanging with the team. It’s exciting being part of something new and I’m excited about getting in the car for the first time. I’m really looking forward to experiencing what it’s like to drive a Top Fuel car.”
The veteran flopper pilot has posted some of the quickest and fastest times in the Funny Car class, but his career best elapsed time, 4.674 seconds, would be hard pressed to even make the 16-car cut in the Top Fuel category. While a slight transition period is expected, Bazemore hopes to quickly adapt to his new ride and clock some impressive numbers before the six-day test session ends on January 31.
“You see people running 4.40s already and we should be right there in the next week,” Bazemore said. “I’m thinking that’s awfully quick, but I’ve run 4.67 in a Funny Car and it felt really good. I think going that quick in a dragster is going to be really fun.”
