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MORRISON, Colo. (July 15, 2006) - Whit Bazemore drove the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car to No. 7 in qualifying for the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals today. The two-time Bandimere Speedway Funny Car winner recorded a 4.952-second pass at 302.35 mph in the final qualifying session.
His other attempts resulted in three consistent passes of 5.174/294.24 (second quickest of that round), a 4.985/311.70 and a 5.129/276.13 (second quickest of that round as well).
"We've had a great weekend so far," said Bazemore. "We have a new car here and some new crew guys. Phil Shuler came on board (as assistant crew chief to Todd Okuhara - replacing Brian Corradi, who moved over to Mike Ashley's Funny Car team, managed by DSR) and a really good mechanic, Tom Boyington.
"Our new crew guys have fit in very quickly and very well, so that's a very big positive. Our performance has been good. We've gone down the track all four runs. It's been very tough up here the last two days, not only dealing with the altitude, but the heat and a very hot race track, which reached 147 degrees today.
"We're very happy," added the avid cyclist who successfully completed his 28-mile ascent to the top of 14,200-ft. Mt. Evans on his Custom Seven Bicycle on Thursday. "We have lane choice tomorrow, we're working on a lot of things and it's all coming together."
Bazemore faces 13-time Funny Car champion John Force in first round of eliminations on Sunday.
BAZEMORE NO. 7 QUALIFIER IN DENVER
MORRISON, Colo. (July 15, 2006) - Whit Bazemore drove the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car to No. 7 in qualifying for the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals today. The two-time Bandimere Speedway Funny Car winner recorded a 4.952-second pass at 302.35 mph in the final qualifying session.
His other attempts resulted in three consistent passes of 5.174/294.24 (second quickest of that round), a 4.985/311.70 and a 5.129/276.13 (second quickest of that round as well).
"We've had a great weekend so far," said Bazemore. "We have a new car here and some new crew guys. Phil Shuler came on board (as assistant crew chief to Todd Okuhara - replacing Brian Corradi, who moved over to Mike Ashley's Funny Car team, managed by DSR) and a really good mechanic, Tom Boyington.
"Our new crew guys have fit in very quickly and very well, so that's a very big positive. Our performance has been good. We've gone down the track all four runs. It's been very tough up here the last two days, not only dealing with the altitude, but the heat and a very hot race track, which reached 147 degrees today.
"We're very happy," added the avid cyclist who successfully completed his 28-mile ascent to the top of 14,200-ft. Mt. Evans on his Custom Seven Bicycle on Thursday. "We have lane choice tomorrow, we're working on a lot of things and it's all coming together."
Bazemore faces 13-time Funny Car champion John Force in first round of eliminations on Sunday.
