BAZEMORE WINDS UP SIXTH AT PHOENIX
CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 24, 2007) – Despite battling a tricky race track and some consistency issues, Whit Bazemore and the Matco Tools Top Fuel team raced to the sixth quickest qualifying pass of the weekend at Firebird International Raceway. Entering the day in the No. 18 spot, the veteran nitro pilot reeled off a pass of 4.507 seconds to claim the No. 6 qualifying position.
On the first day of qualifying for the 23rd annual CSK Nationals, Bazemore and his Lee Beard-led race crew missed the tune-up call on both qualifying attempts leaving them on the outside looking in. However, there was no panic in the Matco Tools camp. With 50 career victories under his belt, Beard tuned Bazemore to the quickest run of Saturday’s first qualifying session, 4.507 seconds at 327.19 mph. That run gives the first-year Top Fuel driver a lot of confidence heading into Sunday’s final eliminations.
“We lost some of the consistency that we had during testing and at Pomona ,” Bazemore said. “That being said, we learned some things about the race car. We’re in a good position to win the race. We can repeat that4.50; we’ll be in good shape. I’m confident that we can run that and even improve a little bit. Now, we just have to go make it happen.”
The 20-time NHRA Funny Car winner will match-up against No. 11 qualifier Hillary Will in the first round of Top Fuel eliminations at 11 a.m. (MT). Bazemore qualified 11th last season at the CSK Nationals.
Q1 10.217 ET, 73.53 MPH No. 17
Q2 10.521 ET, 73.97 MPH No. 18
Q3 4.507 ET, 327.19 MPH No. 4
Q4 9.083 ET, 76.21 MPH No. 6
