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The Bazemore Bulletin
23rd annual Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals
February 23-25, 2007
Firebird International Raceway
Chandler, Ariz.
"I'm going to my second race in Top Fuel. I have a better idea of what to expect and more experience in the car. Confidence-wise, I'll be way more confident in Phoenix than at Pomona and that's important. I feel really good about every aspect of our team. I'm confident that I can compete."
Bazemore CSK Nationals Notebook
Last February, Bazemore qualified 11th at the CSK Nationals with a run of 4.780 seconds at 315.71 mph. He was defeated in the opening round of eliminations to then teammate Ron Capps.
Four weeks ago, Bazemore cross-graded his NHRA Funny Car license for eligibility to compete in the Top Fuel category. Bazemore had driven Funny Cars since 1989. He first-ever pass in a Top Fuel dragster came on Jan. 26, 2007, at the Phoenix-area track. He made a testing-best run of 4.500 seconds on Jan. 31.
Firebird International Raceway is one of 9 current tracks where Bazemore has yet to win a race. He has claimed victories at 12 tracks and multiple wins at 6 tracks. He has advanced to the semifinals four times at the Phoenix-area track.
The highest Bazemore has qualified at the Phoenix race is second in 2004 when he clocked a run of 4.782 seconds at 322.34 mph.
At the 2007 NHRA season-opener, Bazemore qualified in the No. 7 position (4.507 seconds) and advanced the second round of eliminations before falling in a narrow match to teammate Rod Fuller, 4.557 to 4.561. He currently sits sixth in the Top Fuel standings.
Baze Banters About Phoenix...
Firebird International Raceway:
"Desert Dirt"
Favorite Phoenix-area cycling route:
"Mt. Lemon in Tucson"
Favorite local restaurants:
"Sakana"
Favorite Firebird Int'l Raceway memory:
"Several times doing well at testing and you start the year off well."
2007 NHRA Top Fuel Standings
1. J.R. Todd (1) 114 - - - -
2. Brandon Bernstein 95 - 19
3. ROD FULLER 77 -37
4. David Grubnic 73 -41
5. Doug Kalitta 55 -59
6. WHIT BAZEMORE 53 -61
7. Bob Vandergriff, Jr. 52 -62
8. Joe Hartley 51 -63
9. Tony Schumacher 38 -76
10. Larry Dixon 34 -80
Whit Bazemore's Career Results at Firebird International Raceway
Year Qualified Finish & Winning Driver
1992 No. 14 2nd round - Richard Hartman
1993 No. 8 1st round - Kenji Okazaki
1995 No. 9 1st round - Tony Pedregon
1996 No. 6 Semifinals -Chuck Etchells
1997 No. 10 Semifinals - John Force
1998 No. 10 2nd round - Chuck Etchells
1999 No. 3 Semifinals - Cruz Pedregon
2000 No. 11 1st round - Al Hofmann
2001 No. 3 1st round - Del Worsham
2002 No. 16 1st round - John Force
2003 No. 6 Semifinals - Gary Densham
2004 No. 2 2nd round - Del Worsham
2005 No. 14 2nd round - Phil Burkart, Jr.
2006 No. 11 1st round - Ron Capps (foul)
Whit Bazemore's Phoenix Schedule
Date & Time Event and Location
Fri., Feb. 23, 2/4:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 1/2, Firebird Int'l Raceway
Sat., Feb. 24, 12:30/3 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Firebird Int'l Raceway
Sun., Feb. 25, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Firebird Int'l Raceway
Whit Bazemore's Career-Best Performances
E.T.-4.507 seconds (TF) Pomona, Calif. Feb. 2007
MPH-329.75 MPH (TF) Pomona, Calif. Feb. 2007
E.T.-4.674 seconds (FC) Joliet, Ill. June 2006
MPH-333.25 MPH (FC) Joliet, Ill. June 2004
Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals TV Schedule (ESPN2)
Date & Time (ET) Coverage
Sat., Feb. 25, 12-1 a.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sun., Feb. 25, 11:30 a.m.-Noon NHRA Raceday
Sun., Feb. 25, 7-10 p.m. Final Eliminations Coverage
The Bazemore Bulletin
The prerace release of 20-time NHRA winner Whit Bazemore and the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Top Fuel team
23rd annual Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals
February 23-25, 2007
Firebird International Raceway
Chandler, Ariz.
"I'm going to my second race in Top Fuel. I have a better idea of what to expect and more experience in the car. Confidence-wise, I'll be way more confident in Phoenix than at Pomona and that's important. I feel really good about every aspect of our team. I'm confident that I can compete."
Bazemore CSK Nationals Notebook
Last February, Bazemore qualified 11th at the CSK Nationals with a run of 4.780 seconds at 315.71 mph. He was defeated in the opening round of eliminations to then teammate Ron Capps.
Four weeks ago, Bazemore cross-graded his NHRA Funny Car license for eligibility to compete in the Top Fuel category. Bazemore had driven Funny Cars since 1989. He first-ever pass in a Top Fuel dragster came on Jan. 26, 2007, at the Phoenix-area track. He made a testing-best run of 4.500 seconds on Jan. 31.
Firebird International Raceway is one of 9 current tracks where Bazemore has yet to win a race. He has claimed victories at 12 tracks and multiple wins at 6 tracks. He has advanced to the semifinals four times at the Phoenix-area track.
The highest Bazemore has qualified at the Phoenix race is second in 2004 when he clocked a run of 4.782 seconds at 322.34 mph.
At the 2007 NHRA season-opener, Bazemore qualified in the No. 7 position (4.507 seconds) and advanced the second round of eliminations before falling in a narrow match to teammate Rod Fuller, 4.557 to 4.561. He currently sits sixth in the Top Fuel standings.
Baze Banters About Phoenix...
Firebird International Raceway:
"Desert Dirt"
Favorite Phoenix-area cycling route:
"Mt. Lemon in Tucson"
Favorite local restaurants:
"Sakana"
Favorite Firebird Int'l Raceway memory:
"Several times doing well at testing and you start the year off well."
2007 NHRA Top Fuel Standings
1. J.R. Todd (1) 114 - - - -
2. Brandon Bernstein 95 - 19
3. ROD FULLER 77 -37
4. David Grubnic 73 -41
5. Doug Kalitta 55 -59
6. WHIT BAZEMORE 53 -61
7. Bob Vandergriff, Jr. 52 -62
8. Joe Hartley 51 -63
9. Tony Schumacher 38 -76
10. Larry Dixon 34 -80
Whit Bazemore's Career Results at Firebird International Raceway
Year Qualified Finish & Winning Driver
1992 No. 14 2nd round - Richard Hartman
1993 No. 8 1st round - Kenji Okazaki
1995 No. 9 1st round - Tony Pedregon
1996 No. 6 Semifinals -Chuck Etchells
1997 No. 10 Semifinals - John Force
1998 No. 10 2nd round - Chuck Etchells
1999 No. 3 Semifinals - Cruz Pedregon
2000 No. 11 1st round - Al Hofmann
2001 No. 3 1st round - Del Worsham
2002 No. 16 1st round - John Force
2003 No. 6 Semifinals - Gary Densham
2004 No. 2 2nd round - Del Worsham
2005 No. 14 2nd round - Phil Burkart, Jr.
2006 No. 11 1st round - Ron Capps (foul)
Whit Bazemore's Phoenix Schedule
Date & Time Event and Location
Fri., Feb. 23, 2/4:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 1/2, Firebird Int'l Raceway
Sat., Feb. 24, 12:30/3 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Firebird Int'l Raceway
Sun., Feb. 25, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Firebird Int'l Raceway
Whit Bazemore's Career-Best Performances
E.T.-4.507 seconds (TF) Pomona, Calif. Feb. 2007
MPH-329.75 MPH (TF) Pomona, Calif. Feb. 2007
E.T.-4.674 seconds (FC) Joliet, Ill. June 2006
MPH-333.25 MPH (FC) Joliet, Ill. June 2004
Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals TV Schedule (ESPN2)
Date & Time (ET) Coverage
Sat., Feb. 25, 12-1 a.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sun., Feb. 25, 11:30 a.m.-Noon NHRA Raceday
Sun., Feb. 25, 7-10 p.m. Final Eliminations Coverage
