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19th annual O’Reilly Summer Nationals
June 1-3, 2007
Heartland Park Topeka
Topeka, Kan.
“It’s going to be good to get back to racing. The unexpected time off was timely for us having just moved, but at the same time we’re in full race mode and eager to get back out there and get our season on track with the Matco Tools team. Anytime you go to the site of your very first victory, it’s special. It’ll always have a special meaning for me. You work your way up the ladder and you can be in contention for many years before you win. Winning is difficult, so when you do get it, it means the world to you.”
Bazemore Topeka Notebook
Last May, Bazemore qualified fifth in the Funny Car order with a run of 4.893 seconds at 311.49 mph. He was defeated by then teammate Ron Capps in the quarterfinals.
Bazemore earned the pole at Heartland Park in 2004. He has 30
career poles and is one of 15 drivers to have qualified first in both Top Fuel and Funny car. His last pole was on March 31 at the Houston race.
Bazemore recorded top speed of the meet at Topeka in 2003 (326.48 mph) and ‘04 (326.00). He has earned top speed honors 28 times in his career.
Heartland Park Topeka is one of 12 current NHRA tracks where Bazemore has won a race. He earned his first career NHRA victory in Funny Car competition at Topeka in 1997. He also reached the winner’s circle at Heartland Park in 2004 (def. Eric Medlen). He is a three-time finalist at the Topeka race.
At the last race ( St. Louis ), Bazemore and the Matco Tools team failed to make the 16-car field. It was just the 23rd time in 343 career races that Bazemore failed to qualify for an event. Teams were limited to just two qualifying attempts after Friday’s racing action at Gateway Int’l Raceway was washed out.
Baze Banters About Topeka ...
Topeka :
“Winning”
Heartland Park Topeka :
“ Topeka ”
Favorite Topeka-area cycling route:
“Out of the track and West and then South, we do a 40-mile loop”
Favorite local restaurants:
“I’ve stayed in the motor home a lot lately, didn’t eat out much”
Favorite Heartland Park Topeka racing memory:
“Getting my first Funny Car win in 1997”
2007 NHRA Top Fuel Standings
1. ROD FULLER (1) 499 - - - -
2. Brandon Bernstein (2) 476 - 23
3. J.R. Todd (2) 408 - 91
4. Larry Dixon 396 - 103
5. Melanie Troxel (1) 392 - 107
6. Tony Schumacher (1) 371 - 128
7. Bob Vandergriff 351 - 148
8. David Grubnic 347 - 152
9. WHIT BAZEMORE 340 - 159
10. Cory McClenathan 336 - 163
Whit Bazemore’s Career Results at Heartland Park Topeka
Year Qualified Finish & Winning Driver
1991 No. 9 1st round—Ed McCulloch
1992 No. 8 1st round—Del Worsham
1993 No. 8 2nd round—Chuck Etchells
1994 No. 12 2nd round—Al Hofmann
1994 DNQ
1995 No. 11 2nd round—K.C. Spurlock
1995 No. 3 Semifinals—Al Hofmann
1996 No. 8 2nd round—John Force
1997 No. 8 WINNER—def. Randy Anderson
1997 No. 2 Semifinals—Randy Anderson
1998 No. 6 2nd round—Ron Capps
1999 No. 1 Semifinals—Tommy Johnson, Jr.
2000 No. 8 1st round—Jim Epler
2001 No. 8 2nd round—John Force
2002 No. 10 1st round—John Force
2003 No. 3 Runner-up—Tony Pedregon
2004 No. 1 WINNER—def. Eric Medlen
2005 No. 6 1st round—Ron Capps
2006 No. 5 2nd round—Ron Capps
Bazemore’s Topeka Schedule
Date & Time Event and Location
Fri., June 1, 5/8 p.m. TF Qualifying 1/2, Heartland Park
Sat., June 2, 12/2:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Heartland Park
Sun., June 3, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Heartland Park
Bazemore’s Career-Best Performances
E.T.—4.498 seconds Las Vegas April 2007
MPH—329.75 MPH (TF) Pomona , Calif. Feb. 2007
MPH—333.25 MPH (FC) Joliet , Ill. June 2004
O’Reilly Summer Nationals TV Schedule (ESPN2)
Date & Time (ET) Coverage
Sat., June 2, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sun., June 3, 11-11:30 a.m. NHRA Race Day
Sun., June 3, 4-7 p.m. Final Eliminations Coverage
The Bazemore Bulletin
19th annual O’Reilly Summer Nationals
June 1-3, 2007
Heartland Park Topeka
Topeka, Kan.
“It’s going to be good to get back to racing. The unexpected time off was timely for us having just moved, but at the same time we’re in full race mode and eager to get back out there and get our season on track with the Matco Tools team. Anytime you go to the site of your very first victory, it’s special. It’ll always have a special meaning for me. You work your way up the ladder and you can be in contention for many years before you win. Winning is difficult, so when you do get it, it means the world to you.”
Bazemore Topeka Notebook
Last May, Bazemore qualified fifth in the Funny Car order with a run of 4.893 seconds at 311.49 mph. He was defeated by then teammate Ron Capps in the quarterfinals.
Bazemore earned the pole at Heartland Park in 2004. He has 30
career poles and is one of 15 drivers to have qualified first in both Top Fuel and Funny car. His last pole was on March 31 at the Houston race.
Bazemore recorded top speed of the meet at Topeka in 2003 (326.48 mph) and ‘04 (326.00). He has earned top speed honors 28 times in his career.
Heartland Park Topeka is one of 12 current NHRA tracks where Bazemore has won a race. He earned his first career NHRA victory in Funny Car competition at Topeka in 1997. He also reached the winner’s circle at Heartland Park in 2004 (def. Eric Medlen). He is a three-time finalist at the Topeka race.
At the last race ( St. Louis ), Bazemore and the Matco Tools team failed to make the 16-car field. It was just the 23rd time in 343 career races that Bazemore failed to qualify for an event. Teams were limited to just two qualifying attempts after Friday’s racing action at Gateway Int’l Raceway was washed out.
Baze Banters About Topeka ...
Topeka :
“Winning”
Heartland Park Topeka :
“ Topeka ”
Favorite Topeka-area cycling route:
“Out of the track and West and then South, we do a 40-mile loop”
Favorite local restaurants:
“I’ve stayed in the motor home a lot lately, didn’t eat out much”
Favorite Heartland Park Topeka racing memory:
“Getting my first Funny Car win in 1997”
2007 NHRA Top Fuel Standings
1. ROD FULLER (1) 499 - - - -
2. Brandon Bernstein (2) 476 - 23
3. J.R. Todd (2) 408 - 91
4. Larry Dixon 396 - 103
5. Melanie Troxel (1) 392 - 107
6. Tony Schumacher (1) 371 - 128
7. Bob Vandergriff 351 - 148
8. David Grubnic 347 - 152
9. WHIT BAZEMORE 340 - 159
10. Cory McClenathan 336 - 163
Whit Bazemore’s Career Results at Heartland Park Topeka
Year Qualified Finish & Winning Driver
1991 No. 9 1st round—Ed McCulloch
1992 No. 8 1st round—Del Worsham
1993 No. 8 2nd round—Chuck Etchells
1994 No. 12 2nd round—Al Hofmann
1994 DNQ
1995 No. 11 2nd round—K.C. Spurlock
1995 No. 3 Semifinals—Al Hofmann
1996 No. 8 2nd round—John Force
1997 No. 8 WINNER—def. Randy Anderson
1997 No. 2 Semifinals—Randy Anderson
1998 No. 6 2nd round—Ron Capps
1999 No. 1 Semifinals—Tommy Johnson, Jr.
2000 No. 8 1st round—Jim Epler
2001 No. 8 2nd round—John Force
2002 No. 10 1st round—John Force
2003 No. 3 Runner-up—Tony Pedregon
2004 No. 1 WINNER—def. Eric Medlen
2005 No. 6 1st round—Ron Capps
2006 No. 5 2nd round—Ron Capps
Bazemore’s Topeka Schedule
Date & Time Event and Location
Fri., June 1, 5/8 p.m. TF Qualifying 1/2, Heartland Park
Sat., June 2, 12/2:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Heartland Park
Sun., June 3, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Heartland Park
Bazemore’s Career-Best Performances
E.T.—4.498 seconds Las Vegas April 2007
MPH—329.75 MPH (TF) Pomona , Calif. Feb. 2007
MPH—333.25 MPH (FC) Joliet , Ill. June 2004
O’Reilly Summer Nationals TV Schedule (ESPN2)
Date & Time (ET) Coverage
Sat., June 2, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sun., June 3, 11-11:30 a.m. NHRA Race Day
Sun., June 3, 4-7 p.m. Final Eliminations Coverage
