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26th annual Lucas Oil Nationals
Aug. 9-12, 2007
Brainerd International Raceway
Brainerd, Minn.
“We like pressure. We all have to perform. I’m looking forward to going to Brainerd. It was nice to have a small break in the action to get recharged and get reacquainted with the family. I’ve lost about 12 pounds since April and it’s kind of remarkable in the middle of a six-race swing. It’s from doing some good, long rides here in Oregon . There’s a lot of climbing and it basically melts fat off. We’ll go to Brainerd and our backs are against the wall and we need to have a perfect weekend and a perfect weekend at Reading (Pa.) the following week to ensure a place in a the Countdown.”
Bazemore Brainerd Notebook
Two weeks ago in Sonoma , Calif. , Bazemore qualified fifth with a run of 4.582 seconds. It was the 11th time in 15 races that he has qualified in the top half of the order this season.
With two races before the Countdown to the Championship fields are set, Bazemore ranks seventh in the POWERade Top Fuel standings. He is 72 points ahead of ninth-place racer Melanie Troxel.
Last August, Bazemore missed the cut at B.I.R. on speed. He and No. 16 qualifier Phil Burkart, Jr., clocked runs of 4.924 seconds, but Burkart got the nod as a result of having a faster speed. It was his only DNQ of the year.
Bazemore has an average starting spot of 7.12 at B.I.R. in 17 career starts at the Minnesota track. His average starting position this season is 6.86.
Bazemore has two poles at B.I.R. (1997 and 2001). He has 30 career poles. In March, he became the 15th driver in NHRA history to earn poles in both Top Fuel and Funny Car.
Baze Banters About Brainerd...
Brainerd:
“Unethical hotels”
B.I.R.:
“Really fast turn one on the road course”
Favorite local restaurant:
“Used to be my wife’s cooking in the bus, now Starbucks”
Favorite B.I.R. racing memory:
“1982 taking Dale Pulde’s truck around the road course and getting caught and reprimanded by Steve Gibbs”
Favorite Brainerd-area cycling route:
“They have a really nice path, Paul Bunyan Trail. It’s really nice and first class.”
2007 NHRA Top Fuel Standings
1. ROD FULLER (2) 1,124 - - - -
2. Tony Schumacher (4) 996 - 128
3. Brandon Bernstein (4) 947 - 177
4. Larry Dixon (2) 943 - 181
5. J.R. Todd (2) 915 - 209
6. Bob Vandergriff, Jr. 729 - 312
7. WHIT BAZEMORE 730 - 394
8. David Grubnic 703 - 421
9. Melanie Troxel (1) 658 - 45
10. Doug Herbert 650 - 54
Whit Bazemore’s Career Results at Brainerd International Raceway
Year Qualified Finish & Winning Driver
1990 No. 16 First round—John Force
1991 No. 12 First round—John Force
1992 No. 2 Second round—Chuck Etchells
1993 No. 12 Semifinals—Cruz Pedregon
1994 No. 11 Second round—Richard Hartman
1995 No. 3 Semifinals—Gary Densham
1996 No. 8 First round— Gary Densham
1997 No. 1 Second round— Gary Densham
1998 No. 7 Second round—Ron Capps
1999 No. 5 Runner-up—John Force
2000 No. 6 First round—Bob Gilbertson
2001 No. 1 Runner-up—Ron Capps
2002 No. 3 Second round— Gary Densahm
2003 No. 3 Second round—Frank Pedregon
2004 No. 5 First round—Tommy Johnson, Jr.
2005 No. 9 First round—Tony Pedregon
2006 No. 17 DNQ
Bazemore’s Brainerd Schedule
Date & Time Event and Location
Fri., Aug. 10, 3:30/6:15 p.m. TF Qualifying 1/2, B.I.R.
Sat., Aug. 11, Noon/2:45 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, B.I.R.
Sun., Aug. 12, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, B.I.R.
Bazemore’s Career-Best Performances
E.T.—4.498 seconds (TF) Las Vegas April 2007
E.T.—4.674 seconds (FC) Joliet , Ill. June 2006
MPH—332.51 mph (TF) Englishtown , N.J. June 2007
MPH—333.25 mph (FC) Joliet , Ill. June 2004
The Bazemore Bulletin
26th annual Lucas Oil Nationals
Aug. 9-12, 2007
Brainerd International Raceway
Brainerd, Minn.
“We like pressure. We all have to perform. I’m looking forward to going to Brainerd. It was nice to have a small break in the action to get recharged and get reacquainted with the family. I’ve lost about 12 pounds since April and it’s kind of remarkable in the middle of a six-race swing. It’s from doing some good, long rides here in Oregon . There’s a lot of climbing and it basically melts fat off. We’ll go to Brainerd and our backs are against the wall and we need to have a perfect weekend and a perfect weekend at Reading (Pa.) the following week to ensure a place in a the Countdown.”
Bazemore Brainerd Notebook
Two weeks ago in Sonoma , Calif. , Bazemore qualified fifth with a run of 4.582 seconds. It was the 11th time in 15 races that he has qualified in the top half of the order this season.
With two races before the Countdown to the Championship fields are set, Bazemore ranks seventh in the POWERade Top Fuel standings. He is 72 points ahead of ninth-place racer Melanie Troxel.
Last August, Bazemore missed the cut at B.I.R. on speed. He and No. 16 qualifier Phil Burkart, Jr., clocked runs of 4.924 seconds, but Burkart got the nod as a result of having a faster speed. It was his only DNQ of the year.
Bazemore has an average starting spot of 7.12 at B.I.R. in 17 career starts at the Minnesota track. His average starting position this season is 6.86.
Bazemore has two poles at B.I.R. (1997 and 2001). He has 30 career poles. In March, he became the 15th driver in NHRA history to earn poles in both Top Fuel and Funny Car.
Baze Banters About Brainerd...
Brainerd:
“Unethical hotels”
B.I.R.:
“Really fast turn one on the road course”
Favorite local restaurant:
“Used to be my wife’s cooking in the bus, now Starbucks”
Favorite B.I.R. racing memory:
“1982 taking Dale Pulde’s truck around the road course and getting caught and reprimanded by Steve Gibbs”
Favorite Brainerd-area cycling route:
“They have a really nice path, Paul Bunyan Trail. It’s really nice and first class.”
2007 NHRA Top Fuel Standings
1. ROD FULLER (2) 1,124 - - - -
2. Tony Schumacher (4) 996 - 128
3. Brandon Bernstein (4) 947 - 177
4. Larry Dixon (2) 943 - 181
5. J.R. Todd (2) 915 - 209
6. Bob Vandergriff, Jr. 729 - 312
7. WHIT BAZEMORE 730 - 394
8. David Grubnic 703 - 421
9. Melanie Troxel (1) 658 - 45
10. Doug Herbert 650 - 54
Whit Bazemore’s Career Results at Brainerd International Raceway
Year Qualified Finish & Winning Driver
1990 No. 16 First round—John Force
1991 No. 12 First round—John Force
1992 No. 2 Second round—Chuck Etchells
1993 No. 12 Semifinals—Cruz Pedregon
1994 No. 11 Second round—Richard Hartman
1995 No. 3 Semifinals—Gary Densham
1996 No. 8 First round— Gary Densham
1997 No. 1 Second round— Gary Densham
1998 No. 7 Second round—Ron Capps
1999 No. 5 Runner-up—John Force
2000 No. 6 First round—Bob Gilbertson
2001 No. 1 Runner-up—Ron Capps
2002 No. 3 Second round— Gary Densahm
2003 No. 3 Second round—Frank Pedregon
2004 No. 5 First round—Tommy Johnson, Jr.
2005 No. 9 First round—Tony Pedregon
2006 No. 17 DNQ
Bazemore’s Brainerd Schedule
Date & Time Event and Location
Fri., Aug. 10, 3:30/6:15 p.m. TF Qualifying 1/2, B.I.R.
Sat., Aug. 11, Noon/2:45 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, B.I.R.
Sun., Aug. 12, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, B.I.R.
Bazemore’s Career-Best Performances
E.T.—4.498 seconds (TF) Las Vegas April 2007
E.T.—4.674 seconds (FC) Joliet , Ill. June 2006
MPH—332.51 mph (TF) Englishtown , N.J. June 2007
MPH—333.25 mph (FC) Joliet , Ill. June 2004
