Commerce: Whit Bazemore Saturday summary

BAZEMORE FINISHES FOURTH IN TOP FUEL ORDER AT ATLANTA

COMMERCE, Ga. (April 28, 2007) -- Whit Bazemore and the Matco Tools Top Fuel team will again start in the top half of the Top Fuel order after the longtime Atlanta resident powered his Lee Beard-tuned rail to the No. 4 qualifying position Saturday at Atlanta Dragway. The 20-time NHRA winner carded a qualifying-best run of 4.524-seconds.

Entering the final day of qualifying for the 27th annual Southern Nationals in the No. 4 position after posting the 4.524 at 327.19 on Friday afternoon, Bazemore and the Matco Tools team overpowered the hot Atlanta Dragway strip on Saturday's first attempt. On his final run of the weekend, the veteran nitro pilot powered to a run of 4.583 seconds at 320.81 mph to remain fourth in the 16-car order. It is the third time that Bazemore has qualified fourth this season. His lowest starting position since making the move to Top Fuel was seventh at the season-opener in Pomona, Calif.

"We're happy with what transpired during qualifying," Beard said. "We have a good race car. We're working on our consistency. As the weather gets hotter and the tracks get slipperier, we feel we have a good combination to race with."

Bazemore will battle No. 14 qualifier Cory McClenathan for the fourth time in six races on Sunday morning. Bazemore has a 2-1 mark versus the 29-time Top Fuel winner. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. (ET). ESPN2 will air three hours of final eliminations coverage from 7-10 p.m. (ET) on Sunday evening.

-credit: dpm