St. Louis: Whit Bazemore Friday summary

RAIN CANCELS FRIDAY RACING AT ST. LOUIS

MADISON, Ill. (May 4, 2007) -- Whit Bazemore and the David Powers-owned Matco Tools Top Fuel team will have to wait until Saturday to battle the Gateway International Raceway quarter mile after Friday's racing action for the 11th annual O'Reilly Midwest Nationals was canceled due to rain showers.

Bazemore, a 20-time NHRA winner, enters the St. Louis race, the seventh of 23 events on the 2007 NHRA schedule, ranked fifth in the Top Fuel standings. He trails points leader Brandon Bernstein by 110 points. In late March, Bazemore became the 15th driver in NHRA history to qualify No. 1 in both Top Fuel and Funny Car.

"I'm disappointed that it was called," Bazemore said. "We really wanted to get a run in today and put on a show for the loyal fans that were here all day long. It would have been a level playing field for all cars, and Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars produce a lot of downforce. It puts a little extra pressure on all the teams on Saturday."

Top Fuel qualifying continues with sessions scheduled for 12:30 and 3 p.m. (CT) on Saturday afternoon at Gateway International Raceway. ESPN2 will air two hours of qualifying coverage from 5-7 p.m. (ET) on Saturday evening. Bazemore qualified his Matco Tools Funny Car second here last June.

-credit: dpm