Topeka: Whit Bazemore final summary

BAZEMORE HAS DISAPPOINTING RUN IN TOPEKA

TOPEKA, Kans. (May 29, 2005) - Whit Bazemore's bad luck of the last several races continued today at Heartland Park Topeka, when he lost his fourth straight first-round Funny Car match-up of the year at the O'Reilly Summer Nationals.

As No. 6 qualifier he faced the No. 11 qualifier, his teammate Ron Capps, in what was expected to be an exciting race to the finish between the two fierce competitors and friendly rivals.

The pair's reaction times were nearly identical: .081 for Bazemore, .080 for Capps, but Bazemore's day ended early as the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus struck the tires and Bazemore lost his valiant attempt to win that round by slowing to an 8.047/111.09 pass. Capps lit up the win light with a 4.867/315.93 pass.

"We just went out and we smoked the tires and it's a frustrating situation and we're in a funk," said a disappointed Bazemore, who was the defending Funny Car champion here in Topeka, where he also won his first Funny Car race in 1997. "Our car has a mind of its own right now and doesn't respond well to (crew chief Lee) Beard's input.

"As a team, we have to pick ourselves up and fix our problems and go to the next race.

"Our team will be testing here at Heartland Park on Monday in an ongoing effort to increase our competitiveness and put ourselves back to where we know we belong."

Bazemore hangs on to fifth place in the Funny Car point standings, just 51 points out of second.

Next up is the CARQUEST NHRA Nationals in Joliet, Ill., on June 10-12, 2005.

-dsr-