Whit Bazemore Gainesville NHRA Advance

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“It’s a big race. It’s an important race. It’s important for our team in the circumstances that we’re in. We’ve got some momentum, we’re new to the class, I’m new to the team, and we’re fourth in the points. We want to expand on that. It’s important to get our first win in Top Fuel sooner rather than later to prove that we belong here. To do that at Gainesville would be the perfect scenario being it’s one of my favorite races. ”

Bazemore Gatornationals Notebook

Last March, Bazemore qualified 2nd at the Gatornationals with a run of 4.769 seconds. He was defeated in the opening round of eliminations by Cruz Pedregon. It was the fourth time that he qualified in the No. 2 position at the Gainesville race.

Bazemore has one career victory at Gainesville Raceway. In 2005, he defeated Bob Gilbertson in the Funny Car final. Bazemore used a run of 4.897 at 315.67 to earn the win. Gilbertson fouled at the start forcing an automatic disqualification. It is one of 12 tracks where Bazemore has scored a win.

Bazemore qualified first at the Gainesville race in 1999 (4.856, 307.58). He has 29 career poles.

Bazemore raced his Matco Tools Funny Car to top speed of the meet at the Gatornationals in 2003 after blasting to a run of 324.32 mph. He has earned the top speed of the meet 27 times in his career.

Bazemore enters the Gatornationals fourth in the POWERade Top Fuel standings following a quarterfinal effort at Pomona, Calif. and a semifinal finish at Phoenix three weeks ago. He was defeated by teammate Rod Fuller at both races. Fuller leads the points standings.

Baze Banters About Gainesville…

Gainesville: “Fun town”

Gainesville Raceway: “Traffic”

Favorite Gainesville-area cycling route: “Out of the track and go right”

Favorite local restaurants: “The nice restaurant next to Starbucks downtown”

Favorite Gainesville Raceway memory: “Winning there in ‘05 and getting my TA/FC license in 1986”

2007 NHRA Top Fuel Standings

1. ROD FULLER (1) 194 - - - -

2. Brandon Bernstein 151 -43

3. J. R. Todd (1) 147 -47

4. WHIT BAZEMORE 127 -67

5. Melanie Troxel 126 -68

6. Tony Schumacher 116 -78

7. Dave Grubnic 104 -90

8. Bob Vandergriff, Jr. 89 -105

9. Doug Kalitta 86 -108

10. Cory McClenathan 84 -110