Two-time U. S. Nationals winner Whit Bazemore (1997, 2001) will like to improve in the 16-car Top Fuel order Saturday during the 53rd annual U. S. Nationals. The 20-time NHRA winner’s Matco Tools dragster shook the tires on its first run of the weekend.
The unique qualifying format for the Indy race gives the professional racers just one attempt on Friday with two sessions scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. Bazemore’s Matco-backed rail lost traction on Friday and slowed to a run of 8.501 seconds at 80.79 mph. He enters the Countdown to Four ranked seventh in the Top Fuel standings, just 60 points behind teammate Rod Fuller.
“The car had a high driveshaft speed and it didn’t make it, ” Bazemore said. “The good news is that we get a second chance Saturday night. It’s not like a few years ago with just one night run. ”
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