The Bazemore Bulletin
47th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals Pre Race
“Going in with a new team and a new type of race car, it’s very exciting to me, Bazemore said. “I think the success we had in testing takes some of the pressure off. I like pressure, but it give us confidence in the team, car and entire program. We have a lot of confidence and we’re going there with expectations of being able to win the race given how we ran at testing at Phoenix.”
Bazemore Winternationals Notebook
Last season, Bazemore finished ninth in the NHRA Funny Car standings despite missing the final five races of the season. He earned one victory(Seattle) in three final-around appearances in 2006.
Bazemore qualified sixth last season at the Winternationals with a 4.763-second elapsed time. He fell in the opening round of eliminations to Bob Gilbertson despite having the best reaction time of the round (.055 of-a-second).
Bazemore has advanced to the final round at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona twice: Pomona 2 2001 (to Del Worsham), Pomona 3 2001 (to John Force). Bazemore has qualified in the No. 1 position twice at Auto Club Raceway: Pomona 2 2001 (4.741 seconds), Pomona 3 2001 (4.816 seconds). The highest he has qualified at the Winternationals is second (2002-03).
Auto Club Raceway is one of 9 current tracks where Bazemore has yet to win a race. He has claimed victories at 12 race tracks, and multiple wins at 6tracks.
Baze Banters About Pomona...Auto Club Raceway at Pomona:
“The Winternationals”
Favorite Pomona-area cycling route:
“Glendora Mountain Road to Mount Baldy”
Favorite local restaurants:
“All India Café in Pasadena and El Cholo Café in South Pasadena”
Favorite Pomona Raceway memory:
“The first time I went there, as a junior in high school, it was also my first time in California. The next morning I saw snow on Mount Baldy. Going to the Winternationals was the pinnacle for me at that point in my life. Living in Atlanta, I wouldn’t have seen any new cars until the springtime. It was as
if I had died and gone to heaven.”
Whit Bazemore’s Career Results at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Year Qualified Finish & Winning Driver
1989 DNQ
1992 No. 10 1st round—Did Not Show
1993 No. 12 1st round—Gary Clapshaw
1995 No. 10 2nd round—John Force
1996 No. 4 2nd round—John Force
1997 No. 12 2nd round—Tony Pedregon
1998 No. 10 1st round—Tony Pedregon
1999 No. 3 2nd round—Tony Pedregon
2000 No. 7 2nd round—Jerry Toliver
2001 No. 10 Semifinals—Bruce Sarver
2002 No. 2 1st round—Johnny Gray
2003 No. 2 2nd round—Tommy Johnson, Jr.
2004 No. 5 2nd round—Gary Scelzi
2005 No. 8 Semifinals—Tommy Johnson, Jr.
2006 No. 6 1st round—Bob Gilbertson
Whit Bazemore’s Pomona 1 Schedule
Date & Time Event and Location
Thurs., Feb. 8, 2:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 1, Pomona Raceway
Fri., Feb. 9, 2:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 2, Pomona Raceway
Sat., Feb. 10, 12:30, 3:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Pomona Raceway
Sun., Feb. 11, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Pomona Raceway
Whit Bazemore’s Career-Best Performances
E.T.—4.674 seconds (FC) Joliet, Ill. June 2006
MPH—333.25 mph (FC) Joliet, Ill. June 2004
CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals TV Schedule (ESPN2)
Date & Time (ET) Coverage
Sat., Feb. 10, 9-11 p.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sun., Feb. 11, 11:30 a.m.-Noon NHRA 2Day
Sun., Feb. 11, 7-10 p.m. Final Eliminations Coverage
