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Whit's Blog on NHRA.com
Biography
If it has been
uttered once, it has been announced on the public address speakers
at an NHRA national event at least 209 times that Whit Bazemore is
intense.
Anyone that
would willingly have himself saddled to the spine of over 7,000
horsepower is intense by definition – instantly dispelling the
notion that Whit’s personality directs its subject with mere
intensity. Every competitor that has ever driven a Funny Car at the
level which he drives presumably operates within different
parameters of passion than any member of the family sitting in row
six that never misses a race or the suits in the luxury suites who
never seem to quite understand how a quicker racecar can lose a drag
race.
Baze is intense,
but it does not explain his oft-misunderstood temperament or his
sporadic moments of seeming aloof. Then, what does? One word nets
the swarm of adjectives that have circled his persona since he first
slid into the cockpit as a professional in 1988…
Determined.
Whit is
determined to compete, determined to win and most importantly,
determined to be an NHRA Funny Car World Champion. Throughout a
career that has personified persistence with fires, crashes and
controversy, both on and off of the drag strip; He has never wavered
in his determination to be crowned king of the “floppers." He is
determined to define his career as a champion.
T. Myers
2003
Personal
- Resides in Indianapolis with wife
Michelle and son Dashiell
- Enjoys
bicycling and weight training
- Former professional sports
and nature photographer
- Avid stock market equities trader
Photos courtesy of Randy Anderson, Anderson
Studio
© Copyright 2005 Whit Bazemore
Racing
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Funny Car Recent Career Highlights
◦ 2002: Won
two national events, extending his streak of seasons with at
least one win to six; Finished in the top 10 of the points for
the eighth consecutive season; Turned in career-best speed;
Qualified No. 1 three times
◦ 2001:
Qualified No. 1 at nine of the last 12 events of the season;
Established four of the top five quickest runs and three of the
top five fastest runs in NHRA Funny Car history; Won
Indianapolis for the second time in his career
◦ 2000:
Recorded the first four-second Funny Car run at Denver; Posted
low elapsed time at three events and top speed at two
◦ 1999: Won
Sonoma while sweeping top qualifier, low elapsed time and top
speed; Advanced to four consecutive final rounds
◦ 1998: Won
inaugural race in Chicago
◦ 1997: Set
the world speed record of 313.04 mph in Houston 1; Eighth Funny
Car driver to break the five-second barrier; Swept all
performance categories in Denver by winning the event,
qualifying No. 1, recording low elapsed time and top speed
◦ 1996:
Finished in the top-10 of the NHRA World Championship point
standings despite missing the last three races of the year after
suffering serious leg injuries in a motorcycle accident |
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