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Mopar Performance Parts Marketing Manager David Hakim talked about the Hemi Challenge, which was developed to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the vaunted engine. "Bucky Hess has been instrumental in helping develop and build the block and heads that we use in our crate Hemi engines," Hakim said. "(Engine builder) Ray Barton used his car as the R&D vehicle to make sure that our parts were durable over years of Super Stock racing. It's guys like Bucky - and Barton - that help keep the Hemi legacy alive and well for another 50 years. To add to Hess' weekend, NHRA also awarded the Bunker Hill, W.V. driver with the Best Engineered Award. BAZEMORE, ANDERSON, DRIVE PONTIAC FIREBIRDS TO VICTORY By Jeff Romack
Whit Bazemore and Greg Anderson drove their Pontiac Firebirds into the winner's circle at the 47th annual U.S. Nationals today at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Bazemore defeated Tony Pedregon to claim his second U.S. Nationals Funny Car victory while Greg Anderson knocked off Mark Osborne in the Pro Stock championship. For Bazemore, it was the culmination of a dominating weekend in which the Matco Tools Pontiac Firebird ran the quickest and fastest lap in NHRA Funny Car history on Saturday night with a light-speed pass of 4.756 seconds at 325.69 mph. Although he stumbled slightly Sunday with his runner-up performance to Frank Pedregon in the title round of the Budweiser Shootout, Bazemore entered the Monday eliminator qualified in the No. 1 position and loaded for bear. The 38-year-old Indy resident defeated Al Hofmann in round one, Del Worsham in round two and Ron Capps in round three before squaring off against Pedregon. For most of the afternoon, Bazemore's Firebird recorded strong, consistent performance numbers including a 4.940 e.t. in round one and a 4.922 e.t. in round two. Against Capps' Camaro in round three, Bazemore dodged a bullet when he hazed the tires at half-track. Capps' tire smoke was more severe allowing the Matco Tools Pontiac to cross the finish line first in 5.099 seconds, but the result gave final-round lane choice to Pedregon. The title heat was all Bazemore. The Matco Tools Pontiac driver launched
first and never gave an inch crossing the finish line in 4.971 seconds
at 298.14 mph. Pedregon's Ford followed in 5.123 seconds at 275.06 mph. |
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