Whit Bazemore’s vault to the top of the Top Fuel qualifying order, was his 30th career and first in Top Fuel. Bazemore wasn't optimistic about Friday’s best run holding through Saturday’s qualifying.

When Saturday's qualifying never happened, Bazemore didn't mind being wrong. 

Whit Bazemore’s vault to the top of the Top Fuel qualifying order, was his 30th career and first in Top Fuel. Bazemore wasn't optimistic about Friday’s best run holding through Saturday’s qualifying.

When Saturday's qualifying never happened, Bazemore didn't mind being wrong. 

“It’s good for us because the guys are working hard," Bazemore said. "It’s a great team but I am surprised we are number one. We were in the first pair because we struggled in the first session. We didn’t have the opportunity to watch the other cars and tune off of them as everyone does. When we ran the .51, it showed the track was good and it would have taken more. I expected Hot Rod [Fuller] to be number one on Friday.”

Bazemore, whose only nitromethane racing experience is behind the wheel of a Funny Car, is making the transition to a dragster appear easy. He had twelve testing runs before his Top Fuel debut in Pomona.

“It’s my job,” Bazemore said. “David Powers hired me to drive his car, not to learn how to drive it. We had to get after it right away. We did that during testing and some in Pomona. I am still learning about the car.

“On that run,” Bazemore said of the 4.51. “It seemed so slow on the second half of the track. It’s a lot different than a Funny Car. If I ever went back to a Funny Car, to be good, I’d have to go right back in like I never left. That would be the real test.”

Then, Bazemore said the unthinkable in his Friday press conference. He wished a Team Force Racing car into the winner’s circle.

“I never thought I would say it, but I am now,” Bazemore said. “We want them to come back as quickly as they can. It has been a rough week for the sport. We have some safety issues that we still need to address like scoreboards too close to the track and things of that nature. Unfortunately it takes a tragedy of this nature to get things done. We’ve been trying for a long time and I think now there are enough of us to make things happen.”

Bazemore has always been vocal on his demands for Monday testing safety standards.

“The PRO has made an arrangement with the Safety Safari to have certain members at some of the test sessions,” Bazemore said. “That came about a few years ago when some of the safety personnel were completely inadequate at the finish line. There’s an arrangement now in place. I feel the need for organized test sessions…on Mondays after the national events because we are here and that makes the most sense for every one. I think five of them where the tracks are prepped to national event standards would be great.”