Whit Bazemore, driver of the David Powers Motorsports, Matco Tools-sponsored dragster was relieved of his duties via a phone call from Powers this afternoon. 

“I had no clue it was coming,” Bazemore said. “I’m surprised because I had been talking to David for the last couple of months about getting our handshake agreement in writing. I thought we were making headway but this comes out of the blue.” 

Bazemore said he was given no real reason for his dismissal.

Whit Bazemore, driver of the David Powers Motorsports, Matco Tools-sponsored dragster was relieved of his duties via a phone call from Powers this afternoon. 

“I had no clue it was coming,” Bazemore said. “I’m surprised because I had been talking to David for the last couple of months about getting our handshake agreement in writing. I thought we were making headway but this comes out of the blue.” 

Bazemore said he was given no real reason for his dismissal.

“There have been some issue and every team has that – but you work through them,” Bazemore said. “We have certainly struggled with our team at times and there were issues –- but nothing that was difficult --nothing abnormal.

“I was always up front with David about my thoughts and issues facing the team throughout the year – things that could make the team better – that’s how I am. You always want the business to be as successful as it can be. I had my own team and drove for Don Schumacher for five years, you learn a lot. I definitely would talk to David quite a bit.”

Bazemore said he hasn’t talked to longtime sponsor Matco Tools since his dismissal.

“I haven’t talked to them, nor do I know what they think about all of this,” Bazemore said. “I don’t know what their contract is with David. I just don’t know. I worked awfully hard for them and have many friends there. I have worked with them for eight years and they certainly have a lot of equity in me. I don’t know if they were for or against this.”

Calls to both Powers and the marketing department at Matco Tools were not immediately returned.

An official press release from DPM offered the following comments regarding the dismissal.

“This was an extremely difficult decision to make because Whit (Bazemore) is a very talented driver and one of the sport’s top competitors,” Powers said. “We felt that in looking towards the future of our growing organization it was best to move forward in a different direction. We wanted to give Whit time to pursue other opportunities and we wish him continued success in his future racing endeavors. The entire David Powers Motorsports organization thanks Whit for his commitment and effort to the team this season.”

“We have had an eight-year relationship with Whit Bazemore and he has been a fantastic spokesman for the Matco Tools Racing program and our distributors,” Matco Tools President Tom Willis added. “We want to thank him for representing Matco Tools for nearly a decade and we wish Whit nothing but success in the future.”