Roger Bateman Denver wrap up

Bateman and Crew Weather the Heat & Humidity In Denver

The Friesen Motorsports Top Alcohol Funny Car Team has had four long weeks away from home and have had to deal with rain, wind, high humidity and late June like temperatures and have fared well in that period of time. The team rolled into Denver’s Bandimere Speedway for the third event in the Division 5 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series; the Grease Monkey Thunder on the Mountain. The team met the usual Heaver hitters in Division 5 such as Cy Chesterman, Vern Moats and Paul Anderson as well as some lesser-known combatants.

The Team qualified number 2 based on their first qualifying pass on Friday of 5.834 seconds/246.57 mph giving them lane choice in the first round Sunday. Round one paired Roger Bateman against Robert Kanenwishe of Conifer, CO with Bateman taking the favored lane. Bateman got the jump off the line and never gave up his lead defeating Kanenwishe 5.936 seconds/242.80 mph as Kanenwishe got out of the groove and ran 6.029 seconds/235.35 mph. Roger and crew gave up lane choice to a long revered TAFC veteran from DeMoines, IA, Vern Moats. Moats and Bateman squared off in the semi finals where Roger’s Mustang shook just near 500 Feet and quit, giving Moats the win 5.921 seconds/244.12 Mph to Roger’s Coasting 7.760 seconds/121.92 mph.

The team has had another positive weekend where they learned how to tune the racecar at an altitude track and can use that data in similar situations. “We get some time to go home and sleep in our own beds” Car Chief Todd Murray was quoted as saying as the team will take some time off and get ready for the IHRA Rocky Mountain Nationals in Edmonton, AB July 4th to 6th, 2008.


By Jeffrey Porth
Friesen Motorsports