Cruz Pedregon Grabs Fourth; Career-Best Elapsed Time

Advance Auto Parts Racing Nitro Funny Car

Pedregon Racing
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
Route 66 Raceway ­ Joliet, Ill.
Final Qualifying Notes & Quotes

Cruz Pedregon Records Career-Best Elapsed Time
Advance Auto Parts Monte Carlo Nabs Fourth Slot

JOLIET, Ill. (Oct. 2, 2004) ­ Advance Auto Parts Monte Carlo Nitro Funny Car
driver Cruz Pedregon lowered his career elapsed time mark during todayıs
final qualifying sessions for tomorrowıs NHRA National Event at Route 66
Raceway.

Pedregon drove to the fourth slot, lapping the suburban Chicago quarter mile
in 4.766 seconds at 325.30 mph, bettering the 4.769-second elapsed time he
ran during the Pontiac Excitement Nationals at National Trail Raceway in
Kirkersville, Ohio earlier this year. Of note, the 4.862-second bump spot
made this the quickest Funny Car field in NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
history.

According to Pedregon, the teamıs consistency is whatıs really got him
optimistic however, ³We had three qualifying runs in a row that were
outstanding. We were really smart with how we played things. The car is very
predictable. It would have been nice to run low elapsed time, but were
running within ourselves right now. Thatıs so important.

³So much credit has to go to this team and (crew chief) Wes (Cerny) for
making the right calls,² Pedregon continued. ³We didnıt go out there and get
caught up in everything. We didnıt want to throw everything at it and then
go up in smoke. It was thought out and planned ­ running a 4.81, 4.78 and
4.76 in succession. Each run was over 320 mph.²

Pedregon will pair off against Johnny Gray in the first round of
eliminations.

³We have a good place to start as well,² Pedregon said. ³We have lane choice
and have qualifying in that all important top half of the field. Life is
good over here and weıre happy for Advance Auto Parts and all of our great
sponsors. We have a car thatıs something to be proud of because of its
consistency. We have a great chance to win this race.²

Advance Auto Parts Notebook:

TOP SPEED: Cruz Pedregon, driver of the Advance Auto Parts Monte Carlo Nitro
Funny Car, also broke his career best speed mark. Pedregonıs 325.30 mph run
during todayıs third and final qualifying session bettered his 324.14 mph
pass at Atlanta Dragway earlier this year.