Cruz Pedregon Logs Eighth; To Face Brother Tony

Advance Auto Parts Racing Nitro Funny Car

Pedregon Racing
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
Maple Grove Raceway ­ Mohnton, Pa.
Final Qualifying Notes & Quotes

Cruz Pedregon Improves Time; Maintains Eighth
All Pedregon, All of the Time in Round One Tomorrow

MOHNTON, Pa. (Oct. 9, 2004) ­ Cruz Pedregon led the Advance Auto Parts Monte
Carlo Nitro Funny Car to the eighth slot for tomorrowıs Lucal Oil NHRA
Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.

Pedregonıs 4.819-second elapsed time at 318.62 mph was an improvement over
yesterday, setting up a round one match with brother Tony Pedregon, the
defending NHRA POWERade Draq Racing Series Funny Car World Champion.

³Sometimes itıs just the luck of the draw,² said Pedregon, who has won eight
rounds of competition over the last three races. ³Both Tony and I left a
little bit on the table in qualifying. We were on a great pass on that last
one, but lost traction at about half track and smoked the tires.

³This field is so close,² Pedregon added. ³Weıre going to see a lot of stiff
competition tomorrow. We could have as easily been in fifth or sixth with
just a little improvement, thatıs how close they have qualified here this
weekend. The good news is we are in the top half, which is good.²

Advance Auto Part Notebook:

BROTHER CHALLENGE: This is only the second time this season that Cruz and
Tony Pedregon have met in the first round of competition. In their first
match up which happened in the opening round at Firebird International
Raceway in Chandler, Ariz., Tony edged Cruz at the stripe.

³Itıs always tough when you go up against your brother,² Pedregon said.
³But, we really want to get into that second round and Advance Auto Parts
wouldnıt expect anything less. Iıd rather we not race him, and itıs more
awkward now than any time in the past. Our cars were essentially equal
because we worked so hard in the off season at getting Tonyıs car up to
speed.

³Our team is in a much better position now than we were back then,² Pedregon
added. ³Tony is tough and will run right with us. And I can guarantee that
the fans will enjoys tomorrowıs match. Iım glad we raced each other earlier
in the season though because it wonıt be as big of a deal. May the best team
win.²