Tony Pedregon/Quaker State Racing Elimination Notes
Quaker State Racing Nitro Funny Car Pedregon Racing NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Mopar Mile-High Nationals -- Bandimere Speedway Elimination Notes & Quotes Tony Pedregon Advances to Second Round Quaker State Racing Monte Carlo Betters Performance for Reigning Champ MORRISON, Colo. (July 18, 2004) Tony Pedregon and the Quaker State Racing Monte Carlo made it to the second round of eliminations during todayıs Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway. Pedregon, who lined up in the second qualifying position, smoked the tires in round two, posting an elapsed time of 6.702 seconds at 160.50 mph. Burkart crossed the line first with a 5.723-second elapsed time at 258.96 mph. ³We saw a pretty drastic increase in temperature,² said the 2003 NHRA POWERade Drag racing Series Nitro Funny Car World Champion. ³The track was hot in the first round, but it was extremely hot in the second. We wanted to compensate for the conditions. I think our Quaker State Motor Oil was too good, however. We seem to pull the power out of it, but the engine was still too good. I do want to thank the Quaker State engineers for all the hard work they have done with these products. Itıs starting to show on the track.² The Quaker State Racing team adjusted for the conditions. Pedregon talked about those moves. ³We made a lot of changes, but we didnıt make enough of them,² Pedregon continued. ³I think the key to success here is to work with less power. We couldnıt pull enough power out of our Monte Carlo today. Last year, I got beat in the first round, so I think we made some progress. Weıll get this car back to sea level and really make some noise.² Pedregon moved past Gary Scelzi in the first round with a 5.473-second elapsed time at 260.56 mph. Scelzi clicked off a slower 6.693-second lap at 143.14 mph, smoking the tires in the process. ³We had a real tough draw in the first round in Gary Scelzi because heıs had one of the best race cars the last four races,² Pedregon said. ³We were pretty close on the adjustments we made, so itıs good to get around a great team like that.²