Cruz Pedregon Drives to Second-Straight Final
Advance Auto Parts Racing Nitro Funny Car Pedregon Racing NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Pacific Raceways Elimination Notes & Quotes Cruz Pedregon Reaches Second Final in a Row Advance Auto Parts Racing Team Hitting Itıs Stride KENT, Wash. (July 25, 2004) Cruz Pedregon and the Advance Auto Parts Monte Carlo Nitro Funny Car continues to impress, making it to a second-straight NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series final round during todayıs national event at Pacific Raceways. This performance paralleled his final-round appearance during last weekendıs Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway. Pedregon matched up against old rival John Force in the final, just missing a chance to defeat the 12-time Funny Car champ at the end. It was a close race to start, as Pedregon held a .037 to .099 of a second reaction time advantage off the line. But, it wasnıt enough to hold off Forceıs 4.896-second elapsed time at 309.34 mph; as Pedregon drove to a 5.633-second lap at 194.91 mph. ³I got off the line in good shape,² Pedregon said. ³I didnıt see John at first, and I thought at about the 300-foot mark, if we could have hung in there, we had a real shot at a win. At that moment, we spun the tires, lost traction and overpowered the track. I got it to recover being on and off the throttle a couple of times but it just wasnıt to be. John made a great run, and you canıt take anything away from them. He made a pass that was a little stronger than I thought the track would even hold John is a great champion. We were in the final and we moved closer to Tony for ninth place in points.² Pedregon, who defeated Force in the 1992 NHRA Funny Car title chase, moved into the finals by defeating Tony Bartone in round one, Tim Wilkerson in round two and Whit Bazemore in the semifinals. Pedregon likens these battles to another sport that exudes toughness. ³Every round was like a heavyweight fight,² Pedregon commented. ³We had points leaders and guys trying to win championships, and weıre trying to move up and get into the middle of it ourselves. A final round is a final round there are 20 other cars that would have loved to of been in our position. To go to two straight finals, and qualify in the top half of the field for six-straight races, despite all of the changes with rules and weather conditions, this team has adapted and reacted amazingly. (Crew chief) Wes Cerny is such a wiley veteran and Iım really pleased with the way he has adapted to everything. I feel like this team is really showing signs of what weıre made of. I donıt want to sound overconfident because Iıve been around long enough to know the next race could be a tough one - but weıre definitely in the hunt.² Advance Auto Parts Racing Notebook: STARTING LINE ADVANTAGE: Cruz Pedregon has been on his driving game recently. This weekendıs race at Pacific Raceways was no exception, as Pedregon took starting-line advantages in every round of competition today. Pedregon won the 1992 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car championship with similar performances. ³Iım trying to do all that I possibly can to increase this teamıs chances to win,² Pedregon said. ³I really feel good about how Iım driving right now. This is the way I want to drive; being aggressive and taking it to people. Whether you have a good car or not, the sign of a good driver is someone who gets out there, and gets after it. There are times in drag racing where I can help the car out, and there are other times the car can help you. When we can bring the two together having a good car and being sharp at the starting line thatıs when you win races.² POINTS BATTLE: Cruz Pedregon and the Advance Auto Parts Monte Carlo Nitro Funny Car team are making their own move in the points race. With this weekendıs final-round appearance, Pedregon only sits a single point out of ninth. Ironically, his brother and teammate Tony Pedregon sits just ahead at 681.