Tony Pedregon Grabs Second Slot at Infineon
Quaker State Racing Funny Car Pedregon Racing NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Infineon Raceway Sonoma, Calif. Saturday Qualifying Notes & Quotes Tony Pedregon Nabs Second Qualifying Position Quaker State Racing Solid for Tomorrow SONOMA, Calif. (July 31, 2004) Tony Pedregon, driver of the Quaker State Racing Monte Carlo, logged his ninth, top half of the field qualifying effort of the season at this weekendıs Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway. For the fourth time this season, Pedregon has captured the number-two slot. The California resident earned his position with a 4.896-second elapsed time at 318.17 mph the second fastest speed of Funny Car qualifying. ³Qualifying definitely hasnıt been our weak spot,² said Pedregon, who has also qualified in the number one slot three times this year. ³We havenıt been as good, or consistent, on race day though. Our focus right now is to find that consistency for Sunday. ³Once we have the ability to do that,² Pedregon continued. ³Everything will come together for this race team. Weıre back here in California, where the climate is really good. Weıve had some very diverse conditions that weıve raced in, and weıve been able to adapt and run well. The track should be real good for the first round.² Pedregon has a tough match up with Del Worsham in the first round of eliminations. This will be the second time this season Pedregon has had to face him in the first round. Worsham currently sits second in points. Quaker State Racing Notebook: TOUGH DRAW: Quaker State Racing Monte Carlo Funny Car driver Tony Pedregonıs aforementioned match up with Del Worsham isnıt the only tough first rounder that he has faced this season. Pedregon has also had first round shoot outıs against the likes of Tommy Johnson, Jr., Ron Capps, Eric Medlin and Gary Scelzi as well. Ironically, maybe his toughest match was against his brother, Cruz, at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Ariz., the second race of the 2004 season. Tony wound up on top of that one. ³We sure have had a knack for drawing tough opponents in the first round this year,² Pedregon said. ³Weıve gone up against some pretty formidable teams. It shouldnıt matter when this team is on its game, however. Itıs not been because weıve been outperformed. ³The challenge is there,² Pedregon continued. ³Weıre up to it though. I will get into my groove, which I havenıt really established yet this year. Early in the year, we showed some flashes of what we can do. Weıre going to do whatever it takes to make it happen for tomorrow.² PedregonRacing.com