Quaker State Racing/Tony Pedregon Memphis Pre-Race
Quaker State Racing Funny Car Pedregon Racing NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series O¹Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals Presented by Pennzoil Memphis (Tenn.) Motorsports Park Pre-Race Notes & Quotes Tony Pedregon Readies for ŒOld School¹ Weekend Quaker State Racing Into the Memphis Night MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Aug. 18, 2004) Many a professional drag racing career was born on a weekend night at the local drag strip. It¹s grassroots racingŠ a part of America¹s love for the automobile. This weekend¹s O¹Reilly Auto Parts Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Memphis Motorsports Park will tap into that passion as it hosts the second nighttime NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series National Event of the season. Tony Pedregon, who drives the Quaker State Racing Monte Carlo Nitro Funny Car, is a fan of night racing, loving the excitement and fanfare associated with competing under the lights. ³I¹ve always been partial to night racing, mostly because of track conditions,² Pedregon said. ³For the spectators, they get a little more of a charge out of it when they see the header flames. It makes for good racing. It¹s a little more exciting for us, and it¹s a little more exciting for them to watch. Should be a good one.² The spectacular atmosphere of the weekend won¹t overshadow the work at hand though. Pedregon hopes to build on two-straight, top half of the field - second at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., and sixth at Brainerd (Minn.) International Raceway this past weekend qualifying efforts. He expounded upon the advantages the Quaker State Racing Monte Carlo has running at night ³We race in the evening and I think that kind of works in our favor,² Pedregon said. ³I think the biggest challenge for us has been adapting to the changing conditions. We¹re putting good qualifying effort together and we¹re making some consistent runs. I think we¹ve made a lot of progress from what we were even though the car did perform early in the year. ³I remember going there (Memphis) last year getting beat in the first round and giving up the points lead,² Pedregon continued. ³This year, we¹re heading into this event with a full head of steam. I would like a little redemption by putting the Quaker State Racing Funny Car in the winner¹s circle.² Quaker State Racing Notebook: QUALIFYING PROWESS: Of the 16 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events so far this season, Tony Pedregon has qualified the Quaker State Racing Monte Carlo Nitro Funny Car in the top half of the field 11 times. Quaker State® is one of the world¹s leading motor oil and automotive products brands, and is marketed in over 45 countries. Quaker State® offers a full line of lubricants specially formulated for the needs of different engines, transmissions and gears. All products undergo extensive research, development and testing to meet and exceed the latest industry and OEM performance requirements. Quaker State® Racing develops highly specialized extreme performance oils and lubricants available to race teams worldwide. For more information about Quaker State® products and partners visit www.quakerstate.com. Quaker State® brand products are manufactured by SOPUS Products, a subsidiary of Shell Oil Company. SOPUS Products is a leader in fast lubes, automotive/consumer products, transport and industrial offerings to consumer and business customers. SOPUS Products markets Pennzoil®, Quaker State® and FormulaShell® motor oils, a portfolio of car care products and Jiffy Lube® services. Shell Oil Company is an affiliate of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies . For more information please visit www.shell.com. PedregonRacing.com Contact: David Harris, Cox Marketing Group Media Relations Manager Pedregon Racing (704) 799-2114 office (704) 756-9301 - mobile