Cruz Pedregon Chili Bowl Midget Nationals Wrap Up

Advance Auto Parts Racing Nitro Funny Car

Pedregon Racing
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
19th Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals
Notes & Quotes

Cruz Pedregon Wraps Up Chili Bowl Adventure
Fun Weekend for Advance Auto Parts Funny Car Driver
 
TULSA, Okla. (Jan, 10, 2005) ­ Cruz Pedregon was in familiar colors, those
of Advance Auto Parts. But he wasnıt in familiar surroundings. It didnıt
matter, as the Southern California resident enjoyed his first ever Chili
Bowl Midget Nationals at Tulsa Expo Raceway on Saturday.

Pedregon, who regularly pilots the Advance Auto Parts Monte Carlo Nitro
Funny Car on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series circuit, had a successful
first weekend of midget competition in the No. 71C Advance Auto Parts entry.

Pedregon started on the front row and finished second in the second 10-lap
H-Main to open Saturdayıs competition. It advanced the Camarillo, Calif.,
resident into the G-Main, where he moved up to the 13th slot. With only four
cars advancing to the F-Main, Pedregon came up a bit short. But he wasnıt
short on his enthusiasm for the experience.

 ³What a great event,² Pedregon said. ³Everyone involved welcomed me with
open arms. It was nice to see all the drag racing fans that attended the
event, as well, as some of the regulars who might have become drag racing
fans.

³I started on the front row of the H-Main, led most of the race, and was
passed right at the end by long-time midget driver Donnie Lehman,² Pedregon
added. ³It was successful because I passed a lot of cars, but was only
passed once myself the entire weekend.²

The 1992 NHRA Nitro Funny Car World Champion shall return.

³I will make this an annual event,² Pedregon said. ³I really want to thank
the people at Advance Auto Parts for supporting me. This was great therapy
and I know it will make me a better driver when I get back to NHRA
competition. This experience will help me better pedal the Funny Car.

³As for the midget, I want to get a little more experience when my busy
schedule allows,² Pedregon continued. ³I will continue to turn some laps at
Ventura (Calif.) Raceway and learn more about the car.²

The 2005 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series season opens with the 45th annual
K&N Filters Winternationals at historic Pomona (Calif.) Raceway on Feb.
10-13.

PedregonRacing.com