Cruz Pedregon Columbus Preview
41st annual Pontiac Excitement NHRA Nationals National Trail Raceway Columbus, Ohio Advance Auto Parts Nitro Funny Car - Pedregon Racing NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Cruz Pedregon Jumps Into Heart of NHRA Season COLUMBUS, Ohio (May 18, 2005) Cruz Pedregon, the Advance Auto Parts Nitro Funny Car driver, heads to the ŒBuckeye State¹ to compete in the Pontiac Excitement NHRA Nationals at National Trail Raceway this weekend. Former Funny Car champion moved to fourth place in NHRA Nitro Funny Car points after his semifinal round appearance at Atlanta Dragway. Now he is eager to continue the fight for points with his sights fixed in the 2005 NHRA POWERade Funny Car championship. Wes Cerny (Pedregon¹s crew chief) and the Advance Auto Parts team are working hard to give their driver the edge necessary to win an event in a very competitive field. They have made some changes in the fuel system and adjustments to a new body raced in Commerce, Ga. ³We have built a very light body to make the car go as fast as possible,² explained Pedregon. ³This is our number three body, and when we had to lay it down during the Atlanta race for some modifications, we fell back in our reliable number one body, the 007 a.k.a. Œthe double 0 seven¹!² Pedregon knows that consistency is key to winning races. With that in mind, the Advance Auto Parts team has tried to put that consistency together during qualifying during this season¹s races. ³During the last few races, we¹ve been able to rebound from some weak qualifying positions and measure up coming elimination day,² said Pedregon. ³But in Columbus we¹re hoping to be consistent thorough the weekend and pull through with a win.² COLUMBUS RECAP In the ten times Pedregon has raced at National Trail, he earned the top-qualifier award in 1998 and 2004, when he drove the Advance Auto Parts car to a career best and track record elapsed time of 4.769 seconds at 310 mph. That year he claimed his first No.1 qualifier since the 1998 NHRA finals in Pomona, Calif. Pedregon has also qualified in the top-half of the field in eight of those races, earning a runner up finish in 1992, and the low elapsed time and top speed of the event in ¹92 and ¹98. ³National Trail is a great track,² said Pedregon. ³We¹ve had success here and we¹re hoping for another great outing this weekend.² Advance Auto Parts, Inc. is based in Roanoke, Va., and is the second largest auto parts chain in the nation. With over 2600 stores in 39 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, the company serves both the do-it-yourself and professional installer markets. Additional information about the company, employment opportunities, services, as well as on-line purchase of parts and accessories can be found on the company's web site at www.advanceautoparts.com <http://www.advanceautoparts.com/> .