Cruz Pedregon Seattle Preview
18th Annual NHRA Nationals Pacific Raceways Kent, Wash. Advance Auto Parts Nitro Funny Car - Pedregon Racing NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Cruz Pedregon Heads to Pacific Raceways One Step Away From Victory Last Year KENT, Wash. (July 19, 2005) Cruz Pedregon, driver of the Advance Auto Parts Nitro Funny Car, heads into this weekendıs national event at Pacific Raceways to compete in the 18th annual NHRA Nationals. During the 2004 event at Pacific Raceways, Pedregon and the Advance Auto Parts team made it to a second-straight NHRA POWERade Drag racing Series final round. This performance paralleled his final round appearance during the previous weekendıs NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway ³I was very pleased with our race here last year in Seattle,² Pedregon said. ³And I believe this year they have improved the track even more, which will give all the drivers an equal chance to win. ³Also, it is good to be racing at sea level again. I feel we performed very well in Englishtown (Pedregon qualified No. 1) and St. Louis where we made it to quarterfinals. I am confident the Advance Auto Parts team will take advantage of the improved track and lower altitude.² Cruz Pedregon would love to slide his Advance Auto parts Nitro Funny Car into victory lane at Pacific Raceways. Despite finishing in the runner-up position to John Force both in 1993 and 2004, the California resident has never won in the Great Northwest. Pedregon is looking to change it this weekend. ³The Advance Auto Parts team is doing everything possible to increase this teamıs chances to win,² Pedregon said. ³Our goal is still to qualify in the top half of the field, and then go rounds during eliminations. We had a tough race in Denver last weekend, but we are ready to rebound and put on a good show.² Following a number one qualifier in Englishtown, N.J., and a quarterfinal finish in Madison, Ill., Pedregon heads to Kent in 6th place in NHRA Nitro Funny Car points with 695. Advance Auto Parts, Inc. is headquartered in Roanoke, Va., and is the second largest aftermarket retailer of automotive parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items in the United States. With over 2650 stores in 40 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/> . -PedregonRacing.com- Public Relations Contact: Alti Perea, Cox Marketing Group Media Relations Representative alti@coxmarketinggroup.com (704) 779-3648 mobile (704) 799-2114 office David Harris, Cox Marketing Group Account Manager davidh@coxmarketinggroup.com (704) 756-9301 - mobile (704) 799-2114 office Pedregon Racing Advance Auto Parts Nitro Funny Car/ ŒQı Racing Nitro Funny Car (704) 799-2114 office