TONY PEDREGON / Q POWER NITRO FUNNY CAR TEAM ENGLISHTOWN ADVANCE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 15, 2006 Media Contacts: Allison Holt, JRL Group, (847) 291-7080 x201, Allison@jrlgroup.com Janie Vogel, JRL Group, (440) 915-7627, janievogel@yahoo.com TONY PEDREGON - 2003 NHRA Funny Car Champion - Q POWER NITRO FUNNY CAR TEAM ENGLISHTOWN ADVANCE EVENT: NHRA SuperNationals TRACK NAME / LOCATION: Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, Englishtown, NJ www.RacewayPark.com <http://www.racewaypark.com/> DATE: June 16-18, 2006 SERIES: NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Nitro Funny Car Division TEAM MEMBERS: Driver/Owner: Tony Pedregon Teammate: Cruz Pedregon Crew Chief: Dickie Venables Asst. Crew Chief: Kurt Elliott INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (June 15, 2006) – 2003 NHRA World Champion Tony Pedregon and his Q Power Nitro Funny Car Team head to Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey, this weekend for the NHRA SuperNationals, the 11th of 23 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events in 2006. Pedregon is now fifth in points after recent wins in Atlanta and Columbus, along with a semi-final round appearance two weekends ago in Topeka. “We’re at a point in the season where all of the races are important,” said Pedregon of the upcoming summer stretch of races. “Our approach to the next several races is just consistency. We, like other teams, are at the mercy of some warm temperatures. But I think we’re in a good position in that we know our car performs under good conditions, and we’ve made some big strides when conditions are warm. Our approach as we head into summer is to stay consistent and to keep our first and second round losses at minimum.” The NHRA drag racers will be racing on Father’s Day in 2006. Just like many race car drivers, the Pedregon family, including Tony and brothers Cruz and Frank who all race for a living, have been affected by the influence of their racer dad. “My Dad had a positive impact on me and at an early age I remember my Dad’s strong work ethic which I know passed on to me,” stated Pedregon. “I also remember as a kid my Dad coming home from a hard day at work and smelling what I later knew to know as nitro. I also thought it was cool when he brought home various car parts. Now that I am a parent, I continue to look for those special moments that I can share with my kids. We race hard for a living, but at the end of the day it is all about family.” One of NHRA’s original seven national events, this race is steeped in legend. In many ways, it’s the East Coast’s Pomona: a legendary facility, some of the sport’s most knowledgeable (and definitely most boisterous) fans, and more dramatic moments than a weeklong History Channel marathon. The event, once known as the Summernationals, has shifted on the NHRA schedule from its original scorchingly hot and humid July slot to May and now to Father’s Day, and upsets have become the norm. Its proximity to New York has assured a parade of celebrity fans, including local legend Bruce Springsteen. Englishtown is about 20 miles south of Newark Int’l Airport, 35 miles south of New York City, and 55 miles north of Philadelphia. The track is on Pension Road, two miles north of Englishtown. From the New Jersey Turnpike, use Exit 8 (Route 33) or Exit 9 (Route 18). From Route 33, travel east to Route 527 (Englishtown exit), then north to the track. From Route 18, travel east to Route 527 (Englishtown exit), then south to the track. The main entrance is on Pension Road, which runs off Route 527 west of the track. After conquering the quarter-mile Old Bridge Township Raceway Park this weekend, the NHRA warriors head to St. Louis and the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Int’l Raceway on June 23-25. Check your local ESPN2 listings for broadcast times and event coverage. For more information on Tony, please go to <http://www.pedregonracing.com./> www.PedregonRacing.com. TONY PEDREGON HISTORY AT OLD BRIDGE TOWNSHIP RACEWAY PARK: Pedregon won this event in 2001, and was #1 qualifier five times – 1996, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003. 2006 RESULTS: Feb. 9-12 – Pomona: Qualified: 3rd, 4.713; 1st Round: Pedregon 5.147 vs Worsham 4.894 Feb. 24-26 – Phoenix Qualified: 4th, 4.724; 1st Round: Pedregon 4.778 vs Densham 9.445; 2nd Round: Pedregon 4.847 vs Johnson 4.809 March 16-19 – Gainesville Qualified: 16th, 4.900; 1st Round: Pedregon 5.018 vs Force 4.775 March 31-April 2 – Houston Qualified: 8th, 4.798; 1st Round: Pedregon 4.869 vs Bazemore 6.819; 2nd Round: Pedregon 9.461 vs Force 4.761 April 6-9 – Las Vegas Pedregon ran a 4.79 Friday night but the pass was disallowed by the NHRA when his team did not stop and weigh the car at the inspection station due to the drama of an engine explosion at the finish line. This was Pedregon’s first DNQ in five years dating back to the Bristol race in 2001 (115 events). April 28-30 – Bristol Qualified: 12th, 4.851; 1st Round: Pedregon 5.314 vs Johnson 4.817 May 5-7, 2006 – Atlanta – WON THIS EVENT Qualified: 9th, 4.797 / 275.00 1st Round: Pedregon 4.765 vs Bazemore 4.774; 2nd Round: Pedregon 4.735 vs Force 4.715 (Pedregon’s margin of victory was .0124 of a second (approx. 6 feet);.03 sec. advantage at the starting line over Force, Pedregon’s former car owner); Semi-Final Round: Pedregon 4.739 vs Medlen 5.083; Final Round: Pedregon 4,740 vs Hight – 4.738 (Pedregon’s Final Round win was by about 5 feet - .0096 sec.) May 19-21 – Columbus – WON THIS EVENT Qualified: 3rd, 4.728 / 323.58; 1st Round: Pedregon – 4.870 vs. Wilkerson – 6.029; 2nd Round: Pedregon 4.865 vs. Scelzi – 5.053; Semi-Final Round: Pedregon – 4.802 vs. Johnson Jr. – 4.876; Final Round: Pedregon – 4.923 vs. Bazemore – 6.368 May 26-28 – Topeka: Qualified: 6th – 4.983 / 302.69; 1st Round: Pedregon 4.985 vs. Bartone 5.253; 2nd Round: Pedregon 5.044 vs. Medlen 5.097; Semi-Final Round: Pedregon 5.092 vs. Force 4.968 June 9-11 – Chicago: Qualified: 6th – 4.694 / 315.34; 1st Round: Pedregon 5.032 vs. Gilbertson 13.877; 2nd Round: Medlen 4.800 vs. Pedregon 6.585 FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. Ron Capps, 833 2. John Force, 785 3. Robert Hight, 647 4. Eric Medlen, 604 5. Tony Pedregon, 562 6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 536 7. Whit Bazemore, 503 8. Gary Scelzi, 473 9. Del Worsham, 469 10. Cruz Pedregon, 467 2005 SEASON RECAP: In 2005, Tony Pedregon and the Q Power Race Team finished 7th in points with 2 wins, was #1 qualifier three times and recorded the second-quickest elapsed time in NHRA history at 4.680 seconds in Chicago. ENGLISHTOWN WEEKEND SCHEDULE: FRIDAY, June 16 Nitro Qualifying Session (Top Fuel / Funny Car) – 4:30 pm (ET) Nitro Qualifying Session (Top Fuel / Funny Car) – 7:30 pm (ET) SATURDAY, June 17 Nitro Qualifying Session (Top Fuel / Funny Car) – 1:00 pm (ET) Nitro Qualifying Session (Top Fuel / Funny Car) – 3:30 pm (ET) SUNDAY, June 18 Final Eliminations – 11:00 am (ET) ENGLISHTOWN ESPN2 TELEVISION COVERAGE: June 17 – Qualifying: 5:00-7:00 pm (ET) June 18 – Eliminations: 4:00-7:00 pm (ET) June 20 – Repeat Eliminations: 2:00-4:00 am (ET) ENGLISHTOWN LIVE AUDIO BROADCAST: The public-address commentary from the 37th annual K&N Filters SuperNationals will be broadcast live over the Internet from http://www.nhra.com/2006/events/race11/broadcast.html. Follow the wire-to-wire, play-by-play coverage from the eleventh race of the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series season. NHRA members get exclusive access to listen live to Friday's and Saturday's qualifying shows; check in Friday at 9 a.m. Eastern and Saturday at 10:15 a.m. Eastern. The all-access final eliminations show – open, as always, to all NHRA.com visitors – begins Sunday at 10 a.m. Eastern. D R I V E R T O N Y P E D R E G O N The B A S I C S . . . Car Q Power Monte Carlo Birthdate March 8, 1965 Residence Detroit, MI Website <http://www.pedregonracing.com/> www.PedregonRacing.com Career Wins TOTAL: 31 FC – 31 Career Final Rounds 54 FC – 54 Career Best Elapsed Time 4.680 sec. Career Best Speed 331.28 mph The B A C K G R O U N D . . . · 2005: Set career best for time when he and his brother (Cruz) each ran 4.680s at Chicago 2; Finished the season on a roll with two wins and a runner-up finish at the final five events; Earned his first victory since Las Vegas 2 in his championship season of 2003; Qualified for all 23 events, increasing his streak of successfully qualifying at national events to 110; Earned three No. 1 qualifiers and had the low E.T. at three events · 2004: In his first season as a team owner, finished No. 8 in the final POWERade championship standings, his ninth consecutive season finishing in the top 10; Established career-bests for both E.T. and speed; Career-best E.T. is the seventh quickest Funny Car pass in NHRA history; Recorded two of the 10 fastest Funny Car speeds in NHRA history (331.28, Chicago 1; 329.83, Atlanta); His career won-lost record in elimination rounds of 319-189 is 13th-best among all active pro drivers with 50 or more decisions; Was the No. 1 qualifier three times (Las Vegas 1, Atlanta, Chicago 1); Qualified for all 23 events, upping his national event qualifying streak to 87 consecutive races dating back to Bristol 2001, fifth best among all active pro driver · 2003: Became the first driver other than John Force to win the Funny Car championship since 1992; established career-bests for wins, No. 1 qualifying awards, elapsed time and speed; a career-best eight wins on the season places him fourth on the all-time Funny Car win list with 24 career victories; one of four Funny Car drivers to qualify for all 23 events; earned $100,00 for winning the Funny Car bonus event in his eighth career appearance · 2002: Earned six victories in eight final round appearances; Was contending for the POWERade championship until the semifinal of the last event of the season; Finished No. 2 in the standings for the fourth time in his career; Finished in the top five of the standings for the sixth time in eight professional seasons; Won three consecutive races for the first time in his career · 2001: Won a race as the No. 1 qualifier (Englishtown) for the first time in his career, beating team owner John Force; Won back-to-back races (Englishtown and Topeka) for the first time in his career · 2000: Went to the finals six times, collecting two victories · 1999: Was the No. 1 qualifier at four events; Posted the quickest time in history when he clocked a 4.779 second run at Gainesville; Runner-up in the Funny Car bonus race at Indianapolis · 1998: Earned two wins in two final-round appearances · 1997: No. 1 qualifier at three events and raced in five finals; Beat brother Cruz Pedregon at Houston in the first final-round meeting involving brothers; Runner-up in Funny Car bonus race · 1996: Made seven final-round appearances in first season with John Force Racing; Named the inaugural winner of the Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award, which identified the sport’s budding stars; Finished second in driver points in first full season on the tour; Earned first career victory (Atlanta) · 1995: Ran limited Funny Car schedule for car owner Larry Minor · 1993: Qualified for first NHRA event at the wheel of a Top Fuel dragster The F U N S T U F F . . . · Wife: Andrea; Daughters: Cecily and Arielle; Son: Desidario · Height/weight: 5´8", 165 lbs. · Father, Frank, raced Top Fuel dragsters in the 1960s · Brothers Cruz and Frank Pedregon also compete in the Funny Car class · Pedregon is an accomplished painter whose work adorns the helmets of fellow drivers John Force, Cory McClenathan, Cruz Pedregon, and others NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series 2006 Schedule February 9-12 - CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals, Pomona, CA February 24-26 - Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals, Chandler, AZ March 16-19 - ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals, Gainesville, FL March 31-April 2 - O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals, Houston, TX April 6-9 - NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals, Las Vegas, NV April 28-30 - O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Bristol, TN May 4-7 - Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, Atlanta, GA May 18-21 - Pontiac Performance NHRA Nationals, Columbus, OH May 25-28 - O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals, Topeka, KS June 8-11 - CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals, Joliet, IL June 15-18 - K&N Filters NHRA SuperNationals, Englishtown, NJ June 23-25 - O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals, Madison, IL July 14-16 - Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, Denver, CO July 21-23 - Schuck’s Auto Supply NHRA Nationals, Seattle, WA July 28-30 - Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals, Sonoma, CA August 10-13 - Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, Brainerd, MN August 18-20 - O’Reilly Mid-South Nationals, Memphis, TN August 30-Sept. 4 - Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, Clermont, IN September 14-17 - Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals, Reading, PA September 21-24 - O’Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals, Ennis, TX October 6-8 - Virginia NHRA Nationals, Richmond, VA October 26-29 - ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals, Las Vegas, NV November 9-12 - Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, Pomona, CA MANY THANKS TO THE Q POWER RACE TEAM 2006 SUPPORTERS Q POWER / QUAKER STATE – <http://www.qpower.com/> www.qpower.com SNAP-ON – www.snapon.com <http://www.snapon.com/> GREAT STUFF – <http://www.greatstuff.dow.com/index.htm> www.greatstuff.dow.com/index.htm HERZOG – <http://www.herzogcompanies.com/> www.herzogcompanies.com FETERL – <http://www.feterl.com/> www.feterl.com MOUNTAIN VIEW CHEVROLET – <http://www.mountainviewchevrolet.com/> www.mountainviewchevrolet.com GOODYEAR – <http://www.goodyear.com/> www.goodyear.com SLICK 50 – <http://www.slick50.com/> www.slick50.com LARRY MINOR MOTORSPORTS – <http://www.larryminor-motorsports.com/> www.larryminor-motorsports.com SIOUX CITY TRUCK & TRAILER – <http://www.siouxcitykenworth.com/> www.siouxcitykenworth.com EARL’S PERFORMANCE PLUMBING – <http://www.holley.com/> www.holley.com WELD RACING – <http://www.weldracing.com/> www.weldracing.com MR. GASKET COMPANY – <http://www.mrgasket.com/> www.mrgasket.com THE PALMS CASINO RESORT – <http://www.palms.com/> www.palms.com FRAM – <http://www.fram.com/> www.fram.com # # #