TONY PEDREGON / Q POWER NITRO FUNNY CAR TEAM NORWALK "NIGHT UNDER FIRE" ADVANCE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 29, 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 NORWALK ADVANCE EVENT: AC Delco "Night Under Fire" - The largest single-day drag race in the world – TRACK NAME / LOCATION: Norwalk (OH) Raceway Park www.NorwalkRaceway.com <http://www.norwalkraceway.com/> DATE: July 1, 2006 SERIES: Norwalk Raceway Park "special event" (not affiliated with the NHRA or IHRA) TEAM MEMBERS: Driver/Owner: Tony Pedregon Teammate: Cruz Pedregon Crew Chief: Dickie Venables Asst. Crew Chief: Kurt Elliott INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (June 29, 2006) – 2003 NHRA World Champion Tony Pedregon and his Q Power Nitro Funny Car Team head to Norwalk (OH) Raceway Park on Saturday, July 1st, for the 29th Annual AC Delco "Night Under Fire" special event match race, the largest single-day drag race in the world. Pedregon is currently fourth in the NHRA POWERade Nitro Funny Car Drag Racing Series point standings after three 2006 wins, including last weekend's race in St. Louis (other wins in Atlanta, Columbus). Tony's teammate and brother, Cruz, will also be competing at this event. "It's really become a tradition for me to attend that race – there is a lot of appeal for me to race at Norwalk," Pedregon said. "Racing the 'Night Under Fire' event allows us to offer a tremendous amount of exposure for Q Power, but it also gives us the opportunity to entertain an extremely large crowd who show up to see all of the high-caliber Funny Car teams. I've been attending this event for the past several years, and it's one of the best fireworks shows I've ever seen. You combine that with eight world-class Funny Cars, and it's quite a show. But most of all, the Bader family knows how to entertain and how to treat people." The 2006 edition of "Night Under Fire" leaves little room for a gasp of air - usually needed for the capacity crowd that overflows Norwalk Raceway Park for what is often described as the "Super Bowl of Drag Racing". Pedregon headlines eight Nitro Funny Cars appearing at "Night Under Fire," including Cruz Pedregon, John Force, Rookie of the Year Robert Hight, Tim Wilkerson, Eric Medlen and Gary Densham. John Force's daughter, Ashley, will also be competing in an Alcohol Dragster. After conquering the quarter-mile Norwalk Raceway Park this weekend, Pedregon and the rest of the NHRA warriors head to Denver, Colo., and the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver, Colo., at Bandimere Speedway on July 14-16. Check your local ESPN2 listings for broadcast times and event coverage. For more information on Tony and the Q Power Racing Team, please go to <http://www.pedregonracing.com./> www.PedregonRacing.com. "NIGHT UNDER FIRE" QUICK FACTS: 8 Nitro Funny Cars, including Tony Pedregon, Cruz Pedregon, John Force, Scott Kalitta, Robert Hight, Tim Wilkerson, Eric Medlen and Gary Densham. 4 Jet Dragsters 220 mph Jet Kenworth 2 Wheel Standers Alcohol Fuel Dragsters (Ashley Force) Nostalgia Top Fuel Super 16 Supercharged Thunder PLUS Famed $100,000 Fireworks Celebration AND Free Pit Passes and Parking Tickets: $9.00-$42.00 How to Get There: Norwalk Raceway Park is located half way between Cleveland and Toledo; just an hour and a half North of Columbus. The Ohio Turnpike is less than ten minutes away. From Cleveland & Westside Suburbs: Take Rt. 480 west to Route 10 (Norwalk exit). Follow Rt. 10 west until it becomes Rt. 20. Take Rt. 20 to Route 601. Turn left on 601 and proceed until you see our gate entrance on the right. From the North, East, & West: Take the Ohio Turnpike East (Cleveland) to Exit 118 (Rt. 250). Head south on Rt. 250 into Norwalk. Turn left on Republic St. You will follow Republic St. and the Red Directional signs until you come upon Norwalk Raceway on your left. From the South: Follow Rt. 250 North. When you reach the exchange for State Route 18, a green directional sign will instruct you to turn right. Exit immediately using Route 18 and make a right turn. Norwalk Raceway will be ahead on your left. Norwalk Raceway Park 1300 State Route 18 Norwalk, OH 44857 Phone: (419) 668-5555 Website: www.norwalkraceway.com <http://www.norwalkraceway.com/> TONY PEDREGON HISTORY AT NORWALK RACEWAY PARK: Pedregon has raced the "Night Under Fire" event at Norwalk Raceway Park the last eight of nine years. NORWALK RACEWAY PARK "NIGHT UNDER FIRE" SCHEDULE: SATURDAY, July 1 Gates Open - 8:00 am Time Trials - 9:00 am Showtime - 7:00 pm (NHRA stars only run from 7:00-11:00 pm) Fireworks – 11:00 pm "NIGHT UNDER FIRE" TELEVISION COVERAGE: A 60-minute documentary style show featuring the 29th annual “Night Under Fire” will air on Sports Time Ohio within six weeks of the event, with several re-runs scheduled throughout the rest of the year. 2006 NHRA 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 June 16-18 – Englishtown: Qualified: 5th - 4.812 / 320.58; 1st Round: Pedregon 4.926 vs. Kalitta 4.961; 2nd Round: Scelzi 4.947 / 311.41 vs. Pedregon - 5.310 June 24-26 – St. Louis – WON THIS EVENT: Qualified: 12th – 4.909 / 313.37; 1st Round: Pedregon 5.198 vs. Worsham 6.183; 2nd Round: Pedregon 5.061 vs. Gilbertson 5.126; Semi-Final Round: Pedregon 4.886 vs. Scelzi 4.877; Final Round: Pedregon 4.859 vs. Force 4.904 CURRENT NHRA FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. Ron Capps, 975 2. John Force, 931 3. Robert Hight, 742 4. Tony Pedregon, 728 5. Eric Medlen, 692 6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 684 7. Gary Scelzi, 641 8. Whit Bazemore, 592 9. Del Worsham, 536 10. Cruz Pedregon, 530 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 NHRA Wins TOTAL: 32 FC – 32 Career NHRA Final Rounds 55 FC – 55 Career NHRA Best Elapsed Time 4.680 sec. Career NHRA 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 – <http://www.snapon.com/> 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 # # #