Cruz Pedregon / Advance Auto Parts Race Team - Denver Results

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2006
Contact:  
     Allison Holt, JRL Group, (847) 291-7080 x201, Allison@jrlgroup.com 
     Janie Vogel, JRL Group, (440) 915-7627, janievogel@yahoo.com 
Hi- and low-resolution photos available upon request

 


CRUZ PEDREGON AND THE ADVANCE AUTO PARTS RACE TEAM REACH FINAL ROUND IN
DENVER


2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series 
Round 13 of 23 
Mile-High NHRA Nationals, Bandimere Speedway, Morrison, Colo. 

Race Date:  July 14-16, 2006
  
MORRISON, Colo. (July 17, 2006) - Cruz Pedregon and his Advance Auto Parts
Race Team qualified 16th, but ran hard and made it into the final round in
NHRA POWERade Nitro Funny Car action from the Mile-High NHRA Nationals at
Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo., this past weekend.  With the final
round appearance, Pedregon moved into ninth-place in the point standings
heading into this weekend's race in Seattle. 

 

"Going to the final in Denver was huge for our entire Advance Auto Parts
Team, but it was a tough weekend for everyone," Pedregon said of his
exciting weekend in Colorado.  "Being paired up with Tony (Pedregon, brother
and teammate) in the second round was a hard task as well.  We had our hands
full on every run, and had to make some adjustments on the fly.  It was
really difficult conditions with a 140-plus degree track temperature, which
proved to be a nightmare for the crew chiefs and drivers - either you hit on
a great setup right away, or you chased it all weekend.  We struggled and
qualified 16th, but we gathered it up for the eliminations on Sunday. During
the final, the car was strong and we had a lead on Gary (Scelzi) -
everything was good, but we ended up with a car that smoked the tires before
half-track.  The fact that we went to the final was great.  We're looking
forward to next weekend's race in Seattle where there are sea-level
conditions, as it's more familiar territory."  

 

Heading into next weekend's race in Seattle, Pedregon and his Advance Auto
Parts Racing Team are encouraged about their chances in the upcoming races
on the 2006 schedule:  "Our performance in Denver is exactly how a team
hopes to start the western swing.  Although a win in Denver would have been
better, being runner up gives us good momentum going into the next few
races.  It's good for the team and our sponsors, who have worked so hard
this year."  

 

In 2005, Cruz Pedregon and the Advance Auto Parts Race Team finished for the
second consecutive year in the top 10 in points, was #1 qualifier twice and
recorded a career best ET speed of 4.680 seconds at 330.80 mph. 
  
  
NEXT RACE:   July 21-23, 2006 - NHRA Nationals, Pacific Raceways, Kent,
Wash. (near Seattle)

  

DENVER RACE RESULTS:   
  
QUALIFIED:

16th - 5.177 / 286.32 

 

FIRST ROUND:   

(W) Cruz Pedregon - 5.311 / 292.77

(L) Gary Densham - 5.344 / 276.18

 

SECOND ROUND:

(W) Cruz Pedregon - 5.588 / 268.49

(L) Tony Pedregon - 6.866 / 137.12

 

SEMI-FINAL ROUND:

(W) Cruz Pedregon - 5.610 / 273.27

(L) Bob Gilbertson - 5.961 / 269.35

 

FINAL ROUND:

(W) Gary Scelzi - 5.132 / 301.94

(L) Cruz Pedregon - 5.820 / 202.82

 

FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Ron Capps, 1009

2. John Force, 983

3. Robert Hight, 797

4. Tony Pedregon, 781

5. Tommy Johnson Jr., 760

6. Gary Scelzi, 758

7. Eric Medlen, 744

8. Whit Bazemore 625

9. Cruz Pedregon, 586

10. Del Worsham, 568


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