Cruz Pedregon, driver of the Advance Auto Parts Nitro Funny Car, and his team head to the NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, June 7-10, 2007, for the 9th event of the $50 million, 23-race NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Pedregon is 10th in the 2007 NHRA POWERade Countdown Standings, just 45 points from the top 8 Funny Car drivers with just nine races until the end of the regular season. The Countdown to 4, the first round of the new playoffs, begins with the Mac Tools U. S. Nationals, August 29 – September 3.
For Pedregon, the focus is on being in position to win the Championship. “We are taking it one pass at a time, ” stated Pedregon. “We know what it takes to win the Championship; however, we are focused on consistent performance. ”
Not only does Pedregon have high hopes of winning, he likes the weather conditions that are common at this famous drag strip. “The Route 66 Raceway is one of the nicest facilities on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series circuit, “stated Pedregon. “It is a fast track, particularly when the weather is cool like it has been in the past. As a driver, I love the speeds this track will allow. It’s one of those ‘let it rip’ kind of tracks. My first run in the 4.60’s and my career best speed of 330 mph were in Chicago, but we haven’t punched it through for the win and that’s our goal this weekend. ”
During his Funny Car rookie season in 1992, Pedregon won the NHRA World Championship. With this accomplishment he became the only racer other than John Force to win the Championship in the 90s. In 1997, Pedregon was also the first motorsports athlete to receive the “Premio De Oro, ” the only national award for Hispanic athletes. Born into a racing family, Pedregon’s father, Frank, raced Top Fuel dragsters in the 1960s. Cruz’s brothers, Tony and Frank Jr., also compete in the Nitro Funny Car ranks. In 1980, Cruz won his first official drag race at the age of 15, driving a 1953 Kenworth truck.
How to Get There: The track is approximately 30 miles south of Chicago on Route 53 (historic Route 66), three miles south of Interstate 80 in Joliet. From points north, take I-55 south to I-80 east to Route 53/Chicago Street (Exit 132) and proceed south to the track. From points south, take I-55 north to River Road, then proceed east to Route 53 north to the track. From points east and west, take I-80 to Exit 132 (Route 53) and follow Route 53 south to the track.
After conquering the NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, the NHRA warriors head to the NHRA SuperNationals in Englishtown, New Jersey, June 21-24, 2007.
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