Event: NHRA Nationals
Track Name / Location: Firebird Int’l Raceway, Phoenix, Ariz
Date: February 23-25, 2007
Series: NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
Nitro Funny Car Division
Team Members:
Driver/Owner: Tony Pedregon
Crew Chief: Dickie Venables
Asst. Crew Chief: Kurt Elliott
2003 NHRA World Champion Tony Pedregon and his Q Power Nitro Funny Car Team head to Firebird Int’l Raceway in Phoenix, Ariz., on February 23-25 for the NHRA Winternationals, the second of 23 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events in 2007. Pedregon, a championship hopeful this year, finished 5th in the 2006 NHRA point standings.
NHRA’s annual duel in the desert has been a Southwest fixture since 1985, when it joined the tour in a late fall slot. Since 1990, it’s been the second stop on the tour’s westward march and a place for teams to redeem mistakes made at the opener. Charlie Allen, a former Funny Car racer, constructed a track that makes people forget it sits at 1,100 feet above sea level. The facility is also known for its annual preseason tests and history-making passes.
“The Q Power Team made several fast test runs at Firebird (Int’l Raceway) and made a lot of progress, †Pedregon said. “We’re hopeful to look back at the data and improve even more heading into the race early in the season. There’s no reason we shouldn’t know what to expect. Although I’ve made it to the finals at Firebird in my first year with Quaker State, that track is one of the few places where I have not won. We are looking forward to another shot at a correcting that in a few weeks. â€
How to Get Firebird Int’l Raceway: The track is 10 miles south of Phoenix and minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor Int’l Airport. From Phoenix, take Interstate 10 east to the Wild Horse Pass exit (162). From Tucson, take I-10 west to the Wild Horse Pass exit (162).
After conquering the quarter-mile Firebird Int’l Raceway, the NHRA warriors head to the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville (Fla. ), on March 16-18.
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