Tony Pedregon, the 2003 NHRA Nitro Funny Car World Champion, and his Q Power team head to Chicago (Joliet) for the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, June 7-10, 2007, the 9th stop on the $50 million, 23-race tour of professional drag racing. Pedregon found Victory Circle at the Route 66 Raceway in 2003. The Q Power team is focused on returning in 2007.
Despite narrowly missing the field in last week’s O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals, Pedregon remains in the thick of the battle for the Championship with nine races to go in NHRA’s regular season. Pedregon is currently sixth in points and only the top eight teams will earn a spot in the NHRA’s inaugural Countdown to the Championship.
Pedregon, the consummate NHRA Funny Car veteran, is taking it all in stride. “We expect to win every time we pull up to the starting line,” stated Pedregon. “When we don’t, it’s disappointing, especially when we are battling for a shot at the Championship. It’s my job to keep us focused on doing everything in our power to qualify well and win rounds. We are going to work even harder over the next several races to get this Q Power team back in the Winner’s Circle.”
Pedregon likes everything about Chicago and the Route 66 Raceway. “Chicago is, by far, our marquee facility; there is not a nicer facility on the circuit. The race track is flawless,” stated Pedregon. “When the conditions are right, we can get very aggressive with our tune-up. This can be a high-powered track and that is just what Q is all about.”
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.
TONY PEDREGON’S HISTORY AT ROUTE 66 RACEWAY:
Pedregon won this event in his NHRA Nitro Funny Car World Championship year, 2003. He reached the quarterfinals in 2005 and 2006. In 2002, it was Pedregon vs. Scotty Cannon in the Semifinals.
TONY PEDREGON STORY ANGLES:
With the Bristol Race rescheduled for July 6-8, the grueling Western Swing has become the U.S. Swing, a six-races-in-six-weeks stretch that begins in New York on June 21 and ends in Sonoma on July 29. Pedregon and the Q Power team will have one week off before returning to Brainerd and Reading that will conclude the 17-race regular season. Pedregon is focusing his efforts on winning the Championship and preparing for the upcoming busy travel schedule.
· Through the NHRA National Event in St. Louis, the Q Power Nitro Funny Car team is currently 3rd in the hunt for the 2007 Full Throttle Pit Crew Challenge. The Full Throttle NHRA Pit Crew Championship offers prize money in excess of $250,000 during the 2007 season, making it one of the largest monetary award programs in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series and the first season points championship for the NHRA’s professional pit crewmembers.
· Tony Pedregon set the National ET Record at the NHRA Nationals in Phoenix, Ariz. on February 25, 2007 and is currently the quickest driver in NHRA Funny Car history.
· Tony, along with brother and co-team owner Cruz, has just opened up a brand new 25,000-square-foot Pedregon Racing shop, located in the new headquarters for NHRA teams in Brownsburg, Ind. The shop was designed specifically to address the unique needs of Pedregon Racing by both Tony and Cruz, along with input from Cruz’s wife, Sharon, and all of the crew chiefs.
· The new Pedregon Racing facility will house a restored version of the Flamin’ Frank Pedregon World’s Fastest Coupe; a legendary top fuel dragster from the 60’s with a chopped Fiat body, driven by Tony and Cruz’s father, Frank Sr.
· Tony has a strong Hispanic following.
· Pedregon Racing, LLC is a member of the Indiana Business Diversity Council, a committee designed to promote minority ownership of businesses.
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