2007 NHRA NATIONAL EVENT SCHEDULE
Listen to Trackside Interviews with Champions, Drivers and Crew Chiefs
Robert Hight
Hillary Will
Bob Vandergriff
Dave Connolly
Ed Iskenderian
Cory McClenathan
Robert Hight
Jim Yates
Tony Bartone
Hillary Will
Whit Bazemore
Byron Hines
| TONY PEDREGON Q POWER NITRO FUNNY
CAR TEAM HOUSTON ADVANCE EVENT: O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Penzoil TRACK NAME / LOCATION: Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, Tex. www.houstonraceway.com DATE: March 30 – April 1, 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 INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (March 28, 2007) - 2003 NHRA World Champion Tony Pedregon and his Q Power Nitro Funny Car Team head to Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Tex., on March 30 – April 1, 2007 for the O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Penzoil. Pedregon, a championship hopeful this year, is currently in third place, just 10 points out of first. Saddened by the loss of his friend and fellow Funny Car driver Eric Medlen, Pedregon knows staying focused this weekend will be a tough task, but will be ready to do everything possible to put the Q Power Funny Car in the winner’s circle. Funny Car driver Eric Medlen lost his life after suffering critical injuries during an accident at last weeks test session in Gainesville, Florida. “It will be difficult, but we will be ready this weekend” stated Pedregon. “Eric and I remained the best of friends after working together for eight years. I respected Eric not just as a friend but also as a driver and competitor. He made me smile every time we talked or saw one another. The entire NHRA community will be thinking of him this weekend and my thoughts and prayers go out especially to his father, John, and the Medlen family; to team owner, John Force; his entire organization and everyone who knew and loved Eric.” Pedregon, a four-time Houston winner (1997, 1998, 2000, 2003) and No. 1 qualifier (1997), is especially hoping for a good showing this weekend because Houston is the hometown of his primary sponsor, Q Power. One of their other brands, Pennzoil, is also a presenting sponsor of the event. How to Get to Houston Raceway Park: Baytown is about 30 miles east of downtown Houston, and the track is 2.5 miles south of Interstate 10. From downtown Houston, take I-10 east to Highway 146 and go south to FM 565 (the third stoplight). Take FM 565 east (left) about three miles to the track. From Highway 146 south, take Highway 99 east to FM 1405, then go north to FM 565 and east about two miles to the track. After conquering the Spring Nationals, the NHRA warriors head to the NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas (Nev.), on April 12-15, 2007. For more information on Tony, please go to www.PedregonRacing.com. TONY PEDREGON STORY ANGLES: · Tony Pedregon set the National ET Record at the NHRA Nationals in Phoenix, Ariz. on February 25, 2007 and is currently the quickest Funny Car driver in NHRA history; · Tony Pedregon's primary sponsor, Quaker State, is headquartered in Houston, Texas; · With three wins in 2006, Tony finished 5th in the NHRA POWERade Nitro Funny Car division, and hopes a good run in Houston will help him be in a position to make a run for the 2007 world championship; · 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 business designed to promote minority ownership of businesses. TONY PEDREGON HISTORY AT HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK: Tony won this event in 2003, 2000, 1998, and 1997 (1). Tony was No. 1 qualifier in 1997 (2). 2007 RESULTS: February 8-11 - Pomona (1): Qualified: 10th, 4.749; 1st Round: Pedregon 4.771 vs. Kalitta DQ; 2nd Round: Pedregon 4.825 vs. Hight 4.718 February 23-25 - Phoenix - WON THIS EVENT: Qualified: 2nd, 4.659; 1st Round: Pedregon 4.701 vs. Kalitta 7.767; 2nd Round: Pedregon 4.924 vs. Head 5.729; Semi-Final Round: Pedregon 5.077 vs. Densham 9.650; Final Round: Pedregon 4.803 vs. Hight 9.723 March 15-18 - Gainesville: Qualified: 6th, 4.786; 1st Round: Pedregon 4.81 vs. Johnson Jr. 7.429; 2nd Round: Pedregon 5.360 vs. Capps 4.885 HOUSTON WEEKEND SCHEDULE: FRIDAY, March 30 Nitro Qualifying Session (Funny Car / Top Fuel Dragster) – 4:00 PM (CT) Nitro Qualifying Session (Funny Car / Top Fuel Dragster) – 7:00 PM (CT) SATURDAY, March 31 Nitro Qualifying Session (Top Fuel Dragster / Funny Car) – 12:00 PM (CT) Nitro Qualifying Session (Top Fuel Dragster / Funny Car) – 3:00 PM (CT) SUNDAY, April 1 Final Eliminations – 11:00 AM (CT) HOUSTON ESPN2 TELEVISION COVERAGE: March 31 – Qualifying: 7:00-9:00 pm (ET) April 1 – NHRA Race Day: 11:00-11:30 am (ET) April 1 – Eliminations: 4:00-7:00 pm (ET) April 6 – Repeat Eliminations: 4:00-6:00 am (ET) 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 Chevy Impala 55 Birthdate March 8, 1965 Residence Detroit, MI Website www.PedregonRacing.com Career NHRA Wins TOTAL: 33 FC - 33 Career NHRA Final Rounds 58 FC - 58 Career NHRA Best Elapsed Time 4.659 (Phoenix, 2007) Career NHRA Best Speed 331.28 (Chicago 1, 2004) The B A C K G R O U N D . . . · 2006: Three wins and a top-five points finish highlight this year as premier car owner/driver · 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 2007 Schedule February 8-11 NHRA Winternationals Pomona, CA February 23-25 NHRA Nationals Phoenix, AZ March 15-18 NHRA Gatornationals Gainesville, FL March 30-April 1 NHRA Spring Nationals Houston, TX April 12-15 NHRA Nationals Las Vegas, NV April 26-29 NHRA Southern Nationals Atlanta, GA May 4-6 NHRA Midwest Nationals Madison, IL May 18-20 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Bristol, TN June 1-3 NHRA Summer Nationals Topeka, KS June 7-10 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway Chicago, IL June 21-24 NHRA SuperNationals Englishtown, NJ June 28-July 1 NHRA Nationals Norwalk, OH July 13-15 Mile-High NHRA Nationals Denver, CO July 20-22 NHRA Nationals Seattle, WA July 27-29 NHRA Nationals Sonoma, CA August 9-12 NHRA Nationals Brainerd, MN August 16-19 NHRA Nationals Reading, PA August 29-September 3 NHRA U.S. Nationals Indianapolis, IN September 14-16 Mid-South Nationals Memphis, TN September 20-23 NHRA Fall Nationals Dallas, TX October 5-7 NHRA Nationals Richmond, VA October 25-28 Las Vegas NHRA Nationals Las Vegas, NV November 1-4 NHRA Finals Pomona, CA MANY THANKS TO THE Q POWER RACE TEAM 2007 SUPPORTERS Q POWER / QUAKER STATE - www.qpower.com SNAP-ON - www.snapon.com GREAT STUFF - www.greatstuff.dow.com/index.htm HERZOG - www.herzogcompanies.com FETERL - www.feterl.com MOUNTAIN VIEW CHEVROLET - www.mountainviewchevrolet.com GOODYEAR - www.goodyear.com SLICK 50 - www.slick50.com LARRY MINOR MOTORSPORTS - www.larryminor-motorsports.com SIOUX CITY TRUCK & TRAILER - www.siouxcitykenworth.com NOVCO – www.novco.net EARL'S PERFORMANCE PLUMBING - www.holley.com WELD RACING - www.weldracing.com MR. GASKET COMPANY - www.mrgasket.com THE PALMS CASINO RESORT - www.palms.com FRAM - www.fram.com ABOUT Q POWER / QUAKER STATE Quaker Stateâ is one of the world’s leading motor oil and automotive product brands, and is marketed in over 45 countries. Quaker Stateâ offers a full line of lubricants specifically formulated for the needs of different engines, transmissions and gears. All products undergo extensive research, development and testing to meet and exceed the latest industry and OEM performance requirements. Quaker Stateâ Racing develops highly specialized extreme perfor mance oils and lubricants available to race teams worldwide. For more information about Quaker Stateâ Products and partners, visit www.quakerstate.com. |
