Championship Drag Racing

O`Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals
Topeka, KS
(June 1-3)

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Driver Profile

Cruz Pedregon Snap-on Toyota Solara

Topeka, prerace: Cruz Pedregon, driver of the Advance Auto Parts Funny Car, and his team are heading to the famous drag strip at Heartland Park Topeka in Topeka, Kan. for the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals. Pedregon is 10th in Countdown to the Championship points and looking to improve his standing with each race. 

Coming off a quarterfinal appearance at Gateway International Raceway in St. Louis, Pedregon is more than ready to put this team in the winner’s circle.

“We feel like we are slowly closing in on the combination that will provide the consistency we need to qualify well, go rounds on Sunday and win,” said Pedregon. “We have some of that momentum that we’ve been in search of this year. It’s the kind of momentum we need to go on a win streak.”  

In NHRA Drag Racing, momentum is as elusive as the competition is fierce; the margin of victory is usually only a matter of inches at the finish line.

“We depend on huge amounts of downforce to keep these 7,000 horsepower Funny Cars glued to the track,” said Pedregon. “We are bringing some added downforce to Topeka in the form of a new 2007 Chevrolet Impala SS Funny Car body. This body is sleek, strong and fast. We expect it will provide us with the increase in downforce necessary to plant us to the track and put us in the Winner’s Circle.”  

The Heartland Park Drag Strip is like an old friend to Pedregon.

“Topeka has a special place in my heart,” said Pedregon. “We won here in 1992. Every win out here is precious, but this win really helped propel us to the NHRA Funny Car World Championship.”

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