Championship Drag Racing

Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals
Denver, CO
(July 15-17)

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Driver Profile

Tony Pedregon Pedregon Racing Toyota Camry Funny Car

Denver, prerace: Tony Pedregon, driver of the ‘Q’ Racing Nitro Funny Car, will compete this weekend in the 26th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals. The 2003 Funny Car champion heads to Bandimere Speedway, one of the most scenic stops on tour, for the 13th race of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule.

Despite its reputation for hospitality and big race weekend crowds, Bandimere Speedway is located more than 5,400 feet above sea level and along a mountainside that can make July’s temperatures sizzle. Conditions are sure to challenge Pedregon, crew chief Dickie Venables and the entire ‘Q’ Racing team.

“Bandimere is always a tough race for any team, it has a tendency to equal out the playing field a little bit,” said Pedregon, “But Dickie’s (Venables) experience and knowledge will help in setting up the car for elevation. And we also have ‘Q’ racing oil and support specialists supporting us to make sure everything in this car is tuned up for the conditions.

Pedregon has made it to the winners circle at Bandimere Speedway twice during his drag racing career in ’98 and ’99, and made it to the finals in 2002. Last year, Pedregon wielded his ‘Q’ Racing Nitro Funny Car to the second qualifying position.

“Last year’s qualifying effort at Bandimere was real encouraging for us,” Pedregon explained. “We were very pleased because we adapted to the elevation. It was our first time getting information from this track as a team, and we made the right adjustments.”

This weekend also kicks off the grueling West Coast swing, which consists of three-straight NHRA national events starting in Bandimere, moving to Pacific Raceways just outside Seattle next weekend, and culminating with the race at picturesque Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

“It is very important for us, in these next three races, to deliver on performance and come out with a win,” Pedregon stated. “It’s a crucial time of the year. We want to see some results. Mentally, I am very motivated to get back to these races because I know what the stakes are. The West Coast swing is a great opportunity to turn the season around.”

 So far this year, Pedregon has qualified in the number one position in Pomona, Calif. and Chandler, Ariz. He also broke the elapsed-time record at Pomona Raceway with a 4.681-second pass at 323.35mph. In Chandler, Ariz., Pedregon broke Firebird International Raceway’s elapsed time record at 4.703 seconds. Pedregon heads to Bandimere Speedway tenth in POWERade Funny Car points with 564.

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