Tony Pedregon Wins Second NHRA World Funny Car Title
2007 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
Round 23 of 23
Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals
Race Date: November 1-4, 2007
INDIANAPOLIS (November 5, 2007) – Tony Pedregon claimed the 2007 NHRA POWERade World Funny Car Championship at Sunday’s Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona. It was his second Funny Car title and first as an owner.
“It’s really special to bring home the championship here in Pomona,” said an elated Pedregon. “It’s very gratifying to win this with my own team. I did it as a driver in 2003, but this win, in front of my family, friends and sponsors is great.”
Pedregon and his Q Horsepower team entered the Finals with a commanding 91 point lead. After qualifying in the No.16 spot with a 4.842 E.T., he was edged at the line by Jeff Arend in the opening elimination round- Pedregon with a 4.853 to Arend’s 4.849. He nervously watched the semifinal round and when Robert Hight failed to set the national E.T. record, Pedregon was awarded the championship trophy.
“This was a collective team effort,” said an appreciative Pedregon. “We had our ups and down, but we kept pressing and we were very consistent. Dickie Venables, my crew chief and my entire team worked so hard to get us this championship. We managed to do it better than all of the biggest names in the sport.”
Dickie Venables joined Pedregon in the Championship Winner’s Circle. It’s his second championship with Tony Pedregon. He was assistant crew chief when Pedregon won his first world title in 2003.
“This one’s much more special,” said Venables. “It’s Tony’s first championship as an owner and my first as a crew chief. Today was stressful, but fortunately for us, it worked in our favor.”
“We have a solid team with good personnel,” said Pedregon. “But, it’s our great partners like Q Horsepower, Snap-On, Great Stuff, Herzog, the Palms, Sioux City Truck and Trailer, Novco, Autolite and Prestone, Toyota Trucks, PBM, Pug and Mr. Gasket that have worked just as hard as we have in providing all the necessary resources for us to compete at the highest level.”
For more information, log onto www.PedregonRacing.com.
NEXT RACE: 48th annual Winternationals, Pomona, Calif. February 7-10, 2008.
CURRENT 2007 POINT STANDINGS
1. Tony Pedregon 3178
2. Robert Hight 3159
3. Gary Scelzi 3092
4. Ron Capps 3067
5. Jack Beckman 2358
6. Mike Ashley 2337
7. John Force 2191
8. Jim Head 2163
9. Del Worsham 1050
10.Ashley Force 960
12. Cruz Pedregon 925
All NHRA qualifying and final elimination races are televised on ESPN2. Check your local listings for times.
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Bill Anderson
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