Cruz Pedregon hires new race team consultant.

Cruz Pedregon hires Bill Schultz as Team Consultant.

CAMARILLO, CA --Seeking to build on his success in the 2002 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Advance Auto Parts Funny Car team owner and driver Cruz Pedregon announced Monday that Bill Schultz will be full-time team consultant to crew chief Ted Fasching.

Schultz brings with him over thirty years of racing experience and an extensive and successful track record. One of Schultz's greatest accomplishments was winning national events with almost every driver that he has worked for including many of drag racing's legends such as Kenny Bernstein, John Force, Shirley Muldowney, and Don Garlits.

"Bill brings big time experience and veteran leadership that will be a great asset to our team," stated Pedregon. "We have had flashes of very positive performance this year and Bill will be a great addition to the Advance Auto Parts crew. There is still a lot of racing to be done in 2002 and I feel confident Bill will provide that extra ingredient to put us in the winner circle."

"Anyone that has raced as much as I have cherishes the ability to work with a Champion like Cruz Pedregon and the Advance Auto Parts Race Team," Schultz said. "It is a great opportunity to work with Cruz because he has a program that is aggressive and at the top level of competition. I've had a lot of success in my career and I am still in drag racing because I love it. I plan to build on the strong foundation Cruz has created with the Advance Auto Parts Team and see how my experience can move the team to a higher level of performance."

Schultz is not a stranger to success; he has won national events during the past four decades in Top Gas, Top Fuel, and Funny Car. Winning over 100 sanctioned events since his start back in 1957 the expertise and knowledge Schultz has gained over the years has made him a great asset to many teams.

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. is based in Roanoke, Va., and is the second largest auto parts chain in the nation. With approximately 2,400 stores in 38 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, the Company serves both the do-it-yourself and professional installer markets. Additional information about the Company, employment opportunities, services, as well as on-line purchase of parts and accessories can be found on the Company's web site at www.advanceautoparts.com.

-www.cruzpedregon.com.