Pomona II: Cruz Pedregon Friday summary

Cruz Pedregon Ninth Heading into Weekend
Advance Auto Parts Funny Car Readies For Final Qualifying Sessions of Season

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 12, 2005) -- Cruz Pedregon and the Advance Auto Parts Monte Carlo Nitro Funny Car maintained a solid qualifying position heading into this weekend's Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at Pomona Raceway.

The Camarillo, Calif., resident tried to explore the outer limits of the cars ability today, but his 4.796-second elapsed time at 324.51 mph still keeps the AAP machine in good position.

"(Crew chief) Wes (Cerny) changed a quite a bit in the car," Pedregon said. "We changed the fuel system and moved a few things around. We needed that run to see where we were. It was a touch on the aggressive side, but that's what we needed to do. It's like jumping into the deep end -- you have to get out there and see what you have.

"We're going to come back tomorrow and fix the little spot where we were too aggressive," Pedregon added. "If the weather cooperates with us, we're going to come out swinging. We're still solidly in the field, so I'm pretty pleased."

Advance Auto Parts Notebook:

FINAL SESSIONS: A slight chance of rain could plaque the final day of qualifying for the 2004 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series season. Cruz Pedregon, driver of the Advance Auto Parts Monte Carlo Nitro Funny Car, is concerned, and is hopeful about his prospects.

"I think the track is going to be solid tomorrow," Pedregon said. "In fact, there were some pretty good runs made today. The sun was on the track all day today. Tomorrow their calling for a slight chance of rain and that's tells me it could be a little more cloudy and little cooler. The cooler, the better for these race cars.

"Even with better conditions, you can still smoke the tires out there," Pedregon added. "We're making a lot of power in this Advance Auto Parts machine. There are certain parts in the track where you can accelerate a little harder than others. We'll smooth the car out where we need to and get after it. To run in the mid to low 4.70s tomorrow, you have to be on the edge. Sometimes, I don't mind seeing a car out there that gets a little loose. It kind of gives you an idea of where you're boundary is. The only way you're going to win and qualify at the top is by being aggressive."

-PedregonRacing.com