CRUZ PEDREGON TO RACE PRELUDE TO A DREAM
Wed, 2007-05-23 10:13
Cruz Pedregon, the 1992 NHRA Nitro Funny Car World Champion, today announced his
acceptance of the invitation to race in the prestigious Nextel Prelude to the
Dream late model race presented by Old Spice, June 6, 2007. Held at the
legendary Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, the high-speed dirt track race will
be broadcast by HBO Pay-Per-View to a nationwide audience. Proceeds from this
ground-breaking telecast will support the Victory Junction Gang Camp and the
Tony Stewart Foundation.
“It is a huge
honor for me to be invited by Tony Stewart to join some of the best drivers in
the world at the Prelude to the Dream at Eldora,” stated the NHRA Nitro Funny
Car star, Cruz Pedregon. “It is also a great honor to benefit worthy
organizations such as Victory Junction and the Tony Stewart Foundation. I
appreciate the support of my NHRA Funny Car sponsors, Advance Auto Parts and Q
Racing, who turned my dream of racing in this event into a
reality.”
“This will be a
very competitive event with each driver looking to win for their fans, sponsors,
and their respective sanctioning body,” said Pedregon. “I know that Ron Capps,
my fellow NHRA competitor, and I will try to turn a few fans our way. I hope,
when the dust settles, they’ll say, ‘Hey, those NHRA drag racers sure can turn
left on dirt.’ ”
Make no mistake
about it; Cruz Pedregon is no stranger to dirt racing. Not only does he own a
stable of USAC midgets (including one driven by rising NASCAR star, Josh Wise)
he competes in the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals held each year at Tulsa Expo
Raceway. “I love racing on dirt. It has helped me become a better Funny Car
driver. Pedaling a 7,000 horsepower Funny Car, trying to get it to hook up to
the racing surface, is similar to trying to get the midget to hook up. It’s all
about traction.”
Racing on the
fast, 24 degree banks of the ½ mile Eldora Speedway is not for the faint of
heart. But then again, neither is racing an NHRA Funny Car at well over 300 mph.
“I’ve learned over the years that in any form of racing you need to find the
groove or sweet spot in the track- the place that produces the most traction,”
stated Pedregon. “If the groove is up near the wall at Eldora, there is a pretty
good chance you’ll find me there.”
Pedregon is sure
to have company up near the wall at Eldora. In addition to NHRA stars, Pedregon
and Capps, the all-star race will feature such racing icons as Tony Stewart,
Juan Pablo Montoya, Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Mark
Martin, Denny Hamlin, Bobby Labonte, and more. All will pilot 2,300-pound dirt
late model stock cars capable of producing 800 horsepower.
Fans will have no
difficulty spotting Pedregon’s No. 71 late model stock car- it will have a paint
scheme that will nearly match the brilliant red and yellow colors of his Advance
Auto Parts NHRA Funny Car. “The Advance Auto Parts paint scheme on this late
model is nothing short of spectacular,” said Cruz “The Cruzer” Pedregon.
“Special thanks to Mike Walker of 5150 Race Trailers in Lewisburg, Tenn. for the
generous use of his super fast late model. Mike and his team are really working
hard to get this Advance Auto Parts late model ready for race day.”
Walker will
provide Pedregon with a brand new late model which will include an aluminum 430
C.I. engine and on a MasterSbilt late model chassis. The crew chief duties will
be in the capable hands of Tim Logan, crew chief for World of Outlaws Late Model
Series veteran, Steve Francis.
“This is going to
be a fun, but unbelievably competitive race,” said Tony Stewart, a multi-time
racing champion and proud owner of Eldora Speedway. “Eldora has always tried to
go above and beyond for its fans, and that’s something we plan to continue with
this event being offered live on HBO Pay-Per-View to racing fans across the
country.”
The live
broadcast will begin at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT), with an immediate replay and
subsequent replays throughout the week and the following weekend. HBO
Pay-Per-View’s first ever racing telecast has a suggested retail price $24.95
and available to more than 61 million homes. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading
supplier of event programming in the pay-per-view industry. Ordering information
and up-to-the minute racing information is available at www.hbo.com
More information
about Cruz Pedregon and Pedregon Racing is available at
www.pedregonracing.com
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