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