Cruz Pedregon Racing added two familiar veterans to its 2026 Nitro Funny Car program with the return of Terrance “Rip” Reynolds and Chris “Warrior” Kullberg. The team announced the moves Monday as part of a plan to strengthen its competitive foundation ahead of next season.
Reynolds and Kullberg have both contributed to the organization during previous stints, helping guide race-day execution and long-term performance goals. Their renewed involvement signals Pedregon’s push to deepen leadership and stabilize technical operations.
Pedregon said the return of the two longtime crew leaders aligns with the direction he wants the team to take entering 2026. He noted that each brings decades of experience in tuning, management, and race-team structure.
“It’s rewarding to have Rip and Warrior back with us,” Pedregon said. “We’ve continued a great relationship with both of these guys who are winners. They know what it takes to compete at the highest level, and they bring exactly the kind of leadership, structure, and organizational strength we’ve been looking to add.”
Reynolds has worked with multiple championship-level nitro programs, earning a reputation as a steady manager with a detail-driven approach. His history with Pedregon dates back to earlier seasons in which the team produced several strong performances.
Kullberg returns with extensive nitro experience of his own, including years of tuning and overseeing mechanical operations. He has been part of numerous race-winning efforts and is expected to help shape CPR’s strategy around consistency and execution.
Both are set to assume expanded roles in directing the team’s preparation, testing structure, and performance targets. Their presence marks one of the most significant off-season moves for CPR in recent years.
Pedregon said the combined leadership will influence every layer of CPR’s program as the team works to reestablish itself in the Funny Car field. The organization has spent the offseason evaluating areas of improvement and building a more defined operational framework.
The team will continue development on the Dodge Hellcat Nitro Funny Car as it prepares for the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Pedregon said the offseason will focus heavily on infrastructure, communication, and crew alignment.
“This is a big step toward where we want to be in 2026, and I couldn’t be more motivated for what lies ahead,” Pedregon said.
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