Joliet: Cruz Pedregon final summary

Joliet, Ill., May 23, 2004 -- Final eliminations were completed today for the NHRA Route 66 Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill. Former Funny Car champion Cruz Pedregon came into today's eliminator qualified 10th in the Advanced Auto Parts Chevrolet Monte Carlo. He faced Tim Wilkerson in the first round for the second consecutive weekend.

Pedregon beat Wilkerson off the line but slowed when the car lost a cylinder. Wilkerson crossed the stripe with an elapsed time of 4.847 seconds at 310.20 mph to Pedregon's elapsed time of 6.245 seconds at 144.77 mph.

"Looking at our data from the run, it looks as if the number five cylinder never fired," explained Pedregon. "When that happens you loose horsepower. Then it burned up a piston and I saw fire so I shut it off early.

"The car isn't acting like normal and Wes (Cerny) along with the crew, is evaluating it right now," added Pedregon. "We've got a good team here and I'm sure whatever it is they will find it and we'll be set to go again in Topeka next weekend.

Pedregon remains 11th in the NHRA POWERade Funny Car points standings.

The next stop for the Advance Auto Parts racing team is the NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka in Topeka, Kansas on May 27-30.

-cr-