Phoenix: Cruz Pedregon preview

Cruz Pedregon/Advance Auto Parts Racing Team to compete at Firebird International Raceway.

Chandler, Arizona (February 18, 2003) -- Cruz Pedregon and the Advance Auto Parts Racing team will take to the quarter-mile track again this weekend at Firebird International Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona to compete at the second race of the 2003 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing season.

As little as two weeks ago, the team made their season debut with a best qualifying time of 4.859 ET at a speed just over 304 miles per hour. With twenty nitro funny cars competing for the top sixteen qualifying spots, the Advance Auto Parts team took the number eleven position.

"Our goal in Phoenix is to win the race, with qualifying near the top as our first order of business," comments owner/driver Cruz Pedregon. "The more time we're together as a team the better the results are going to be, and I'm looking forward to that time."

As the increasingly popular nitro funny car category becomes more competitive, Pedregon remains driven and holds confidence in Crew Chiefs Rob Flynn and Dave Fletcher.

"I feel competition makes you stronger," states Pedregon, "It motivates me and makes me sharper as an owner and driver. I brought Rob and Dave on board because of their experience and similar beliefs."

The 19th Annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals is the second of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The event will take place February 20-23rd. Nitro qualifying sessions begin at 1:30 PM on Thursday afternoon. Final Eliminations will begin on Sunday at 11:00 am, just after opening ceremonies. Television coverage will begin with qualifying on February 22nd from 11:30 PM to 1:30 AM (ET) and final eliminations on February 23rd from 9:00 PM to 11:30 PM (ET) on ESPN2.

-www.cruzpedregon.com