Tony Pedregon Fast In Vegas Testing
Written by Josh Katinger · February 2, 2004
LAS VEGAS — Defending NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car champion Tony Pedregon saved his best run for last on Sunday during the final day of NHRA pre-season testing at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Pedregon, longtime driver for John Force Racing who chose to guide his own destiny as a team owner in 2004, powered his Quaker State Chevy Camaro down the quarter-mile track in 4.798 seconds at 313.29 mph to end the three-day session.
NHRA nitro category teams will now move on to Firebird International Raceway near Phoenix for two days of testing (Feb. 7-8) before heading to Southwestern International Raceway for the final three days of testing (Feb. 13-15). The season officially opens with the 44th annual K&N Filters Winternationals at Pomona (Calif.) Raceway, Feb. 19-22. The $1.7 million race is the first of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series for 2004.
Schumacher Racing teammates Whit Bazemore and Gary Scelzi also posted competitive performance numbers Sunday. Scelzi was quickest for the day with a 4.794 at 310.48 in his Oakley Dodge Stratus. Bazemore raced his Matco Tools Stratus to a 4.867 at 291.19. Bazemore’s run was close to matching his effort from Saturday, a 4.861 at 318.62. Scelzi’s best on Saturday was a 4.803 at 313.80.
John Force, whose teams did not participate in the test Sunday, posted a Saturday best of 4.782 at 328.06 in his Castrol GTX High-Mileage Ford Mustang. Force Racing drivers Gary Densham (4.787 at 325.30 and 4.808 at 322.73) and Eric Medlen (4.969 at 305.91) also were among the quickest Funny Car drivers participating Saturday.
Del Worsham raced to a 4.926 at 275.17 in his Checker Schuck’s Kragen Pontiac Firebird on Saturday, his quickest run of the weekend.
While most Pro Stock teams are busy preparing to test at the traditional Pontiac Pro Stock Super Bowl at Houston Raceway Park, Feb. 7, Ben Watson clocked two passes at The Strip on Saturday. He clocked a best of 6.945 at 198.45. Also Saturday, Pro Stock Bike top 10 finisher Mike Berry posted a testing-best of 7.229 at 184.95 on his Suzuki.
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This should be a fun, wide open season in both the funny car and top fuel divisions!