Pedregon, Schumacher & Yates Top Qualifiers at CARQUEST NHRA Winternationals
Written by Josh Katinger · February 13, 2005
POMONA, Calif. - Tony Pedregon raced to the second-quickest Funny Car run in NHRA history just before his Q-Racing Chevy Monte Carlo went out of control and crashed in the shutdown area at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals Saturday at Pomona Raceway.
NHRA.com: Saturday Wrap Up
Pedregon powered to his 29th career No. 1 qualifying position with a performance of 4.681 seconds at 323.35 mph, however the parachutes that help slow the car failed to deploy after the run and his car plowed into the sand traps at the end of the track. Pedregon, the 2003 Funny Car world champion, was not injured.
“I was really disappointed until they told me the run was a 4.68,” said Pedregon, who joins John Force as the only Funny Car drivers to post a run quicker than 4.7 seconds. “That kind of performance makes it a little better, but we still have a lot of work to do. I know I have hired the right people to fix the car; we are just going to have to work pretty late and get it ready to go for tomorrow morning.”
Tony Schumacher and Jim Yates also earned No. 1 qualifying positions at the $2 million race, the first of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Ladders
First-round pairings for professional eliminations
Top Fuel — 1. Tony Schumacher, 4.447 seconds, 334.65 mph vs. 16. Andrew Cowin, 4.597, 271.35; 2. David Grubnic, 4.464, 329.34 vs. 15. Rod Fuller, 4.593, 318.99; 3. Scott Kalitta, 4.470, 329.99 vs. 14. Scott Weis, 4.586, 310.13; 4. Morgan Lucas, 4.474, 326.40 vs. 13. John Smith, 4.582, 316.30; 5. Brandon Bernstein, 4.477, 330.15 vs. 12. Brady Kalivoda, 4.573, 323.43; 6. Larry Dixon, 4.481, 328.78 vs. 11. Cory McClenathan, 4.521, 327.59; 7. Doug Kalitta, 4.498, 332.02 vs. 10. Clay Millican, 4.519, 329.91; 8. David Baca, 4.502, 329.42 vs. 9. Doug Herbert, 4.503, 328.06.
Funny Car — 1. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.681, 323.35 vs. 16. Terry Haddock, Chevy Camaro, 5.357, 240.00; 2. John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.697, 329.26 vs. 15. Jim Head, Toyota Celica, 5.243, 262.54; 3. Eric Medlen, Mustang, 4.722, 328.54 vs. 14. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo, 5.146, 252.43; 4. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.754, 327.19 vs. 13. Bob Gilbertson, Monte Carlo, 4.950, 307.23; 5. Frank Pedregon, Dodge Stratus, 4.754, 314.75 vs. 12. Tommy Johnson Jr., Monte Carlo, 4.867, 320.28; 6. Gary Scelzi, Stratus, 4.768, 328.70 vs. 11. Phil Burkart, Monte Carlo, 4.799, 313.22; 7. Cruz Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 4.768, 323.74 vs. 10. Jeff Arend, Pontiac Firebird, 4.797, 312.71; 8. Whit Bazemore, Stratus, 4.785, 320.97 vs. 9. Ron Capps, Stratus, 4.794, 317.72.
Pro Stock — 1. Jim Yates, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.699, 205.16 vs. 16. Bruce Allen, Grand Am, 6.761, 203.65; 2. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cavalier, 6.708, 206.35 vs. 15. Kenny Koretsky, Dodge Stratus, 6.761, 204.54; 3. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.718, 205.22 vs. 14. Greg Stanfield, Cavalier, 6.753, 205.07; 4. Dave Connolly, Cavalier, 6.722, 205.35 vs. 13. Jeg Coughlin, Stratus, 6.751, 204.14; 5. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.722, 204.60 vs. 12. Jason Line, Grand Am, 6.743, 205.72; 6. Warren Johnson, Grand Am, 6.725, 204.32 vs. 11. Ben Watson, Cavalier, 6.742, 203.46; 7. Greg Anderson, Grand Am, 6.728, 205.01 vs. 10. Richie Stevens, Stratus, 6.740, 204.82; 8. Mike Edwards, Grand Am, 6.729, 205.13 vs. 9. Ron Krisher, Cavalier, 6.730, 205.66.
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