TPED: NO EASY DRAWS
Sun, 2009-06-07 11:00
Tony Pedregon remembers the good old days of Funny Car when the No. 1 qualifier used to get a pretty good 
draw in the first round, usually a duck of an opponent, one who couldn’t get out of his own way.
Those were the days.
For qualifying No. 1 at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals, the two-time world champion gained anything but an easy ride to the second round. His efforts landed a first round match against the current Full Throttle point leader Ron Capps.
“We’re running pretty good here and they have to get their problems sorted out in one run,” Pedregon said. Tony Pedregon remembers the good old days of Funny Car when the No. 1 qualifier used to get a pretty gooddraw in the first round, usually a duck of an opponent, one who couldn’t get out of his own way.
Those were the days.
For qualifying No. 1 at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals, the two-time world champion gained anything but an easy ride to the second round. His efforts landed a first round match against the current Full Throttle point leader Ron Capps.
“We’re running pretty good here and they have to get their problems sorted out in one run,” Pedregon said.
The day wasn’t all peaches and cream for Pedregon, as unfavorable weather blew through delaying qualifications and making driving a challenge to even those most seasoned competitors.
“I don’t know if you could see the car from where you were,” Pedregon told the gathered media in the post-qualifying press conference. “There were two or three times in that 4.07 run that I wanted to get out of the throttle.”
Pedregon said the front-end on Funny Cars in that situation, sometimes get light, and are not so easy to steer.
“I had my hands full and I’m glad no one took the top spot away from us,” Pedregon continued. “I know the statistics are not favorable to those who qualify No. 1, but I’m not superstitious. I’m pleased that our car is consistent and consistently quick. I think we have come a long way in a week.”
Then there is that 500 pound gorilla in the back of his mind, no offense to Capps.
“I still have Capps to deal with,” Pedregon confirmed. “I am going to put him out of my mind. I may think about it once or twice … ten times … between now and then. It’s all the same.”
Gorillas, ducks … who can tell the difference?
draw in the first round, usually a duck of an opponent, one who couldn’t get out of his own way.Those were the days.
For qualifying No. 1 at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals, the two-time world champion gained anything but an easy ride to the second round. His efforts landed a first round match against the current Full Throttle point leader Ron Capps.
“We’re running pretty good here and they have to get their problems sorted out in one run,” Pedregon said. Tony Pedregon remembers the good old days of Funny Car when the No. 1 qualifier used to get a pretty good
draw in the first round, usually a duck of an opponent, one who couldn’t get out of his own way.Those were the days.
For qualifying No. 1 at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals, the two-time world champion gained anything but an easy ride to the second round. His efforts landed a first round match against the current Full Throttle point leader Ron Capps.
“We’re running pretty good here and they have to get their problems sorted out in one run,” Pedregon said.
The day wasn’t all peaches and cream for Pedregon, as unfavorable weather blew through delaying qualifications and making driving a challenge to even those most seasoned competitors.
“I don’t know if you could see the car from where you were,” Pedregon told the gathered media in the post-qualifying press conference. “There were two or three times in that 4.07 run that I wanted to get out of the throttle.”
Pedregon said the front-end on Funny Cars in that situation, sometimes get light, and are not so easy to steer.
“I had my hands full and I’m glad no one took the top spot away from us,” Pedregon continued. “I know the statistics are not favorable to those who qualify No. 1, but I’m not superstitious. I’m pleased that our car is consistent and consistently quick. I think we have come a long way in a week.”
Then there is that 500 pound gorilla in the back of his mind, no offense to Capps.
“I still have Capps to deal with,” Pedregon confirmed. “I am going to put him out of my mind. I may think about it once or twice … ten times … between now and then. It’s all the same.”
Gorillas, ducks … who can tell the difference?
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