CRUZ BANKING ON PAST SUCCESS IN HOUSTON
Cruz Pedregon has had far too much success and has been around the sport far too long to get overly concerned about a slow start to his 2014 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Plus, the two-time Funny Car world champion has a pretty good security blanket at Royal Purple Raceway.
Pedregon has three career victories at the track, including his first professional win. The driver of the 8,000-horsepower Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry also enters this weekend’s 27th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries as the defending event champion, giving Pedregon another reason to believe more success is right around the corner.
Cruz Pedregon has had far too much success and has been around the sport far too long to get overly concerned about a slow start to his 2014 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Plus, the two-time Funny Car world champion has a pretty good security blanket at Royal Purple Raceway.
Pedregon has three career victories at the track, including his first professional win. The driver of the 8,000-horsepower Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry also enters this weekend’s 27th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries as the defending event champion, giving Pedregon another reason to believe more success is right around the corner.
“We’re right on the cusp of making consistently fast runs,” said Pedregon, who is currently 12th in points. “I believe cream will rise and I think we are prepared to climb the ladder and get back to where we were most of last year. I think we’re right there and there are no concerns. Houston has been a great track for me. I’ve had success there even going back to the Alcohol Dragster ranks.”
Pedregon knocked off Tim Wilkerson a year ago in the final round at Houston and his three victories at Royal Purple Raceway are third-most in Funny Car, behind only his brother Tony’s four and reigning world champion John Force’s seven.
Despite the track’s unique challenges and ever-shifting climate in the area, Pedregon has seemingly always been in tune with what his car has needed in Houston. He expects another challenge this weekend but it might prove to be just the race he needs to get his season on track.
“It’s a combination of the atmospheric conditions along with a track that has a lot of personality,” Pedregon said. “You can’t just throw everything at it. You have to be good with your set-up and good with the clutch. We’ve been able to bring that to the table (in Houston) and I credit that to our success.”
Pedregon’s 2013 win at Royal Purple Raceway was one of four during a season that saw him grab the points lead for a short stretch. He was in the top five for the majority of the season and finished fourth overall but has been unable to recreate that magic thus far in 2014.
Pedregon has suffered through first-round losses at four of the first five races this season and things won’t get any easier when it comes to competition in Houston. Points leader
“Do we want to see some good, consistent runs? Of course, but you can’t put all of that pressure on one race,” Pedregon said. “It would be nice to do well and I think we’re capable of it, but it’s one many opportunities to perform well. It’s an important race but to say it’s more important than others, that’s not the case.”