CRUZ - CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE WAS DRAINING
Tue, 2008-11-18 09:00
Cruz Pedregon made sure he didn’t back into his second career NHRA Funny Car world championship. 
Instead, he flung the door open and drove his way into the winner’s circle.
Pedregon, who assumed the NHRA POWERade points lead following his victory at the NHRA ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals, scored his 25th career national event victory which was very reminiscent of his 1992 championship season. That title was procured when he put together a string of five straight victories.
Winning a championship can be a draining experience. At the end of the day that began with a four way championship battle, Pedregon was understandably worn out. Cruz Pedregon made sure he didn’t back into his second career NHRA Funny Car world championship.Instead, he flung the door open and drove his way into the winner’s circle.
Pedregon, who assumed the NHRA POWERade points lead following his victory at the NHRA ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals, scored his 25th career national event victory which was very reminiscent of his 1992 championship season. That title was procured when he put together a string of five straight victories.
Winning a championship can be a draining experience. At the end of the day that began with a four way championship battle, Pedregon was understandably worn out.
“I’m emotionless and worn out kind of, beyond happy, and beyond excited,” Pedregon said, in a post-race press conference. “I couldn’t believe it when I was down there watching the monitor of Tony against Robert Hight; I couldn’t even believe my eyes because I really didn’t want that let down. I grabbed all of my crew [earlier in the day] and told them win, lose or draw that the championship has come down to one race and I was prepared mentally to be let down. I didn’t have a good feeling about today because of qualifying.”
Pedregon struggled in qualifying and only during the final day of qualifying did he earn a berth in the final qualified field.
That’s why he never would have believed a title would have been clinched after the first round of competition when his closest rivals were eliminated. “No way did I ever think the championship was going to be clinched,” Pedregon said. “I’m going to really give a lot of credit to Tim Wilkerson you guys will see at the banquet tomorrow. He exceeded my expectations I had no clue that guy had that many wins in him in the heat of the summer.
“Sure the Giants didn’t feel bad for the Patriots when they beat them last year.”
A sixteen year drought will humble a man as Pedregon has discovered.
“I’ve been humbled big time, eating a lot of crow makes you very humble,” Pedregon admitted. “I had to learn how to be a good owner, like I said if I could get the sponsorship then I’m good – boy was I mistaken there. It takes a lot more than money, money is tremendously hard to do the other part is getting the team and being able to hire the right guys and do things the right way. I had a vision and when I teamed up with Tony,
“I felt like that would give us an advantage to go up against the Forces and the Schumachers. I don’t think it’s worked out too bad for us and four championships. That just really means a lot to us.”
Instead, he flung the door open and drove his way into the winner’s circle. Pedregon, who assumed the NHRA POWERade points lead following his victory at the NHRA ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals, scored his 25th career national event victory which was very reminiscent of his 1992 championship season. That title was procured when he put together a string of five straight victories.
Winning a championship can be a draining experience. At the end of the day that began with a four way championship battle, Pedregon was understandably worn out. Cruz Pedregon made sure he didn’t back into his second career NHRA Funny Car world championship.
Instead, he flung the door open and drove his way into the winner’s circle. Pedregon, who assumed the NHRA POWERade points lead following his victory at the NHRA ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals, scored his 25th career national event victory which was very reminiscent of his 1992 championship season. That title was procured when he put together a string of five straight victories.
Winning a championship can be a draining experience. At the end of the day that began with a four way championship battle, Pedregon was understandably worn out.
“I’m emotionless and worn out kind of, beyond happy, and beyond excited,” Pedregon said, in a post-race press conference. “I couldn’t believe it when I was down there watching the monitor of Tony against Robert Hight; I couldn’t even believe my eyes because I really didn’t want that let down. I grabbed all of my crew [earlier in the day] and told them win, lose or draw that the championship has come down to one race and I was prepared mentally to be let down. I didn’t have a good feeling about today because of qualifying.”
Pedregon struggled in qualifying and only during the final day of qualifying did he earn a berth in the final qualified field.
That’s why he never would have believed a title would have been clinched after the first round of competition when his closest rivals were eliminated. “No way did I ever think the championship was going to be clinched,” Pedregon said. “I’m going to really give a lot of credit to Tim Wilkerson you guys will see at the banquet tomorrow. He exceeded my expectations I had no clue that guy had that many wins in him in the heat of the summer.
“Sure the Giants didn’t feel bad for the Patriots when they beat them last year.”
A sixteen year drought will humble a man as Pedregon has discovered.
“I’ve been humbled big time, eating a lot of crow makes you very humble,” Pedregon admitted. “I had to learn how to be a good owner, like I said if I could get the sponsorship then I’m good – boy was I mistaken there. It takes a lot more than money, money is tremendously hard to do the other part is getting the team and being able to hire the right guys and do things the right way. I had a vision and when I teamed up with Tony,
“I felt like that would give us an advantage to go up against the Forces and the Schumachers. I don’t think it’s worked out too bad for us and four championships. That just really means a lot to us.”
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