After two rounds of Funny Car qualifying for the NHRA Northwest Nationals, Tony Pedregon was looking to show
off the media center to his nine year old daughter, Cecily. Well,
scratch that, but Pedregon was still happy to be the fastest qualifier
of the day posting quickest et and fastest speed – 4.182 seconds,
289.63 mph.
“This is really the press room?” Pedregon ask, looking around. “This
really is? Absolutely amazing. I will say a prayer for you guys and
myself, because I am parked in the dirt with the ants.”
While conditions in the media center worsened as the day got longer,
conditions on the race track vastly improved with surface temperatures
dropping from around 125 to 105 degrees between the two sessions.
Despite improved conditions only nine of the 16 qualifiers made full
passes through the two rounds.