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Pedregon Earns a Semi-Final Appearance

06/09/2009

Quaker State Driver Secures Top Spot in the Countdown to 1

The NHRA Funny Car Series headed to O'Reilly Raceway Park over the Labor Day weekend for the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, the final event before the Countdown to 1. Pedregon put the Quaker State Impala solidly into the field making it all the way to the semi-final round before losing to eventual race winner Ashley Force Hood.

With his strong performance, the Quaker State driver secured the top spot in the point standings going into the six-race Countdown to 1.

Qualifying rounds began on Friday with the fourth and final round taking place on Sunday. Pedregon opened the qualifying session struggling a little to get his Quaker State Impala to hook up and get a solid pass. After the first two rounds, the two-time champion remained on the outside looking in not yet qualified for the event.

It was in the third round that Pedregon laid down a strong and clean pass getting his 300 mile per hour run just missing the top half of the field. Going into the fourth and final round in the 10th position the Brownsburg, Indiana native paired up with his brother Cruz to make his final qualifying run. Pedregon was able to gain a little speed but dropped one spot to the 11th position going into Sunday's elimination rounds.

The first round of eliminations proved to be a wild race for the Quaker State driver as his competitor smoked his tires giving Pedregon the lead just before his shoots came out around the half way point of the run. However the Indiana native was able to hold on to his lead taking the win and advancing to the next round.

In the second round, Pedregon's Quaker State Impala took the early lead and kept pulling ahead steadily to take the win and advance to the semi-finals. The semi-final proved to be a great looking race with Pedregon taking the loss after slightly trailing eventual race winner Ashley Force Hood.

The NHRA Funny Car Series will take a weekend off before heading to zMax Dragway in Concord, North Carolina for the NHRA Carolinas Nationals, site of the first race of the Countdown to 1. Qualifying is set for Friday and Saturday, September 18 - 19 with elimination rounds on Sunday, September 20.