Category Archives: Cruz Pedregon

Cruz Pedregon–Norwalk Advance

NHRA® Team Report
Summit Racing Equipment NHRA® Nationals – Norwalk
Pre-Race Report

Cruz Pedregon and team are moving into this weekend’s race in Norwalk with the Snap-on Dodge® motor looking brand new and the final modifications completed on a scuffing issue. “We’re seeing incremental improvement each week, so we’re expecting clean, aggressive runs in Ohio,” says Cruz. “I have the best team and sponsors in my corner and one of the best cars on the track. We’re ready to go.” Continue reading Cruz Pedregon–Norwalk Advance

Cruz Pedregon–Chicago Advance

NHRA® Team Report
Route 66 NHRA Nationals – Chicago
Pre-Race Report

It’s been a busy two weeks for Cruz Pedregon and team as they took full advantage of time in the shop before the four-race series begins in Chicago this week. “We’ve been prepping and building parts, getting ready for back-to-back races and getting the Snap-on Funny Car where we want it before the weekend,” Cruz said. “This is an important race for us each year because it’s considered the ‘home track’ for our primary sponsor, Snap-on, who hosts around 600 guests here for the race each year. And, it’s always fun to have the Chairman and CEO Nick Pinchuk visit the pit and see how we put the company’s tools and tool storage to work here at the track. He’s a big fan of the sport and long-time supporter of my racing career.”
Continue reading Cruz Pedregon–Chicago Advance

Cruz Pedregon–Richmond Advance

NHRA® Team Report
NHRA Virginia Nationals – Dinwiddie, VA
Pre-Race Report

Cruz Pedregon and team are headed to Virginia Motorsports Park and ready for another win at the Virginia Nationals. “We really feel like we’ve gotten any bad mojo out of our system and it will be fun to be back on the track again, especially since this race has been a winner for us before,” says Cruz. “We were glad to return to Richmond last year since there’d been a 10 year hiatus, and the second year back should be a good one for us. We’re ready to put on a good show for everyone in the stands, and fans streaming the race online or watching on FOX Sports.” Continue reading Cruz Pedregon–Richmond Advance

Cruz Pedregon–Atlanta Advance

NHRA® Team Report
NHRA Southern Nationals – Atlanta
Pre-Race Report

After staying an extra day in Charlotte to test, Cruz Pedregon and team are eager to get the Southern Nationals and put down some hot times in Hot’Lanta. “We made one run in testing to get some additional information after feeling like we were playing catch-up all last weekend due to the weather. We’re addressing some issues and looking forward to a fast weekend at the Atlanta Dragway,” said Pedregon.

Crew Chief Glen Huszar and Assistant Crew Chief Nick Casertano oversaw Monday’s testing and devised a game plan to improve upon Cruz’s strong showing in Atlanta last year. So far this season, Cruz has qualified in the top half of the field 4 of the last six races and he’s planning to do so again this weekend. Continue reading Cruz Pedregon–Atlanta Advance

Cruz Pedregon–Charlotte Advance

NHRA® Team Report
NHRA Four-Wide Nationals – Charlotte
Pre-Race Report

Defending champion Cruz Pedregon and team are ready for another win at the Charlotte Four-Wide Nationals this year. “We hit the sweet-spot tuning for this race last season, and that’s what we’re looking to do again this year,” said Pedregon. “The Snap-on Dodge is consistently performing well, and we’ve been pleased with the way things are coming together to run strong 3’s at each event. Continue reading Cruz Pedregon–Charlotte Advance

Cruz Pedregon–Houston Advance

NHRA® Team Report
NHRA® Spring Nationals – Houston
Pre-Race Report

Cruz Pedregon and team are heading to the Lone Star State and bringing with them the momentum of five very consistent runs and some personal successes aced in Las Vegas last weekend. “Now that I’m back as the tuner, it felt so great to have hit that 3.91 run. That’s the quickest run of my tuning career,” Cruz said. “We’re all holding our heads high, and we’re excited to get to Houston Raceway to keep the positive energy moving forward with this Snap-on Dodge.” Continue reading Cruz Pedregon–Houston Advance

Cruz Pedregon–Las Vegas Advance

NHRA® Team Report
NHRA® Four-Wide Nationals – Las Vegas
Pre-Race Report

Cruz Pedregon’s Snap-on Funny Car will have a new look when it takes to The Strip this weekend. The team has been in the shop getting the car ready to race in the second annual four-wide at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a Snap-on franchise-themed paint scheme. “I’m very involved with Snap-on franchisees and spend time riding along or hosting events with them before almost every NHRA race,” Cruz said. “These are incredibly hard-working professionals. Many of them turned wrenches for a living before they became Snap-on franchisees, and others were in office and management jobs and love the tools just like I do. They are so committed to the brand they take to shops in their routes that it’s fun to spend time talking tools and racing with their customers. It’s even better that so many of them are racing fans who enjoy coming out and bringing folks with them to the track, so we’re proud to have the Snap-on franchise paint scheme on the car for the next four races.” Continue reading Cruz Pedregon–Las Vegas Advance

Cruz Pedregon–Gainesville Advance

NHRA® Team Report
NHRA® Gatornationals
Pre-Race Report

Cruz Pedregon and team have been working hard in the shop getting the Snap-on Dodge ready for the 50th anniversary Gatornationals this weekend. “It’s going to be a very special time for the entire NHRA family at this historic track, and we plan to celebrate with a fast car and good runs,” Cruz said. “My family and I have been part of the sport my entire life, and it will be an exciting time for everyone who comes out and watches current NHRA teams and so many of the sport’s legends who’ll be on hand for the weekend.” Continue reading Cruz Pedregon–Gainesville Advance

Cruz Pedregon–Winternationals Preview

NHRA® Team Report
NHRA® Winternationals
Pre-Race Report

Fresh off a week of testing in the Valley of the Sun, Cruz Pedregon is speeding into the 2019 season with hot 60-foot times, new team members, a new Dodge partnership complete with newly updated paint schemes for the Snap-on Funny Car bodies and haulers, and a new role in taking over tuning duties for the team. Continue reading Cruz Pedregon–Winternationals Preview

Cruz Pedregon–Pomona Advance

NHRA® Team Report
NHRA Finals – Pomona
Pre-Race Report

Pomona has been a winning track for Cruz Pedregon, and the team plans to make it happen again this weekend for the final race of the 2018 season. “It’s been a season of change, regrouping and looking ahead,” says Pedregon. “We worked hard this year and, even with the ups and downs, we’re proud of what we’ve done as a team getting more consistent round wins and 3-second runs.” Continue reading Cruz Pedregon–Pomona Advance

Cruz Pedregon–Las Vegas Advance

NHRA® Team Report
NHRA Toyota Nationals – Las Vegas
Pre-Race Report

Cruz Pedregon will build on the good runs the Snap-on Toyota has been showing and replicating that tuning during the upcoming weekend in Las Vegas. “We’re pleased with the strong numbers we’ve been seeing in the 3’s and have had a series of round 1 wins, so we plan to stick with that game plan and go more rounds in Vegas Sunday,” Cruz says. “The El Cucuy ‘boogieman’ body is making a positive impression in its Pink Fund paint scheme. All of us know or have someone in our lives impacted by breast cancer. So, we hope having ‘Socket to Breast Cancer’ on the car is helping to raise awareness of The Pink Fund. Our primary sponsor, Snap-on, is supporting the nonprofit in its mission to connect individuals undergoing breast cancer treatment to the help they may need with non-medical expenses.” Continue reading Cruz Pedregon–Las Vegas Advance

Cruz Pedregon–Dallas Advance

NHRA® Team Report
NHRA Fall Nationals – Dallas
Pre-Race Report

Cruz Pedregon has had three of his most epic wins in Dallas, and this weekend he’ll be going for another victory when the team debuts a new breast cancer awareness paint scheme for the month of October. “El Cucuy may mean ‘the boogieman,’ but this month it will be a frighteningly good guy when we push the Snap-on Toyota and generate exposure for The Pink Fund and its important work” Cruz says. “Snap-on and our team support the mission of The Pink Fund to provide for non-medical living expenses of breast cancer patients undergoing the fight of their lives…like transportation, utilities and housing.”
Continue reading Cruz Pedregon–Dallas Advance

Cruz Pedregon–St. Louis Advance

NHRA® Team Report
NHRA Midwest Nationals – St. Louis
Pre-Race Report

Cruz Pedregon and team are optimistic about the upcoming race in St. Louis. “Tommy (DeLago) is really honing in on what the Snap-on Toyota likes and doesn’t like,” Cruz says. “The Round 1 win last weekend is encouraging, and we’re looking forward to going more rounds this weekend.”

Crew Chief DeLago says, “I feel like St. Louis is going to be fast, and we will be ready for a good qualifying spot on race day.”

“The strategy for us as a team is to continue to work as hard as we would if we were in the Countdown,” says Cruz. “We’ll push the Snap-on Toyota as if we were.”

On the side of Cruz’s car –
Check Cruz’s car this week, and you’ll see the name of area Snap-on Nitro Franchisee Dave McCuan. He’s had his Snap-on Franchise for three years and was a technician earlier in his career. McCuan says what he likes best about having his own business is that he’s rewarded for the effort he puts into it. He hasn’t missed the NHRA races here at Gateway Motorsports Park in 11 years, and this weekend McCuan plans to have his wife Ashley, daughter Charlotte and 265 of his enthusiastic customers with him.

Cruz Pedregon–Reading Advance

NHRA® Team Report
NHRA Nationals – Reading, PA
Pre-Race Report

Cruz Pedregon took some time after Indy to hit the dirt track, and now he and the team are prepping the Snap-on Funny Car to take on Reading. “Reading has been a winner for us before, so we know with our current setup, we can make it happen again,” Cruz says. “Tommy (DeLago), the team and I have taken a good hard look at the runs we had in Indy, and we collectively have a positive outlook heading into the fall races of the NHRA season.” Continue reading Cruz Pedregon–Reading Advance

Cruz Pedregon Indianapolis Advance

NHRA® Team Report
Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals – Indianapolis
Pre-Race Report

With all eyes on the prize of getting into the Top 10 of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship, Cruz Pedregon and team have been hard at work to prepare for the upcoming weekend when the Snap-on Toyota takes to the team’s “home track” in Indianapolis. “For us, it really is the ‘Big Go,’ so we’ve set our sights on doing what it takes to make the runs and earn the points we need to qualify,” Cruz says. “We had a major change in the team with the addition of Tommy DeLago before Brainerd, and we’ve made some equipment updates that should pay off for us at this critical point in the 2018 season.”

Crew Chief Tommy DeLago says, “We added a new front half on the primary Snap-on Toyota chassis, and we have a brand new back-up chassis ready to go as we prepare for what is the most important race of the season for us as a team.”

Cruz and team are hosting an open house for fans Thursday in the Cruz Pedregon Racing shop located at 462 Southpoint Circle, Suite A, in Brownsburg, Indiana. Festivities will include food and a tour of the shop, as well as a variety of racing memorabilia, and a Snap-on mobile store. The team also plans to start-up one of the funny cars at the event. For more information, visit Cruz’s Facebook page.

Cruz Pedregon–Brainerd Advance

NHRA® Team Report
Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals – Brainerd, MN
Pre-Race Report

Cruz Pedregon and team are undaunted by recent challenges and looking forward the weekend ahead in Brainerd. “I’m working with our new crew chief Tommy DeLago and assistant crew chief Glen (Huszar) to go over every aspect of the Snap-on Toyota with a fine-tooth comb to make sure the car is running at its peak performance this weekend,” Cruz says.

In an announcement made last week, Cruz shared news of the team changes saying, “Tommy has one of the most impressive resumes in the sport and we believe he can help take our Snap-on Funny Car to the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. His championship-winning experience will be a tremendous asset to our program.”

Huszar has experience working with DeLago who has a notable career as the crew chief of the 2011 Funny Car world champion driven by Matt Hagan. He also was the first crew chief to guide a nitro-fueled Funny Car to a pass under four seconds (3.995, Charlotte 2, 2011). Most recently, he was with Kalitta Motorsports where he tuned Alexis DeJoria to all of her five career wins, including the prestigious U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis in 2014.

Along with making decisions about the team, Cruz took time after the Seattle race to travel to Nashville to attend the Snap-on Franchisee Conference (SFC) of his primary sponsor. Cruz signed autographs by the Snap-on Toyota show car that was on display as a part of the SFC’s 150,000-square-foot show floor, always a popular photo spot at the annual event.

Cruz Pedregon–Seattle Advance

NHRA® Team Report
NHRA Northwest Nationals – Seattle, WA
Pre-Race Report

Cruz Pedregon is heading to Seattle on a high after living the dream at Raiders’ Team Camp as the NHRA’s number one fan of the team. “That stopover with my favorite team after the race in Sonoma is the energy boost I needed to lead our great team back into top 10 Funny Car standings,” Cruz said. “I’m so proud of the team for getting the car ready to be the quickest overall in the first qualifying round last weekend after making a fast-turnaround run back to the shop for another body for the Snap-on Toyota. We’ll all be rested and revved this weekend for the Seattle race.” Continue reading Cruz Pedregon–Seattle Advance

Cruz Pedregon–Sonoma Advance

NHRA® Team Report
Toyota Sonoma Nationals NHRA Nationals – Sonoma, CA
Pre-Race Report

A trip back to Brownsburg to pick up the El Guapo body made for a busy week for Cruz Pedregon’s team leading up to this weekend’s Sonoma Nationals. “That was a trip we didn’t plan on having to make, but we’re getting everything back together and proving the resilience of this team,” Cruz says. “We’re coming off some strong runs and a round one win in Denver with our El Veijito (older person) body after blowing the new El Chicano body off during qualifying last Friday. In spite of a tough start to last weekend and a quick trip home to get another body, you’ll see the team rocking and rolling when we hit Sonoma Raceway.” Continue reading Cruz Pedregon–Sonoma Advance

Cruz Pedregon–Colorado Advance

NHRA® Team Report
Mile-High NHRA Nationals – Morrison, CO
Pre-Race Report

NHRA fans will see a new body and paint scheme on the Snap-on Toyota when Cruz Pedregon and team roll into Bandimere Speedway. “We’re excited to continue the team’s tradition of naming our Funny Car bodies, and we’ll be introducing ‘El Chicano’ this weekend and its new Snap-on Franchise ‘Own It’ paint scheme,” says Cruz. “The body name is one that reflects my heritage as a Mexican American, and I’m ready to show it off to fans watching the events at Mile-High this weekend.” Continue reading Cruz Pedregon–Colorado Advance