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.

This will be the final race the Snap-on® Dodge sports the “Own It” franchise paint scheme for “El Incursor” (aka “The Raider” body), representing the opportunity the team’s primary sponsor Snap-on offers for qualified individuals to own a mobile tool franchise business.

On the side of Cruz’s car this week –
If you’ll check the side of Cruz’s car this week, you’ll see the name of local Snap-on Nitro Franchisee Pete Scharlatt. As a part of Pete’s successful franchise, he works with aspiring franchisee Jordan Smith, who is hoping to do as Cruz’s paint scheme says and “Own It”…his very own Snap-on franchise. Jordan spent a decade as an automotive technician before becoming a part of Pete’s route six months ago. He says he “absolutely lives for these tools” and enjoys his days calling on clients with his favorite Snap-on® tools. When he’s not working, he’s an avid motorcyclist and enjoys watching the bikes go down the track here at the races.