Backstretch Motorsports

Larry Dixon, Tony Pedregon, Allen Johnson, Matt Smith qualify No. 1

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Cruz Pedregon capped a momentous Sunday at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals by defeating Tim Wilkerson to win the U.S. Smokeless Showdown, the annual bonus race for Funny Cars, and the $100,000 first prize that comes with the title.

[read more...]

CLERMONT, Ind. – Funny Car driver Ashley Force will start from the No. 1 position in the NHRA U.S. Smokeless Showdown on Aug. 31 at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, as she goes for her first victory in the special bonus event for qualified Funny Car drivers.

Force is the first female driver to qualify for the Funny Car bonus event in NHRA history.

[read more...]

Local favorite Johnson, Pedregon and Smith also earn victories at Brainerd International Raceway

BRAINERD, Minn. — Tony Schumacher raced to his fourth consecutive victory and ninth of the season Sunday at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, and moved within two of all-time Top Fuel wins leader Joe Amato’s longstanding record of 52 victories.

Tony Pedregon, Kurt Johnson and Matt Smith also earned victories in their respective categories at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event, the 16th of 18 events in the Countdown to 10, NHRA’s regular season. The Countdown to 1, NHRA’s six-race championship playoffs, begins Sept. 11-14 at zMax Dragway at Concord, near Charlotte, N.C

[read more...]

MORRISON, Colo. – Cory McClenathan raced to the No. 1 qualifying position in Top Fuel as qualifying came to an end Saturday at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway

Tony Pedregon (shown left), Greg Anderson and Eddie Krawiec were also No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the 13th of 24 events on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

[read more...]

MORRISON, Colo. – Tony Pedregon raced to the provisional No. 1 qualifier at the 29th annual Mopar Mile-High Nationals in Denver.

Cory McClenathan, Allen Johnson (shown left) and Steve Johnson were also No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the 13th of 24 events on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

This was the first time in NHRA history that Top Fuel and Funny Car ran at the interim distance of 1,000 feet.

[read more...]

T. Pedregon, Anderson and Arana also win at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park

NORWALK, Ohio – Doug Herbert raced to an emotional Top Fuel victory Sunday at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals and dedicated his first win of the season to the memory of his two young sons who were tragically killed in a highway auto accident in late January. Herbert had a good-luck angel with him in Norwalk in daughter Jessie and scored his first Top Fuel win of the season.

Tony Pedregon, Greg Anderson and Hector Arana also were winners of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.

[read more...]

JOLIET, Ill. – One day after his second explosion fit for the highlight reels this season, Tony Pedregon powered his Q Horsepower Chevy Impala SS to a trip to the winner’s circle at the 11th annual Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals.

Another Tony – Chicago’s own Tony Schumacher – took center stage in Top Fuel with an event-best time and speed in the final round, while Kurt Johnson (Pro Stock) and Chris Rivas (Pro Stock Motorcycle) drove away with event titles as well.

[read more...]

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Defending NHRA POWERade Series Funny Car world champion Tony Pedregon raced to his first victory of the season and 37th of his career Sunday at the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals.

Tony Schumacher, Jeg Coughlin and Matt Guidera also were winners at the NHRA POWERade Series race, the third of 24 in 2008.

Pedregon clocked a 4.921 at 315.27 in his Q-Horsepower Chevy Impala at the historic Gainesville Raceway quarter-mile dragstrip to edge veteran racer Gary Densham at the finish, whose Racebricks Impala trailed with a 4.924 at 309.13. In the first three elimination rounds Pedregon defeated Jerry Toliver, Ashley Force and Jim Head.

[read more...]