PEDREGON TRIES THE CHILI

Cruz Pedregon will try his hand at the wheel of a midget sprint car during the 19th annual Chili Bowl at the Tulsa Expo Raceway on January 5-8. The midget will be sponsored by Advance Auto Parts, who also sponsor Pedregon's Monte Carlo Funny Car.

"I love midget and sprint car racing," said Pedregon, who started his racing career around the oval tracks of southern California. "I was a track champion in Ventura, California back in the 1980s before I got into drag racing.

"It's definitely a challenge to drive a 380-horsepower race car that weighs only 900 pounds. You have to steer with the throttle, but it's definitely something I've learned through throttling the Funny Car."  (Illustration by Pilat Graphic Design) [12-30-2004]

OUTLAW 10.5 LURES LUTZ

Bill Lutz, who enjoyed a semi-final finish in Heavy Street at Orlando Speedworld's 2004 World Street Nationals, is planning an upgrade to the powerplant in his 1967 Camaro. Lutz said he had to push the car a little too hard at Orlando and a broken pushrod cost him the

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race there. So, a new twin-turbo on alcohol setup is in the works and the Canal Winchester, Ohio-based racer plans to head south in the new year to mix it up with ORSCA's Outlaw 10.5 gang.

Interestingly, NSCA star Rob Golobo, who beat Lutz at Orlando, also revealed plans recently to enter the southern 10.5 arena. The Agent suspects that playground is going to be a little tougher this season. (Ian Tocher photo)  [12-30-2004]