Scelzi had set two national records at Route 66 Raceway (328.06 mph last June and 329.18 in September) and he issued a warning to his competitors: “This is a race track where you can let everything hang out. We’re going to try to run 330 mph, and we’re going to try to break the world’s record for e.t. We’re going to try to do everything we can because there are 20 points on the table for the e.t. record, and I guarantee you that Mike Neff is going to do everything in his power to try to get that record. We’re also going to race smart because it is early in the season. But if conditions warrant it, we are definitely going to try to unleash the Hemi.”

Scelzi waited with crossed fingers for the event to end and make his speedy qualifying dash an official record. He was a first-round loser to Bartone, a victim of tire shake, but he walked away with the distinction. Or, as Pedregon put it, Scelzi was “the first guy on the moon, the first to go 330.”

His thrill didn’t last long, for within one minute, Pedregon had driven his Quaker State Chevy Monte Carlo to the class’ quickest and fastest quarter-mile run ever at 4.716 seconds, 331.28 miles an hour. For an emotional Pedregon, the feat was vindication to those who thought his leaving John Force Racing was a poor career move. He has long been at peace with his decision to switch his loyalty to Quaker State from the Castrol sponsorship that vaulted him to prominence. And if he hadn’t done so before, Pedregon silenced his critics at Route 66 Raceway.

“I knew at about half-track that it was going to do something,” Pedregon said, adding that he “was a little bummed” to see Scelzi beat him to the 330-plus clocking. “But I’m very happy for him,” Pedregon said. “It would’ve been nice for us to be the first, but I think we

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responded nicely. There’s a sensory overload that takes over. We responded to it the best way we could.”

Then his voice cracked as no doubt it sank in that his independent leap was paying off. He had qualified No. 1 for the third time, far quicker than with his Las Vegas and Atlanta efforts.

“To be able to perform like this with such great sponsors like Quaker State and GM that believed in us is amazing,” Pedregon said. “We’ve got a great team led by the experience that Dickie (Venables) and Kurt (Elliott) bring. They made a great call and our car responded. The whole crew is hard working and they pay very close attention to detail. I couldn’t ask for a better team. And I’ve got to thank the GM engineers for this new Chevy Monte Carlo body, for putting us on the same playing field with the Dodges and the Fords. You can have all the best parts in the world but it starts with good people.”

Venables and Elliott made a simple clutch change when the temperature plummeted 10-15 degrees and the humidity dropped sharply. “You don’t get opportunities to run in these conditions very often, and when you do, you’ve got to try and take advantage of it,” Venables said.

There in the windy darkness Friday, with a backdrop of lightning for extra drama, Force congratulated Pedregon. “I gave John a hug,” Pedregon said. “John gave me a chance, and you never forget what you learn.”