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FRANK PEDREGON MAKES BUD SHOOTOUT LISTBy Susan Wade Frankie gets to come to the party. Frankie Pedregon was like the little kid with his nose pressed to the glass, on the outside looking in at all the NHRA Funny Car excitement in the previous race, at Brainerd, Minn., after he failed to qualify for the 20th annual Colonel's Truck Accessories Nationals. That's how he has felt at Indianapolis, too. Until now. The Budweiser Shootout, a showcase for the eight most consistently superior Funny Car teams in qualifying during a full year, is an invitation-only event that will take place Sunday during the U.S. Nationals. And this time, Frankie Pedregon has made the guest list, just as younger brother Tony, a two-time runner-up, has for the sixth time. Brother Cruz made eight appearances and finished second four times. Now, in his second season with the Checker-Schuck's-Kragen team, he and teammate Del Worsham will go for the $100,000 winner's share of the purse in their Pontiac Firebirds. Pedregon, seeded sixth, will open against No. 3 Bruce Sarver. Worsham, as the No. 8 seed, will take on No. 1 John Force. The chance to earn $100,000 is incentive enough, but showing he belongs theremight be a bigger motivator for the 38-year-old Phillips Ranch, Calif., driver. "When I got in a Funny Car for the first time, I had a list of goals," Pedregon said. "Win a race, get in the Budweiser Shootout and win a Winston Championship. I've won four races now, but every year I'd come into Brainerd and everyone would be talking about the Bud Shootout and how they'd get in or how great it was to make the field. I felt like the kid who wasn't invited to the party and I didn't know the secret handshake. Now I know what it feels like, and it's a big honor." Worsham drew the short straw for the sixth time in having to face Force, a five-time winner and four-time runner-up, in the opening round. TRUCKS ON A RECORD TRACKBy Susan Wade Randy Daniels, the provisional top qualifier in Pro Stock Truck, gained
one track record and lost another Friday. The Grantsboro, N.C., driver
lowered Bob Panella's year-old 7.535-second elapsed-time mark with a
run of 7.522 at 178.71 miles an hour. |
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