Tony Pedregon
After a successful career that spanned more than two decades and produced two NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car world championships, 43 wins, and more, Tony Pedregon will step away from driving in 2016, joining the NHRA on FOX broadcast team. For this week’s trip into the National Dragster photo archives, we open Pedregon’s files and share some of the cars and moments from his years behind the wheel.
Before joining the Professional ranks, Pedregon cut his teeth in Top Alcohol Dragster, including driving John Mitchell’s Montana Express. This photo was taken at the 1992 Memphis event, at which Pedregon qualified No. 15, then defeated Shelly Anderson in the first round before losing to Bill Barney in round two.
After making his Top Fuel debut at the 1992 season finale in Pomona, Pedregon continued to run in the category on a part-time basis the following two seasons. This photo of Pedregon behind the wheel of a McDonald’s-backed dragster was taken at the first race of the 1993 season.
Pedregon transitioned to the nitro Funny Car class in 1995, driving for Larry Minor on a part-time basis.
Pedregon joined John Force Racing in 1996, and he earned his first victory early that year, defeating boss John Force in the Atlanta final. The above photo of that title-round match included the following caption: “In his first season driving for John Force’s Castrol Funny Car team, Tony Pedregon scored his first national event win in any category at the 1996 Southern Nationals, defeating Force in the first of what would be many final-round confrontations between the two. The only Funny Car driver to run a five in all three qualifying sessions, Pedregon ran 5.11, 5.15, and 5.05 (low e.t. of eliminations) in victories over Dean Skuza, Gary Densham, and Whit Bazemore before handing Force just his second loss of the season. Force, who had won every 1996 event except the first, set low e.t. in qualifying with a 5.02 and ran 5.19, 5.09, and 5.13 before slowing to a 5.31 against Pedregon’s 5.10 in the final.”
In addition to scoring 42 more times after that initial win in Atlanta, Pedregon also collected two Funny Car world championships. Pedregon earned his first in 2003 while still part of Force’s team (above), and he earned the second in 2007 driving for his own team (below).