Collins most recently led the Make-A-Wish Nitro Funny Car team and Johnson to a second-place points finish in the 2020 season. Collins later worked with Rahn Tobler for five seasons, including two as the assistant crew chief on the NAPA Funny Car team before taking over the crew chief duties on the Make-A-Wish Funny Car team in 2014. “Once my career was up and running, the next natural phase was ownership,” Pedregon said. It’s expected. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Pedregon… With 46 years in sports journalism, Susan Wade is a veteran drag-racing writer with 21 seasons at the race track. I’m not going to put a timetable on driving. Johnson out of a ride at Don Schumacher Racing, while Pedregon hires Johnson's crew chief, crew. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. He never saw any of the things that myself and my brothers have accomplished." “Larry Minor folded his operation in 1990 and Joe Gibbs folded his operation in 2000. Are you surprised that Tommy Johnson Jr. is looking for work? On Sunday, he called it a furlough. I traveled each and every highway. He taught me the leader mentality, not the follower mentality. It has been a process, but I feel like the sport has created enough good people, and I’ve been the beneficiary of that. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Pedregon finished 10th in Funny Car points standings. For more information on cookies and our privacy policy, please click "About > Privacy Policy" above. He’ll be 57 this month and has no calendar for exiting the sport. I’ve been doing it so long I’m getting good at it — might as well keep it going.”. “So I feel like I’ve got a lot of good years left to offer. So it’s a good damn thing I did go on my own, because I’d be ‘Cruz, the guy that raced in the ’90s’ and is long forgotten.”. “Their record speaks for itself and I’m going do all I can as an owner and driver to provide them with every tool necessary to win.”. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. “With the new additions, I feel we have all the pieces in place to attain those goals.”. Prior to joining Cruz Pedregon Racing, Lane worked as an integral part of the Tasca Racing Funny Car program, guiding New England veteran Bob Tasca III. ... we catch up with Funny Car Snap-On driver Cruz Pedregon who talks about his 1991 Top Fuel season, his rookie season on a part-time basis. “That’s a pretty cool song, to me, and the message in it is pretty cool,” the independent David in a class full of Goliaths. If you haven't already, sign up to participate in the comments section below and let us know what you think. These cookies do not store any personal information. “More than anything, it has been about personnel with me. Cruz Pedregon suffers another explosion at the CatSpot NHRA Northwest Nationals in Seattle, Wa. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain. EV Conversions for Full-Size Pickups Are a Snap, Gordon Murray Drives the T.50 on Track—Slowly, Junkyard Car Patina Backgrounds For Zoom Calls, How Fear Finally Caught up with John Force, Retiring Legends Leave NHRA With Pro Stock Problem, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Fans wanting more information on Cruz Pedregon Racing can “Like” him on Facebook , follow him on Twitter and Instagram . Or, Cruz Pedregon's net worth in US Dollar Jan, 2021? As a single-car team, you’re challenged. Tony Pedregon salary income and net worth data provided by People Ai provides an estimation for any internet celebrity's real salary income and net worth like Tony Pedregon based on real numbers. “I feel like it’s a bigger deal if we’re successful — and I plan on being successful as an independent team,” Pedregon continued. I don’t think I’m going to race as long as he has, but I definitely have a few years left in me,” Pedregon said. Racing past age 70 is “not something that I desire to do. “I could see myself more as an owner and still being out there with my car. You should win. Capturing the human-interest element is the trademark of the Indianapolis native. The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season is less than three weeks old, and silly season is already in high gear. “But I doubt very much I’d still be around if I hadn’t gone my own way,” Pedregon continued. Print. “Our plans and goals are the same as they are with every new year and that’s to compete for wins and let the chips fall where they may after that,” Pedregon relayed. Turn off next to John Force Racing and … And so I face the final curtain. Cookies are used to keep you logged in, to optimize your ad experience, and for other features, but you can opt-out if you wish. Twitter. "If you look at my career, it’s really what my dad taught me. My friend, I’ll say it clear. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. “Even the last couple of year when I was driving for Joe Gibbs, I had already started buying equipment. 1992 & 2008 NHRA Funny Car Champion Twitter: @CruzPedregon Instagram: Cruzerp71 Through all the years I’ve been at it, I’ve also been collecting experience on how to run a team better, how to manage people better and how to run a car. And now the end is near. Tommy Johnson Jr., who finished second in the 2020 NHRA Funny Car standings, is out of a job after being released by Don Schumacher Racing. Johnson made it to four final rounds and had three wins in 2020. You have all the resources. The people are the ones who really make the difference. I’ve lived a life that’s full. Steakhouse Elite Backs Darlington Xfinity Race, Larson Going Trucking With Niece At Bristol, Autotrader Expands Sponsorship Of Team Penske, Hattori & Hill Honoring Stefanik At Darlington, Kahne’s Success Drives No. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. “I used to think, ‘Man, if I could just get the right budget together and buy certain parts and pieces of equipment — boom, I’m good.’ Well, it has taken me several years to realize it takes more than the equipment. Cruz Pedregon Racing Eric Lane was in his first full season with Cruz Pedregon Racing. It takes more than a nice truck and trailer. “I feel like we’re on the brink of breaking out of the rebuilding mode that I’ve been in for several years now. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, Green Not Always an Unlucky Color in Racing, NHRA Postpones Lucas Oil Winternationals at Pomona, What We Learned at the NHRA Gatornationals, Jasmine Salinas Hospitalized After NHRA Mishap, Leah Pruett Channels Tom Brady, Tony Stewart, NHRA Veteran Brown on Verge of Something Special, 8 NHRA Milestones We're Rooting for in 2021, New Face of the NHRA Takes on the Pressure Cooker, NHRA Boss Learned Valuable Lessons in 2020. Are you also wondering how much money is Cruz Pedregon making on Youtube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram? However, he calculated that he won’t stay as long as 71-year-old John Force. I’ve got probably the most solid team, top to bottom. “Larry Minor folded his operation in 1990 and Joe Gibbs folded his operation in 2000. It’s in my fabric, my make-up,” he added. It’s a big deal anytime you can win, but it would be an even bigger deal if we can pull it off and do it our way.”. Email. He currently races for his own team, Cruz Pedregon Racing, Inc. Pedregon finished 10th in the points in 2020. Autoweek may earn money from the links on this page. He also previously worked with 2016 NHRA Funny Car champion Ron Capps and both Kenny and Brandon Bernstein during their standout drag racing careers before joining Pedregon’s Funny Car operation. Johnson said on Friday that he was released by Don Schumacher Racing last week. “If you become part of a conglomerate multi-car team, you’re expected to win. And it takes more than a nice race shop. © Copyright 2014-2020 - Turn 3 Media, LLC All Rights Reserved. It has been an experience. Collins will be joined at Cruz Pedregon Racing by the entire crew that powered Johnson to four final rounds and three wins in 2020. Meanwhile, DSR says it continues to work on 2021 sponsorship packages for Top Fuel pilot Tony Schumacher and Funny Car driver Jack Beckman, as well as Johnson. His way was to do your own thing, own your own business and not be a follower. “How many songs have you heard where it’s ‘I did it his way?’ Can you imagine? "I think we can come in, do a few things, build our program and have a successful team. Pinterest. Collins’ first full-time job on a Nitro team was in 2000 when he worked on Joe Gibbs Racing’s Top Fuel dragster driven by Cory McClenathan. 10,510 talking about this. Cruz Pedregon raced to the provisional top spot in Funny Car on Friday during the 40th annual Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Bandimere Speedway. In 2003, he moved over to Prudhomme’s Top Fuel dragster driven by Larry Dixon and the team won the NHRA world championship that year. "I am pretty excited to come over here to Cruz Pedregon Racing and bring a group of guys who have done a phenomenal job throughout the years," Collins said. On Friday, Cruz Pedregon Racing announced that it has hired crew chief John Collins and the entire Tommy Johnson Jr. crew from Don Schumacher Racing for Pedregon's Snap-on Tools Dodge Charger Nitro Funny Car in 2021. He is also the youngest of the Pedregon brothers. Or, Tony Pedregon's net worth in US Dollar Mar, 2021? Apparently his crew chief and crew weren't waiting around to see how it all shook out. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Collins joined Don Prudhomme Racing the following year with Johnson Jr. on the team’s Skoal Funny Car. Or, is it just a sign of the times in a pandemic. That song would not be a very popular song. Autoweek participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. 8,223 talking about this. I feel like I finally have a team that stacks up well against the competition,” Pedregon explained. “I am pretty excited to come over here to Cruz Pedregon Racing and bring a group of guys who have done a phenomenal job throughout the years,” said Collins. Cruz Pedregon (born September 19, 1963) is a 2-time NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car Champion from Torrance, California.He is the brother of Tony Pedregon, also a two-time Funny Car Champion. Are you also wondering how much money is Tony Pedregon making on Youtube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram? Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Tony Pedregon (born March 8, 1965) is a 2-time NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car Champion from Torrance, California. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. In this episode of Snap-on Great Garages, we head to Indianapolis to visit Cruz Pedregon Racing, home of the Snap-on funny car. So it’s a good damn thing I did go on my own, because I’d be ‘Cruz, the guy that raced in the ’90s’ and is long forgotten.” Lane, 47, was killed when struck by a car near Mineral Wells, Texas, on Monday. Losing isn’t in his plans, despite starting the season with three straight first-round losses and one round-two defeat. And more, much more than this, I did it my way. Linkedin. I bought a truck and a trailer — even when I was employed and had no plans on leaving Joe Gibbs. “Times have changed, but the one thing that hasn’t changed is people – you still have to have good people,” he added. So I’ve always been that way. “But I doubt very much I’d still be around if I hadn’t gone my own way,” Pedregon continued. “My dad taught me to do your own thing. His brother Cruz Pedregon is the 1992 and 2008 NHRA Mello Yello Series Funny Car Champion. Pedregon drove for Larry Minor and then for Gibbs, but he always had something else in mind. He always encouraged me. ", “To say that I’m thrilled about John Collins and his entire crew coming on board with our Snap-on Dodge would be the understatement of the year,” said Pedregon, a two-time Funny Car world champion. 1992 & 2008 NHRA Funny Car Champion Twitter: @CruzPedregon Instagram: Cruzerp71 Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. It has been tough. Cruz Pedregon salary income and net worth data provided by People Ai provides an estimation for any internet celebrity's real salary income and net worth like Cruz Pedregon based on real numbers. ", When asked what happened to the 2020 Cruz Pedregon Racing Team crew that was replaced today by the crew from DSR, a CPR team spokesman simply replied, "the 2020 team parted ways with CPR. SHOPS TOURS by Monday Morning Racer stopped in at Cruz Pedregon Racing in Brownsburg, IN - the hub for nitro. My dad (Frank, who never urged his sons to drag race like he did) was a demanding guy. You have everything you need; the best of everything. This has been instilled in me. 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