Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Pedregon hopes to shed bridesmaid role

Thursday, Oct. 23, 2003 | 10:51 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

WHAT: Third annual ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals. round 22 of the 23-race 2003 NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series

WHEN: Today through Sunday

WHERE: The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

TV: Saturday, 8:30-9:30 p.m., ESPN2; Sunday, 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., ESPN2

ADMISSION: Today: Adult $10, Junior (6-12 years) free. Friday: Adult $35 (reserved) and $25 (general admission), Junior $20 and $10. Saturday: Adult $50 and $40, Junior $20 and $10. Sunday: Adult $60 and $50; Junior $25 and $15; Children 5 years and under free with paying adult in general admission and pit access areas each day.

Tony Pedregon is hoping the fifth time is the charm.

Pedregon, the NHRA Funny Car points leader, has finished second in the category's final points four times in the past seven years. Each of those seasons, he was the runner-up to his boss, 12-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force.

This year, it is Whit Bazemore -- not Force -- who is Pedregon's closest rival for the championship. Pedregon holds a 114-point lead over Bazemore heading into this weekend's ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and can clinch the championship here if he advances two rounds farther than Bazemore in Sunday's final eliminations.

"We've had some low points (this year), but the bottom line is that we've won seven races in a Funny Car class that is as competitive as any out there," Pedregon said. "What better way to lock it up than to win again this week at Vegas?"

Although he has 26 NHRA Funny Car victories and six top-five points finishes in nine seasons in the category, Pedregon would like to add a championship to his resume.

"I think until you win a championship, you can't really put yourself in the same category with John (Force), Cruz (Pedregon), Raymond Beadle, Don Prudhomme, Kenny Bernstein, Frank Hawley or anyone else who has (won a championship)," he said.

"We've won a lot of races, but winning the championship is different. When you win a championship, you know your team was the best -- not just for one or two weekends, but for an entire season."

Johnson, who drives Don Prudhomme's Blue Skoal Racing Camaro, won the spring NHRA race at The Strip in 2001 and had his first date with Top Fuel driver Melanie Troxel that same weekend. Johnson and Troxel are engaged and scheduled to exchange wedding vows on New Year's Eve.

Johnson said he and Troxel rode the "Big Shot" roller coaster at the Stratosphere hotel-casino on their first date. Despite driving his Funny Car at speeds in excess of 320 mph, Johnson said he is not a fan of the ride.

"Now that ride was pretty scary," Johnson said, "and I didn't think I'd ever want to do that again. But if we win the race (Sunday), I'll be happy to take that ride once more."

For the record, Troxel boasts the couple's fastest career-best speed at 326.08 mph; Johnson's fastest run to date is 323.74.

Dixon and Pedregon are 3-1 favorites while Anderson is 3-2 to leave Las Vegas with victories. Station Casinos did not post odds on the Pro Stock Bike race.

George Marnell of Las Vegas is listed as a 40-1 long shot to win the Pro Stock race.

The route will depart from bay No. 2 at the Downtown Transportation Center and travel direct to the speedway, dropping off and picking up passengers at the LVMS administration building.

CAT will provide hourly service to the track from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday. Return service will be until 9 p.m. on Thursday and 8 p.m. on Friday.

Half-hourly service to the track will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday and Sunday and continue until 5 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday. Return service will be until 7 p.m. on Saturday and 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The fare for the service is $3 per direction. Additional information can be obtained by calling CAT's customer service at 228-7433 or by visiting www.catride.com.