Tony Pedregon Racing

Racers, fans support Smile Train to tune of $21,400 at Norwalk, Ohio

June 30th, 2010

Smile Train was the biggest winner as Tony Pedregon and his wife Andrea’s special auction Saturday at Summit Motorsports Park raised an impressive $21,400 to help treat children suffering from cleft lip and palate.

Attracted by hard-to-get souvenir items and the chance to mingle with some of NHRA’s top drivers, about 200 generous fans bid for such prized possessions as NHRA drivers’ starting line shirts, autographed driving gloves from NASCAR’s Jimmie Johnson, a Taylor Swift autographed and framed CD, plus many other objects.

“We are very fortunate to be involved in a sport where other drivers and team owners, and especially the fans, are able to pull together for a great cause,” said Tony Pedregon. “They are the ones we want to thank for such a successful event. It will have a major impact on many children’s lives.

Two of the items that created the most interest were a Simpson driver’s helmet adorned with pro drivers’ signatures and advertising space on the rear wing of Pedregon’s Funny Car.

“The amount we raised will cover 85 surgeries for children suffering from cleft lip and palate,” said Andrea Pedregon, the event organizer.

“The donated items made for great bidding wars which, in turn, created unbeatable entertainment. I am proud to present Smile Train with such a generous fundraising donation. I’m grateful for the overwhelming support we received.”

Tags: Fund Raiser, NHRA, Norwalk, Smile Train
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Smile Train Fundraiser Auction Items

June 18th, 2010

Please find below a list of items that have been donated to help raise funds for The Smile Train along with their starting bid price. Email bids are accepted and can be sent to andrea@pedregonracing.com. If you do send a bid in by email, please list the item and your highest bid, along with your contact info.

Closing Day for the auction is Friday, June 25th

Check back as more items will likely be donated!

UPDATED 6/23/10

Items for The Smile Train Auction

Description	Starting bid
Rear wing advertising space on TP F/C – (This advertising space can be used for a personal /business or business promotion, with the one stipulation is that it must be non-competitive with the car’s current sponsors.)	$2,000
Copart Starting line shirt signed by Brandon Bernstein	$100
Al-Anabi Starting line shirt signed by Del Worsham	$100
Al-Anabi Starting line shirt & hat signed by Larry Dixon	$110
Robert Hight picture framed & matted (total dim. 21×27)	$100
“The Joker” Top Fuel diecast signed by Dick Kalivoda	$ 50
Jimmie Johnson diecast signed by JJ & T. Pedregon	$150
Jimmie Johnson race used driving gloves, signed	$200
Ryan Newman diecast (’08 Daytona winning car)	$50
Sassy Silver bangel bracelet & ring	$200
’09 NHRA Full Throttle Championship jacket (unique 1 of 2)	$250
Indy 500 winner Al Unser, Jr. litho signed (225 of 350)	$100
Indy 500 winner Rick Mears litho signed (291 of 350)	$100
Firestone 100 years racing poster signed by 10 IRL drivers	$40
John Force Racebricks , signed	$25 ea
Force pistons & rods signed by Force, Ashley & Robert	$20 ea
“Fathers & Daughters” Book signed by Force & Ashley	$50
Force girls t-shirt, signed by Ashley, Brittney & Courtney	$45
Wicked Quick starting line shirt signed by Tony Pedregon	$100
Quaker State starting line shirt signed by Tony Pedregon	$100
Metallica Motorcycle vest (lg) with Photo card of Matt Kenseth	$200
Jack Beckman Racing Boots & Driving gloves	$50
John Cena WWE “12 Rounds” movie DVD, signed & framed	$50
Toby Keith Broken Bridges movie signed t-shirt, large	$60
Trace Adkins CD – “Ten” signed & framed	$50
Taylor Swift CD – “Fearless” signed & framed	$50
Billy Currington CD- “A Little Bit of Everything” signed & framed	$50
Kelly Pickler signed photo framed 8 x 10	$100
Sugarland signed evert/tour poster framed (18 x 24)	$100
Kenny Chesney litho signed by Kenny & artist/friend, Tim Holt (458 of 1024)	$100
Harlem Globetrotters signed basketball	$25
Brad Paisley signed& framed CD -American Saturday Night” Photo, lg. t-shirt & keychain	$125
2 X Indy 500 winner Arie Luyendyk litho signed (218 of 350)	$100
James Taylor & Carol King Troupladour Reunion 2010 fan pack includes tote bag, coffee mug, program & poster	$50
Brooks & Dunn Last Rodeo Tour fan pack includes Lg. Hoodie, koozie, necklace & bandana	$75
Comedian, Jeff Dunhum fan pack includes Achmed the talking doll, 3D poster XL hoodie	$50
Walking With Dinosaurs – fan pack includes 3D poster, lanyard set, kids pantologist tote	$40
Comedian Bill Engvall signed & framed 8 x 10 photo	$25
Cruz Pedregon signed starting line shirt & driving gloves	$150
Simposon helmet with pro drivers signatures	$ ?

A small sample of children Smile Train has helped…

Tags: Auction, NHRA Norwalk, The Smile Train
Posted in Racing News | 1 Comment »

Pedregons announce fund raiser for Smile Train during NHRA race at Norwalk, Ohio

May 20th, 2010

Tony and Andrea Pedregon announce fund raiser For Smile Train during NHRA race at Norwalk, Ohio

Putting smiles on the faces of young children who cannot smile on their own is the ultimate goal of two-time NHRA Funny Car world champion Tony Pedregon and his wife Andrea, who will be hosting a fund raising event June 26, during the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals at Norwalk, Ohio.

All proceeds will go to the Smile Train, an organization that is dedicated to helping the millions of children in the world who suffer from cleft lip and palate. Most of them cannot eat or speak properly, and they aren’t allowed to attend school or hold jobs.

Last year, Pedregon Racing was able to raise close to $20,000 for Locks of Love. Due to that success, they have decided to hold another event this year for financially disadvantaged kids.

“We chose Smile Train because we have a strong desire to help children in unfortunate circumstance. Smile Train not only offers free treatment, but free training for medical professionals as well. For as little as $250 dollars and in only 45 minutes, a child’s life is changed forever,” they Tony Pedregon said. — .

A track-side auction of drag racing paraphernalia donated by drivers and teams is planned after the Saturday qualifying session.

“We hope to provide the fans with some unique meet-and-greet driver opportunities during the auction,” they Andrea Pedregon added.

The most coveted auction item on the list is advertising space on the wing of Pedregon’s Funny Car for a future race. This advertising space It can becan be used for a personal /businessor business promotion, with the ad only and the one stipulation is beingthat it must be non-competitive with the car’s current sponsors.

Individuals interested in donating items for auction or making donations may send them to Andrea Pedregon, Pedregon Racing LLC, 462 Southpoint Circle Suite B, Brownsburg, IN 46112. Please make checks payable to Smile Train.

Click here for a list of Smile Train Auction Items

Tags: Fund Raiser, Smile Train
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The Fast Lane: Ending with something different

November 13th, 2009

I want to start my last blog of the year with something I want to talk about least — entering the last race of the year at Pomona without much of a chance of winning a championship.

I believe that all of the challenges we have been through as a team have taken its toll on track performance. However, we enter a close third and can only try to finish strong. Winning is important, but racing teams only succeed and stay in business as long as they can deliver a strong bottom line to the companies that invest in their programs

The Fast Lane: Drive into the unknown

October 30th, 2009

When I look back to the beginning of the year, it sure did seem like a pretty long road ahead.

I think race teams have been affected the same way many businesses have been affected due to the economic climate. I didn’t know how I would make it through the year. I didn’t know how I would remain competitive and yet be effective with 50 percent less of a racing budget. But that’s life … we’re all tested in some form or another.

We’ve somehow been able to remain competitive going into the final two races. We’re not in the lead like we’d like to be, but we enter our final two races of the NHRA Countdown to 1 only a couple rounds outside of the top spot.

Read Full Story at FOX Sports

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Quaker State Stages Rumble at The Strip with Tony Pedregon, Shane Mosley, and Victor Ortiz!

October 30th, 2009

Exciting news race fans!

Come out and meet current Welterweight world boxing champ “Sugar” Shane Mosley, and contender “Vicious” Victor Ortiz as they join our favorite drag racer Tony Pedregon, tomorrow, at the Las Vegas Drag Strip for Quaker State’s Rumble at The Strip! Stop by for autographs and catch a few sparring sessions of up-and-coming Golden Boy Promotions boxers in a full size boxing ring. You won’t want to miss this!

Check out the full story at the NHRA Web Site

And as always…go Pedregon Racing!
rumbleatthestrip

Tags: NHRA Rumble at the Strip, Quaker State, Shane Mosley, Tony Pedregon, Victor Ortiz
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The Fast Lane: Finding the spotlight … the wrong way

October 9th, 2009

There seem to be a few ways to get a lot of television exposure.

The first way is undeniably winning. It gives you the best way to get the media to follow you and your progress.

Having something new, new sponsors or a new look generates coverage as well.

If you get into a fight or a good argument on TV, that will do it too.

The worst way is to have an explosion. It seems like this year I’ve done everything on the list. Needless to say, we’ve had a lot of exposure….

The weather in Memphis was conducive to fast times and fast speeds. After qualifying in a solid fourth position, our Sunday eliminations were rained out and postponed until Monday. Everything went well as we started out with a first round win over a John Force car….

The Fast Lane: Time to put Dallas behind

October 3rd, 2009

I guess this blog will be short due to the performance (or lack thereof) in Dallas.

It’s always great to race at Texas Motorplex. However, the Dallas event wasn’t all that we had hoped for. Performance-wise, we qualified in the 11th place with a 4.22. Ironically I was paired up to race my good friend, Bobby Tasca. As close as Bobby and I are, it doesn’t make me feel any better to lose. So I hope to return the favor.

That will make two consecutive first round losses. That’s not exactly the best way to start a run for the Championship…

The Fast Lane: Surveying the damage at Charlotte

September 25th, 2009

Seems like the shorter our race day, the shorter the blog.

We had a quick exit from the NHRA Carolinas Nationals in Charlotte last weekend. After qualifying in the fourth position, we missed a little on the set-up and just flat got outrun. If you do this long enough, you’d better learn how to take a loss — but as a team owner it sure hurts the pocket when you blow a motor in the process. We are still evaluating what happened. We know that the engine damage started early in the run based on oil pressure, and the end result was a rod getting split in half compounding the damage internally as other rods then broke and exited the engine block. Ouch!!!

Special Price on Snap-on 4 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacs

September 25th, 2009

Hey race fans!

Check out another great product from one of our sponsors: the new Snap-on 4 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac! The Snap-on 4 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac is now available for purchase at QVC.com for a special price that includes an array of accessories!

In addition to the Snap-on 4 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac, QVC.com is including the caster wheels, microcleaning kit, car nozzle, dusting brush, utility nozzle, crevice tool, and high-efficiency filter!

Watch a performance demonstration of the Snap-on 4 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac

Thanks for all your support!