PEDREGON LEADS TOYOTA IN NHRA 4-WIDE QUALIFYING

CHARLOTTE, NC – Camry driver Cruz Pedregon qualified fifth in Funny Car to lead Toyota in preparation for Sunday’s NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at the zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, N.C. Qualifying was limited to a pair of sessions run today after yesterday’s on-track activities were rained out.

Pedregon ran a 4.05-second pass to earn his third top-five starting position of the season. He also has qualified in the top half of the field in each of the season’s first four events.

Following Pedregon among the Toyota Funny Car drivers was Chad Head in eighth, Del Worsham in ninth, Tony Pedregon in 10th and Alexis DeJoria in 15th. Head, Worsham and Tony Pedregon each qualified in the top-five in today’s first session with Head earning one bonus point.

Prior to the final qualifying session, it was announced that Toyota would expand its sponsorship of long-time partner Alan Johnson Racing as the team’s search for a primary sponsor continues.

“With our expanded sponsorship of Shawn Langdon and Alan Johnson Racing, Toyota wants to show other potential sponsors that we are committed to the AJR program,” said Ed Laukes, Vice President marketing, performance and guest experience for Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A. “They have proven to be one of the top teams in any form of motorsports and this sponsorship should assist them in securing a primary sponsor for the rest of the season.”

In Top Fuel qualifying, Richie Crampton led the way among the Toyota drivers with a seventh, followed by Antron Brown in eighth and Langdon in 16th.

Today’s Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifications can be seen on ESPN2 tonight from 8-9:30 p.m., while Sunday’s eliminations are scheduled to be broadcast live on ESPN beginning at 2 p.m. (all times EDT).