TONY PEDREGON LOSES CLOSE RACE IN FIRST ROUND AT GATORNATIONALS

GAINESVILLE, FL –Tony Pedregon and his American Racing Funny Car Race Team
qualified 13th this past weekend at the Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida, but exited
the race early after a close first round loss.

In the first round of competition Tony Pedregon faced Tim Wilkerson. Pedregon was out of the gate and
led most of the way, but Wilkerson grabbed the win by the slightest of margins –MOV 0.0259 seconds
Pedregon had the third quickest time of all Funny Cars in the first round, but in this match up Pedregon
came up just short with an E.T. 4.094 at 306.26 mph to Wilkerson’s E.T. 4.088 at 311.20 m.p.h.

“Losing in the first round is a drag even though it was a close one” stated a disappointed Pedregon. “We
had the third quickest time of the first round, but the flipside is we have once again fixed the American
Racing car so I know it will perform at the next race. Our focus will shift to improving our qualifying
position then being solid on race day at the next race.”