Cruz and Frank Pedregon represent NHRA well at Chili Bowl Nationals
01/18/2006
By Rob Geiger, NHRA.com Senior Editor

Drag racing brothers Cruz and Frank Pedregon traded in their nitro-burning Funny Cars for midget racers and spent an extended weekend competing in the world-renowned 20th annual O'Reilly Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Okla. Neither straight-line pro left town with a trophy, but both men showed the world that drag racers do know how to turn left.

Surviving a grueling schedule of preliminary warm-ups and qualifying sprints, Cruz and Frank both earned spots in Saturday's slate of "Main" races, which pare the starting field of 260 racers down to 24 who run for the prestigious title. Just securing one of the 260 positions in Saturday's action is considered quite an accomplishment and both Pedregon's did so with ease. Also in on the action was Damion Gardner, who drives a full-time midget entry for Cruz.

There were 20 lower Main races, labeled B-K, with two races at each level. The top four racers of the K1 and K2 Mains advanced to the field of the J1 and J2 Mains to join other qualifiers who already had earned spots. The process is repeated all day until the 24 racers who run for the title in the A Main are determined.

Through time trials, Frank had qualified his No. 91 car for the first J Main race. Knowing he needed to finish in the top four of the 16-car sprint, Frank battled to a fifth-place finish, narrowly missing the chance to advance to the I Main by one position.

Later in the day, Cruz and Gardner ended up in the second F Main together. Racing Pedregon's No. 6 machine, Gardner aced the 16-car field and finished on top, advancing to the E Main. Cruz wasn't as fortunate, finishing 10th overall, which put him on the sidelines for good.

This particular Main drew an intense amount of media attention as new NASCAR champion and former Chili Bowl winner Tony Stewart was slated to race. But a nasty multiple-rollover accident Stewart suffered in Friday qualifying relegated him to spectator status and the shaken but otherwise unhurt racing star gladly posed for pictures and signed autographs while the others raced.

Gardner's win in the F2 Main gave Cruz someone to cheer for in the E2 Main and Gardner didn't disappoint, winning his second straight race as the field continued to tighten down to touring sprint car and midget racing professionals as well as a handful of NASCAR stars with lots of dirt track experience from their days before running the Cup series. This win slated Gardner for the D2 Main where he gallantly fought to a fifth-place result, missing the chance to advance to the C2 Main by one slot.