Pedregon sent for evaluation after first-round incident

Defending NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car champ Tony Pedregon was transported to Pomona Valley Medical Center Hospital for evaluation after his Q Horsepower Chevy Impala suffered an engine explosion in the first round at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals.

The carbon fiber body on Pedregon's car was blown off the chassis by the force of the explosion, but Pedregon managed to bring his car to a stop in the opposite lane near the end of the shutdown. Pedregon exited his car on his own and was checked my NHRA emergency services officials before being transported to the local hospital as a precaution.

Pedregon had red-lighted on the pass against John Force, who won the round with a 4.80-second elapsed time.