Tony Pedregon loses crew chief, wins NHRA funny car race in Minnesota

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Tony Pedregon won the National Hot Rod Assn. funny car portion of the races at Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota on Sunday, two days after he and crew chief Dickie Venables parted ways.

With an interim crew chief, Pedregon won his third race of the season and took over the lead in the funny car standings. He has an 11-point edge over Ron Capps in the funny car standings.

In the top-fuel division, Larry Dixon, a Van Nuys High graduate, lost to Morgan Lucas in the finals. Dixon, who is in third place in the top-fuel standings, entered the races at Brainerd a perfect 4-0 in final appearances. Lucas won his second top-fuel event in a row.

In the NASCAR Camping World West Series, Jason Bowles, a driver from Ontario, finished 13th after having to repair a flat tire during the race at Colorado National Speedway on Saturday.

Bowles, the top driver in the West Series standings, saw his lead trimmed to 37 points. Eric Holmes, the second-place driver in the West Series standings and the reigning West Series champion, also had problems in the race. He had to replace a broken alternator in his car and finished ninth.

Go to Haddock in the Paddock for more results and race recaps from Brainerd International Raceway and Colorado National Speedway.

-- Tim Haddock

Photo: Tony Pedregon won the NHRA funny car portion of the races at Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota on Sunday, two days after he and his crew chief parted ways. (Courtesy of NHRA)