Fri, 13 Jun 2003, 08:27 PM Cruz Pedregon's Funny Car to Showcase The Hulk Blockbuster Film at Sears Craftsman

Courtesy of Joe Sherk, DMF Communications

HEBRON, Ohio -- Nationals Cruz Pedregon and his Advance Auto Parts Funny Car team gave drag racing fans a preview of his special racecar paint scheme of The Hulk, the summer blockbuster film, Friday at National Trail Raceway in nearby Hebron.

Cruz's Hulk Car

Action Performance Companies, in cooperation with Marvel Enterprises Inc. and Universal Pictures, is showcasing the film by highlighting a distinct vision of Hulk, the unstoppable engine of destruction and power spawned from gamma-ray nuclear energy, on Pedregon's racecar during the Sears Craftsman Nationals at Gateway International Raceway in St. Louis, June 27-29.

"I am proud to be associated with Action Performance and Universal Pictures in The Hulk promotion," said Pedregon, a 22-time race winner and 1992 NHRA Funny Car champion. "I do enjoy being involved with racecars that have movie themes. I think this paint scheme looks awesome and I think the fans will like it, too. I've had some wins with movie-themed racecars in the past and I hope the Hulk will be as successful."

Pedregon won races with the Batman Forever car in 1996 at Topeka, Kan., and the Small Soldiers car in 1998 at Sonoma, Calif.

"The Hulk character has long been a favorite among comic book collectors and fans and, even after 40 years, the Hulk shows little signs of slowing down," said Fred W. Wagenhals, Action's chairman, president and CEO. "Though the Hulk can be destructive at times, I expect that the controlled chaos of a racetrack will be the ideal scenario to capitalize on the Hulk's menacing nature."