Cruz Pedregon, born September 19, 1963, hails from Torrance, California. Pedregon began his career in 1986 where he became track champion at Ventura California Raceway while racing karts. In 1987 Cruz obtained his NHRA Alcohol Dragster license before switching to Alcohol Funny Cars three years later. Pedregon was the only other driver to win a Funny Car Championship, aside from John Force, in the 1990s. 

Cruz took a brief retirement period in 2001 where we became a color analyst at ESPN for NHRA broadcasts before returning to the cockpit in 2002, where he still currently competes as an owner/driver under the Cruz Pedregon Racing banner.

Throughout his prestigious career, Pedregon has 40 careers wins (36 funny car, 3 top alcohol dragster, 1 top alcohol funny car) and two NHRA Funny Car National Championships.