Cruz Pedregon had prepared himself for this moment. Had told himself everything would be all right, that he would be relaxed, that the first round of the 44th Auto Club Finals in Pomona would be just another race.
That’s what he kept telling himself, lying with every word.
Money time.
He was going up against journeyman Jerry Toliver. It would be OK.
Keep calm and stay focused. It was no different from 500 other runs in his career.
Then he tried to strap himself into his 8,000 horsepower Toyota Funny Car and it took hold.
The pressure that he said he would avoid? His body was imploding.
Money time.
Pedregon had crossed over into Ron Capps’ world, had discovered what it was like to be stuffed into a fishbowl and squeezed with a million dreams.
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