Pedregon ready for a new challenge

(Aaron Skillman photo)

By Ken de la Bastide

Dezi Pedregon comes to the Kenyon Midget Series as a third generation racer. His father Tony and uncle, Cruz, are well known through their association with the NHRA.

Dezi, 17, a junior at Brownsburg High School, is ready to tackle the full Kenyon Midget Series schedule this year. He made three starts last season at Anderson, Mt. Lawn and U.S. 24 speedways and scored a fourth place finish at the Henry County racing facility.

“Running karts I was always on he podium and last year was something different because I wasn't used to running mid-pack. Becoming competitive is something I'm going to work on this year.”

Dezi has been racing karts for three years and last year was the first time in some other form of competition.

“It's hard to go back to the karts when you've been in something faster,” he smiles. “The next step was contacting Brad (Hayes) and from there to figure out how to compete in a Kenyon Midget.”

The race at US 24 Speedway was the first time Pedregon raced on dirt. “I ran the one dirt last season and as much as I thought I wouldn't like it, I loved it,” he said. “Didn't think I would like dirt at all. But as soon as I got on the track it was a completely different driving style and for some reason liked it immediately.”

Dezi is looking forward to returning to the high banked quarter-mile Anderson oval, the site of his initial race with the series. “It was my first race,” he explained. “I wasn't completely satisfied because it was my first race and I need to get more skills on the high banks.”

Pedregon said the biggest jump going from karts to the Kenyon Midget was not only the suspension but the high banks and getting adjusted to the different g-forces.

He is also looking forward to the two races at Berlin Raceway, because he grew up in Michigan.

“My mom went to college near there,” Dezi said. “It's also the biggest track the Kenyon Midgets have ever run on, I'm looking forward to it because of how fast it will be.”

With the family involved in drag racing, the decision was for Dezi to take a different path.

“My dad always tells me I can do anything I want, but he wants me to be the best at it,” he said. “There has always been an urge to do drag racing, we both decided it was best to learn the mechanics of the car and how to drive everything else before only going in a straight line.”