NHRA POWERade Drag Racing is as unpredictable a motorsport as any. Streaks, trends, lucky breaks, heartbreaking losses and perplexing outcomes are all part and parcel of the 23-race series.

Want proof? Ask Tony Pedregon.

Over the first 12 races of the 2003 season, he was a dreaded pacesetter, winning a total of six national events, six low qualifier awards, and bulking up with a triple-digit points lead over second place Whit Bazemore. But, after failing to win a single round of racing at each of the three stops on the now-completed Western Swing -- Denver, Seattle and Sonoma -- he has seen his lead dwindle to just 44 points, roughly two rounds of racing, and faces a stretch drive in which even his boss, John Force, has begun showing signs that he could challenge for the points lead as well.

"It's not the time to panic," Pedregon said following his shocking first-round loss on Sunday at the Fram-Autolite Nationals at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma to the unheralded Keith Jackson. "We're still just as good a team as we were when we were winning rounds. My tuners John Medlen and Dickie (Venables) are just as frustrated as I am but we stick together as a team even when we're having our struggles. John (Force) knows the game out here and everyone hits a rough stretch at some point. His looks like it may be over and I know ours will be over soon, too."

Pedregon's losing streak is almost unimaginable, especially in light of the fact that at the exact instant he began struggling, at the Mile-High Nationals in Denver two weeks ago, Force was coming to life with two straight wins following two straight runner-up finishes. Force missed sweeping this year's Western Swing after losing to eventual race winner Gary Scelzi in the Sonoma semifinals.

	Pedregon

"I talked to Tony," Force said after the race. "He's a smart kid and hasn't lost his focus. Sometimes you've got to be patient, let the team get the car figured out and get back after it. I've asked everyone on the team to take a good look at what they've been doing, being honest with themselves and making sure they've remained alert when they're doing their jobs because this three-race deal out here can really wear you out. Densham has been on a tough stretch, too. It's been a struggle for them but a pretty good run for me. It's like a see-saw sometimes. Up today, down tomorrow. All you can do is try to spend more time up than down."

The tour will take a break for two weeks before traveling to Brainerd, Minn., for the Rugged Liner Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway. There are only eight races left on the 2003 slate and for Pedregon to lock up his first career championship, he'll need to begin winning rounds again very soon.

In the meantime, he'll enjoy the relief of knowing there won't be another Western Swing until next July. Bill Stephens covers the NHRA for ESPN and ESPN.com.