Summit Racing

Anderson Picks Up the Pace in Houston, Starts Fifth

Anderson Picks Up the Pace in Houston, Starts Fifth

Event:  25th annual NHRA Spring Nationals

Location: Royal Purple Raceway, Baytown, Tex.

Day/Date: Saturday, April 28, 2012

After posting the eighth-quickest time on Friday, Summit Racing driver Greg Anderson entered the final day of qualifying for the NHRA Spring Nationals in Houston, Tex. determined to improve his standing for race day.  Despite Saturday’s higher temperatures, Anderson and his KB Racing crew responded to the challenge, posting the third-quickest time of the morning session at 6.575-seconds with a top speed of 211.00 mph to claim the fifth starting position, his ninth Top Five qualifying performance in 13 career starts at Royal Purple Raceway.

However, as he prepared to open Sunday’s final eliminations against veteran Kurt Johnson, Anderson opined that both he and his KB Racing crew would need to better their performance in order to contend for their third Houston win.  Fortunately, it is a scenario which they have repeated often during this season’s first five races, resulting in two wins in four final round appearances.

“We’re hoping to continue our 2012 trend where we’ve struggled in qualifying but raced extremely well on Sunday,” said Anderson.  “Basically, we’ve been exploring every option in qualifying, trying to improve our performance and get it closer to the top cars.  We could go out there and make four consistent, average runs, but that’s not how you win races.  As tight as the competition is in Pro Stock, you need every facet to be working at its very best.

“I’m confident we’ll be able to take what we’ve learned about this Summit Racing Pontiac and make it better, but there are no guarantees.  Still, in four of this year’s first five races we’ve been able to put it all together on race day so I see no reason why we can’t do the same tomorrow.  By the time the first round rolls around, every member of this team will be ready to do whatever it takes to put this car in the winner’s circle. Everything is there for us to do it, we just have to find a way.”