Anderson a Top Half Qualifier in Red Summit Racing Camaro in Vegas
Las Vegas, Nev. Oct. 26, 2013 – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson had little trouble settling back into the red Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro and proved as much during qualifying for the NHRA Toyota Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The red car has been parked since just after the event in Phoenix at the beginning of the 2013 season of NHRA’s Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, but Anderson hopped right in and clocked four runs straight down the quarter-mile track to earn a start from the No. 8 position.
Anderson moved back to the red car and handed the white Summit Racing Camaro to teammate Jason Line following a crash during testing before the event that took the silver car out of commission.
“This red Summit Racing Camaro is a good car, and it fits like a glove,” said Anderson, who opened qualifying with a 6.678 at 207.18 mph and followed up with a 6.674, 207.15. On day two of the event, the 74-time national event winner and four-time Pro Stock world champion put a 6.653, 208.17 on the scoreboard in the opening session and closed out qualifying with a 6.666, 207.11.
In two of the four rounds, Anderson’s passes were nearly identical to Line’s in terms of e.t. – Line was 6.673 at the top end in the white car in the second qualifier, and his 6.653 matched Anderson’s to the thousandth in the third session.
“We proved it once again: there is no magic in any car. It’s just a matter of rubbing it the right way and getting the right set-up,” Anderson continued. “Each builder out here does a great job with these cars, it just comes down to the decisions we make and how the driver lets his foot off the clutch.”
Anderson will race No. 9 qualifier Vincent Nobile in the first round of eliminations on Sunday. The friendly rivals have met six times on raceday so far this season, with Nobile coming out ahead four times. Anderson was the victor in their two most recent meetings and ousted his challenger in the first round in both St. Louis and at the fall race in Charlotte.
For Anderson, sending Nobile away empty handed on Sunday in Las Vegas is the important first step towards winning his first event of the season with only two more chances to accomplish the goal. Anderson has not had a year without a win since the 2000 season. Anderson is currently No. 7 in the series standings, and fellow KB Racing driver Line is No. 3 in the points.
“I would love to find a way to beat Jason’s competition for the championship, but it is also very important to me to win a race this year,” admitted Anderson. “It would be very disappointing to me to finish the year without winning a race. I’m not going to dwell on it, and I still have two chances. Hopefully, I can get it done tomorrow.”
