Anderson set to make up ground on raceday at Carolina Nationals
Concord, N.C., September 13, 2014 – NHRA Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson came into this weekend’s seventh annual NHRA Carolina Nationals intent on moving forward and seeing the inside of the winner’s circle at the end of the three-day event, and with a tough qualifying battle in his rearview mirror, the driver of the white Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro is eager to race on Sunday and go after that shiny trophy. Qualified in the No. 10 position, Anderson will begin the fight with a first-round match with Jeg Coughlin.
Qualifying began with a respectable and promising 6.618-second run at a strong speed of 209.72 mph, and the pass provisionally situated the four-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion in the No. 6 position. Predicted rain stayed away, and Anderson came back in the second session to clock a 6.631, 209.85.
The KB Racing team worked hard overnight to address any issues at hand, and they returned on Saturday motivated to go fast, but they were quickly stopped as Anderson’s Camaro fell into tire shake and he had to push in the clutch. He slowed to an 8.944, 105.76. The final session on Saturday produced a 6.639, 209.46.
Starting from the bottom half of the field for the first time since Norwalk, Anderson is in a position that has become unfamiliar.
“We’ve gotten used to qualifying higher than this, and it’s a little bit disappointing to come out here and not be where we feel we belong – in the top half of the field,” admitted Anderson. “But we’ve got a great group over here with this KB Racing team, and we’ve got tonight to figure out whatever needs to be figured out before we come to the table on Sunday. We would love to see one of our Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaros in the winner’s circle again here.”
Anderson, who has three wins earned at zMAX Dragway and saw his Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro win the spring event earlier this year with stand-in driver Jimmy Alund behind the wheel, should realistically have just as good a shot as anyone of taking home the trophy on Sunday – if not perhaps a greater opportunity, as the prestigious facility is right in the backyard for the Mooresville, N.C.-based driver.
“This would be the place to get that first win of the year, and it would certainly be nice to do it in the first race of the Countdown, even though I’m not in the fight for the championship this time around,” said Anderson, who has reached three final rounds in 2014 heading into raceday in Concord. “It would be a great morale boost and something I’ve been trying hard to do for what feels like a very long time.”