Anderson Fast and Furious on Sunday at Maple Grove Raceway
Reading, Pa., October 5, 2014 – Summit Racing’s Greg Anderson continued to exhibit exceptional driving capabilities as NHRA’s 2014 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series narrows down to the last few races, and he certainly had a fast hot rod on raceday to round out the package at the 30th annual NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway. Anderson, of Mooresville, N.C., was killer on the starting line and clocked top speed of the meet in his swift white Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro.
The power of Anderson’s Chevy Camaro wasn’t quite as evident during qualifying, and he earned a start from the No. 10 position – which lined him up with Jeg Coughlin in the first round of eliminations. Notably, the two drivers have squared off 83 times in NHRA Pro Stock eliminations. Anderson was 100% on his game in their meeting, and he left the starting line first with a perfect .000-second reaction time. It was the fourth time in Anderson’s career that he had recorded a perfect reaction time, and it was only the 38th perfect .000 in the history of Pro Stock. Anderson’s most recent perfect reaction time was at the Winternationals in 2003.
At the top end in Reading, it was all Anderson in the white Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro, and he crossed the finish line first for a 6.501-second, 213.60 mph victory over his challenger’s 6.545, 212.23. Anderson’s big speed, in testament to the horsepower beneath the hood of his KB Racing Camaro, wasn’t just the fastest of the round, it was the fastest of the meet.
Round two pitted the four-time NHRA Pro Stock world champ against No. 2 qualifier Shane Gray, and Anderson was once again fired up for the challenge. He vaulted off the starting line in .006-second and parlayed the early lead into a holeshot win, sending his opponent home on a 6.515, 211.99 to 6.499, 211.96. For the first time since Seattle, Anderson reached the semifinals. It looked to be his day, but an untimely and terribly unfortunate circumstance stopped him cold. As Anderson laid down his burnout in preparation for the run, a mechanical issue beneath the hood caused the engine to lose power. He could not make the run and had to be pushed back from the starting line.
“I felt great today. I woke up and felt good,” said Anderson. “It was one of those special, magical days, and I had a good run going. I was almost starting to think I might have a chance to win the race today, but the rug was pulled out from under me. We broke and didn’t get to race Rodger Brogdon. I’m disappointed, but I had a great start today and had absolutely zero concern that I couldn’t do it every time I went up there. I really felt like I had a chance to win. But Rodger did a good job, and I’m very happy for him. I wish I could have gone the distance and helped Jason a little bit more and won the race. But I still leave here holding my head high and knowing we have two more chances to win and two more chances to help the Summit Racing team win a championship.
“Obviously, this is some kind of test. I’m not going to fold up my tent; I’m here to prove what I’m made of. I’m going to find a way to win before the year is over.”