Greg Anderson Runner-Up in Atlanta All-Summit Racing Final

COMMERCE, Ga., May 17, 2015 – The 35th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals turned into quite the thrilling affair for Greg Anderson and the KB Racing Pro Stock team. Anderson, the driver of the red Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro, powered to the 119th final round of his career and tenth at Atlanta Dragway for a final-round match with Summit Racing teammate Jason Line. It was the fourth all-Summit Racing Pro Stock final in Atlanta and the 24th in the history of the team. Although Line earned the trophy on Sunday at their sponsor’s event, Anderson proved that he had a remarkable racecar with so much promise that the heavy-hitting group cannot wait to get to the next race on the tour.

His journey to the final round began with a heavy dose of good fortune as he experienced a significant issue on the starting line following the burnout.

“The throttle stuck,” explained Anderson. “Something got in there, and it stuck. I shut off the engine and kicked the throttle pedal a few times to try to dislodge it, but it didn’t work. I finally had to throw in the towel. I was very disappointed, but as we pushed back, crew member DJ Minter dove on in there and got it unhooked. I couldn’t believe it. I was starting to take off my gloves and everything, I just knew I was done, but I was given a new life and we made the most of it.”

Throughout the delay, first-round opponent Chris McGaha and his team waited patiently as the KB Racing team worked hard and fast to solve the problem.

“I can’t thank Chris enough for waiting for us,” said Anderson. “Believe me, I will do the very same thing for anybody, I’ll wait as long as I can. My hat is off to that team, and boy there sure are some great guys in this class. I have fun racing them.”

Anderson’s team saw nothing short of a miracle as they recovered and raced to a 6.541-second pass at 211.76 mph to get the win light over McGaha’s tire-rattling 12.593. The pass was the quickest of the round and would stand as low elapsed time of eliminations when the day was through.

With lane choice, Anderson advanced to round two, where he again clocked low e.t. of the round with a 6.560 at 211.73 to beat Drew Skillman’s 6.573, 211.30. Next on the list was Skillman’s teammate, Erica Enders. As usual, Anderson was on his game for their meeting and launched well ahead, recording a .015-second reaction time and sailing to a 6.562, 211.59 to top his opponent’s 6.582, 210.83.

In the final, Anderson was first off the starting line with another amazing reaction time. His .013 was quickly eclipsed, however, as he fell into trouble on the racetrack. Line moved ahead for a 6.606, 211.33 win over Anderson’s 8.628. Despite the unfortunate circumstance in the final round, Anderson was incredibly pleased with the overall outcome of the weekend.

“My Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro was the best it’s been in years today,” said Anderson, who is No. 3 in NHRA’s Pro Stock points leaving the event. “I’m disappointed, but I’m not heartbroken. I’ve got a good horse to ride, and it was a great day to have an all-Summit Racing final at the Summit Racing Southern Nationals. I really don’t think we could have asked for more. This is great for Team Summit and fantastic for KB Racing. We’ll take this weekend as a win-win and hope we can do it again.”

Anderson and Line were not the only winning Summit Racing team in Atlanta on Sunday. Kenny Lang won the Pro Mod title and Tim Wilkerson ended a long winless streak with his Funny Car win – both drivers proudly wave the Summit Racing banner.

“I’m proud of the Summit Racing team,” said Anderson. “Not just our Pro Stock team, but the whole Summit Racing group of racers. What happened here today obviously shows what kind of company Summit Racing is, and it shows their knack for picking talent and racecars. The company is just top notch. They associate themselves with winners, and they make you a winner. What a great, motivational team. We’re proud to be part of it.”