Anderson quick and fast at Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., September 7, 2015 – The 61st annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals have concluded, and they did not end as Greg Anderson had imagined they would. Anderson, driver of the red Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro, was gunning for the points lead but came up just a bit short as he exited in the semifinals. The good news is that he had the quickest and fastest racecar on the property and is powering full steam ahead into the six-race NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
“My Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro was a great car today, no question. I should have won the U.S. Nationals,” said Anderson.
Anderson was the No. 1 qualifier at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. It was the fourth No. 1 for the Pro Stock driver who has the most wins at the esteemed event of all currently competing drivers with six trophies earned in eight final rounds. Starting from the top spot, Mooresville, N.C.-based Anderson came to the starting line for a first-round battle with Aaron Stanfield. The pair did their respective burnouts and then began the staging process, both moving forward to light the top LED lights. Anderson moved into the final beam and waited for his young opponent to do the same, but when the allotted seven seconds were up, Stanfield had not moved and was disqualified. Anderson raced ahead for the automatic win on a strong 6.602-second pass at 209.85 mph. It was the quickest and fastest pass of the round.
Round two brought Anderson up against fellow KB Racing-powered Bo Butner, the winner of the Factory Stock Showdown that took place in the Stock Eliminator category at the U.S. Nationals. Butner was on his game with a .023-second reaction time, but Anderson was right there with him, recording a .025 and then shutting the door on Butner with a low of the round 6.605, 209.39. With lane choice, Anderson’s semifinals opponent was at a disadvantage. Erica Enders was not taking Anderson lightly, though, and shoved off the starting line first, .013 to a .054. Enders was the winner in their match, 6.618, 209.39 to the best pass of the day, a 6.591, 210.41.
“I wish I could have that run over, but I can’t – and that’s drag racing,” said Anderson. “Everything else was a positive, though. Everybody knew I had the best car here, and that’s the good news for this race team. It’s fantastic to have that, and I feel good knowing that. My Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro is absolutely fantastic and consistent as can be. I just gotta stop the hiccups. You can’t win if you aren’t perfect. That’s just the way Pro Stock is right now.
“There was so much on the line. Going into the Countdown as the No. 1 seed was what I really wanted, but on top of that, I wanted to win Indy. I love this place, I wanted to win here, and the table was set. You hate to throw away a golden opportunity like this, but there are more opportunities down the road in the very near future, and this will sting for awhile, but we’re going to test next week. Hopefully, we’ll be even better yet with our Camaros when we get to Charlotte for the first race of the Countdown. I’m excited about that. I still think we’re going to have a better car than the rest of them for the Countdown. We should be able to win it. We just need to get our ducks in a row and regroup, get our heads on straight and go do it.”