Anderson Inspired for Long Day on Father’s Day in Bristol
Event: 13th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals
Location: Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tenn.
Day/Date: Saturday, June 15, 2013
Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson is set and ready for eliminations as the final round of qualifying is in the books at the 13th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. For Anderson, raceday will bring a fresh opportunity to hit the nail on the head and battle for the 75th title of his career with strong supporters in the house.
Qualifying was a strenuous task for the field as drivers and support crews tackled warm conditions and a tricky racing surface. With a 6.698 clocking followed by an improved 6.671 on the first day of the event, Anderson found himself fifth at the conclusion of day one, and the warmer conditions of the second day in Bristol brought about even more challenges.
In the first session on Saturday, the team was perhaps a bit too aggressive in the setup with their new, white Summit Racing Camaro and Anderson shook the tires early in the run, amounting to a slowing 6.756 at 204.94 mph. Later in the day, the second session saw them rapping on another door as they leaned in an overly conservative direction for a better, yet still not quite on target, 6.699 at 206.29 as their last offering before the ladder was set.
“We’ve run up against both sides of the fence,” said Anderson. “We know where each side is, we’ve set the sidelines, so tomorrow will be about keeping our Summit Racing Camaros in the middle of the course.”
Anderson, the No. 7 qualifier, will meet Greg Stanfield in the first round of eliminations. The most recent meeting between the two was at the Summit Racing Southern Nationals in Atlanta, when Anderson got the nod over his opponent in the second round.
“I think we can run decent and that we can have a repeatable car tomorrow,” said Anderson. “We just have to make the right decisions and get it done. I’m going to have to drive really well, and with all of that coming together, we’re going to have a chance to go rounds.
“You never know what can happen on Father’s Day. It’s a special day to me, and I’ve got a lot of support here with my dad Rod, who celebrated his 80th birthday this weekend, my mom Joan, and the rest of the family. I have a lot of reasons, a lot of incentive, to do really well tomorrow in the Summit Racing Camaro. Let’s see what we can do.”
