Summit Racing–Anderson’s Plan Foiled, Yet Optimism Remains with Fields Set in Pomona

Anderson’s Plan Foiled, Yet Optimism Remains with Fields Set in Pomona
 
Pomona, Calif., November 9, 2013 – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson was off to a solid start at the final race of the season, the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, and with a good baseline, he formed a plan to help his Summit Racing teammate Jason Line in his quest for the 2013 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock world championship. Ultimately the plan fell through, but Anderson and the KB Racing team are ready to do their part on raceday to bring a win to the team, one way or another.
 
Anderson started the weekend on Thursday’s opening qualifying session with a 6.576 at 210.37 mph that would hold as his best number. Friday’s single session was good for a controlled 6.602 at a slowing 198.17 as Anderson began trying to position himself on the ladder opposite points leader Jeg Coughlin, who is heavy in the battle for the title with Line and Mike Edwards. Anderson clocked a 6.591 at 197.80 in the third session and ended with a 13.956, 61.94.
 
“I was basically just trying to get my car to run as well as I could yet not qualify in the top half of the show, and I was trying to qualify opposite Jeg Coughlin,” explained Anderson. “We have one shot at this thing, and somehow he has to lose first round and Jason has to go on to win the event. I would rather have it in our control; I’d rather race the man than count on someone else to beat him.”
 
The 74-time national event winner and four-time Pro Stock champion qualified in the No. 11 position while Coughlin landed in the No. 4 spot. Anderson will race V. Gaines in round one and watch as Coughlin races Vincent Nobile. Line is on the same side of the ladder as Anderson, and the two could meet in the semifinals. If they should meet, it will be an “every man for himself” situation as Line could be gunning for the championship but Anderson will be vying for his first event win of the season. This is the first time since 2000 that Anderson has not won an event heading into raceday at the final race of the season.
 
“I took a shot in qualifying, shutting the car off early to try to get matched up against [Coughlin] first round, but we still got all the data we needed to the 1,000-foot mark and could see how the car was running and how the changes we were making were working,” said Anderson. “We should have a good car tomorrow with my Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro, and there is still a race to be won. Qualifying is behind us, and it’s out of our hands now. Whatever happens, we know we did what we could, and we’ll just have to see how the cards fall.”