Summit Racing–Determined Anderson Powers to Final Round at Summit Racing Southern Nationals

Determined Anderson Powers to Final Round at Summit Racing Southern Nationals
 
Mooresville, N.C., May 19, 2014 – The determination of Pro Stock competitor Greg Anderson was on full display this weekend at the 34th Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals. After missing the first five races of the season as he recovered from heart surgery, Anderson knows he has quite a few points to make up if he is to earn a position in NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship. With that in mind, Anderson left nothing to chance during eliminations at Atlanta Dragway.
 
The weather was unkind to NHRA competitors and particularly to the racing surface at Atlanta Dragway as the event pressed on. Many delays due to rain and dew pushed the event to a Monday finish, but 74-time national event winner Anderson kept cool. A best time of 6.541 at 212.66 put Anderson in the No. 10 qualifying position heading into raceday and set him up for a first-round race with young Vincent Nobile. The unfortunate pairing placed Anderson across from a teammate as Nobile runs his Chevrolet Camaro with power generated in the KB Racing shop.
 
Regardless of who was in the other lane, though, Anderson was determined to get the win. A .014-second reaction time and a run that tied for second-quickest of the opening act would likely have been enough, but Nobile inadvertently left the starting line .005-second too quick and illuminated the red light, handing Anderson an automatic win.
 
The second round in Atlanta pitted Anderson against his former boss, veteran drag racer Warren Johnson. Again, the motivated Anderson made the better move at the starting line, and his swift .012-second reaction time set the tone for the victory. Anderson’s 6.561, 211.89 pass was more than enough to oust Johnson and his 6.771, 179.92.
 
With the final round so close he could almost touch it, Anderson was fired up for the semifinals and cut a .007-second light to Shane Gray to secure a holeshot win, 6.568 at 211.83 to 6.553, 212.79. The ticket to the final was the first for Anderson since the Chicago race in 2013, when he was runner-up.
 
With rival competitor Jeg Coughlin in the opposite lane for the 17th time in his career, Anderson was at peak mental performance. He left the starting line with his best reaction time of the weekend, a psychic .003-second launch, but it was just a tiny bit short. Coughlin was .010 at the tree and clocked a 6.558, 211.63 to win over Anderson’s 6.588, 212.13.
 
“I want to apologize to Summit Racing Equipment that we didn’t quite make it happen, but there were a ton of positives today,” admitted Anderson, who participated in the 114th final round of his career this weekend. “I had a good day behind the wheel of my Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro. I’m disappointed because I wanted that win, needed that win, but I’m happy because my health is fine and I can still drive these things. That’s good news. I know that I can win again; it’s just a matter of time.
 
“We’re going to go home and work on the dyno tomorrow. We’re close, but we’re not there yet with our Camaros. But now I’ve answered the question. Can I still do this? Yes. I can start my racing career over. It’s a new chapter for me. A new lease on life.”