Anderson a top-half player, wants first trophy of the season
POMONA, Calif., February 7, 2015 – If he has any say in the matter, the first trophy up for grabs in the 2015 season of NHRA’s Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will be going home with Greg Anderson. With team owners Ken and Judy Black in attendance and Anderson back for his 17th season as a Pro Stock driver, the driver of the white Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro is heading into raceday seeking his 75th national event win. Starting from the top half of the field, Mooresville, N.C.-based Anderson will race Shane Gray on Sunday.
Anderson began qualifying with the fifth quickest pass of the session, a 6.553 at 211.79 mph, and improved with a 6.535, 211.99 in his Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro that sent him up two spots to the No. 3 position and came with a bonus qualifying point. On Saturday and with wet weather in the forecast, Anderson drove to a 6.537 at 212.19 and the KB Racing crew headed back to tune it up for more. Unfortunately, the forecast became a reality before the fourth and final session, and racing was canceled for the day. The field was set, and Anderson was in the No. 7 position.
“Our run earlier this afternoon was smooth. It was a good, calm run,” said Anderson. “Unfortunately, we were just too conservative and didn’t quite get enough clutch in the car. We definitely left some e.t. [elapsed time] out there and didn’t show what we can really run,” said Anderson. “I know we can run better than that with our Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro, but we did make three very nice, smooth runs. That’s comforting, and tomorrow we have the ability to run faster. We’re disappointed we didn’t get to make that last run, but tomorrow is another day.”
The Winternationals mark Anderson’s 357th Pro Stock national event, and he has been to the final round at 116 of those races. For the accomplished driver, it all starts tomorrow in the first round with Gray, whom he raced four times last season with each driver winning twice.
“The bottom line is that it doesn’t matter who is in the other lane. For me to win the race, I need to beat every one of them,” said Anderson. “Shane is a buddy of mine, but for those six seconds when we race tomorrow, we won’t be friends – it’s that simple. I don’t care who I have to beat; everybody has to get out of my way tomorrow. I have as good of an opportunity as anybody to win this race tomorrow, and I’m going to come out positive, hit the bullseye, and kick some tail.”