Anderson Scores Milestone 75th Pro Stock Win at NHRA Gatornationals
GAINESVILLE, Fla., March 15, 2015 – It was a long time coming, but Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson stuck to his guns and finally reached a milestone that had been just out of reach for nearly three years. Anderson, piloting a new-to-the-team Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro, reached the winner’s circle at the 46th annual Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals and turned the ticker on the 75th national event win of his career in the 23rd all-Summit Racing final round in the history of the team.
Anderson had a good vibe entering the event as he was debuting the red Summit Racing Camaro – a car purchased over the winter from another competitor who had put very few miles on it. The last time Anderson brought out a new/used car, he won. That victory, also in a red car, was 60 races ago and the most recent win on his scorecard.
“This is the second time in our career we’ve bought a used car from another racer, completely refurbished it, put a shiny paint job on it, and it’s gone right to victory circle,” said Anderson, who beat Summit Racing teammate Jason Line in the final round with a 6.538-second pass at 213.43 mph to his familiar foe’s 6.554, 212.96. “It’s kind of ironic because I grew up in the used car business. My father was a used car dealer, I worked a used car lot until I was 25 years old and moved to the south and went professional drag racing. It’s kind of fitting, I guess. I’ve just always had a phobia against buying a new car. You get it right off the showroom floor, and you lose money. I kind of stuck with that philosophy, and it’s worked out well for us.”
Anderson, whose most recent win before the Gainesville victory was at the 2012 Summernationals in Englishtown, had much to celebrate this weekend at Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville, including his 54th birthday on Saturday.
“It was a special day today, and a special weekend for me,” he said. “It was pretty darn cool because a year ago, I couldn’t even come to this race. I was recovering from heart surgery and couldn’t even attend the race, let alone drive a racecar. It’s been quite a year for me. I’m a very lucky man to even be here, but I have all new parts, I’m doing great, and now I know for sure that there is no reason I can’t win. It took awhile, but we finally got that job done today. It’s a great day for Greg Anderson, a great day for Summit Racing, KB Racing, and everybody involved with us.”
En route to the final – the 117th of his career – Anderson halted Larry Morgan and Shane Gray before clocking a 6.560 at 213.67 mph that would go down as top speed of the meet to put No. 1 qualifier Chris McGaha on the trailer. The semifinals triumph over a tire-shaking McGaha set up the all-Team Summit final, the first since the race in Seattle in 2014 in which Line took the trophy home.
Anderson and Line left with just .005-second between them, Line launching first with a .020 to Anderson’s .025-second reaction time. Anderson efficiently made up the difference and tripped the last timer with a 6.538 at another big speed of 213.43 to Line’s 6.554, 212.96. Anderson is now 14-9 in final rounds with Line.
“I thought Jason would kick my butt like he normally does,” said Anderson. “He had a faster racecar all day. Anytime he does race me, regardless of previous rounds, he’s going to have his best light – and he did, he left on me in the final. But you just never know out there. That’s the big lesson I’ve learned over the last three years – you just never know. Someday, somehow, things are going to go right. You just have to keep that belief. This feels great. It feels like my first win ever. It was a very special win for me, I just wish my wife and kids could have been here with me. Hopefully there will be more to come, but this feels fantastic. I really appreciate this second chance I was given.”