Championship Drag Racing

O'Reilly Mid-South
Nationals
Memphis, Tenn.
(Sept. 18-21)

EVENT HOME
   Tickets
   Event schedule
   Results
   Star Tracks
   Audio Broadcast
   Photo Gallery
   Video highlights
   Entry List

   Preview

     Event sponsor

Greg Anderson Vegas General Construction Cavalier

Reports: Monday Saturday Pre-race

Memphis, Monday: Greg Anderson, driver of the Vegas General Construction Pontiac Grand Am, enter eliminations at the rain delayed 16th annual O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals in the second position on the Pro Stock ladder. It was in the Saturday morning session of qualifying where Anderson drove his Pontiac to a 6.759, 204.23 mph to earn the Number 2 birth.

In Round 1 of eliminations Anderson met Number 15 qualifier Steve Schmidt. Schmidt took the advantage on the starting line, but it would not be enough to hold off Anderson. Anderson ran a 6.805, 202.18 mph to defeat Schmidt with a 6.894, 200.14 mph

Round 2 was not only a big round in terms of the race, but was probably the biggest round win of the year for Anderson. He met his old friend and closest rival for the Pro Stock championship Kurt Johnson. A last minute lane change by Anderson proven to be enough to rattle Johnson's concentration. Johnson gave the win light to Anderson at the starting line when he red lit. Anderson ran a 6.813, 203.03 mph to a red lighting Johnson who ran a 6.827, 201.16 mph.

The Semi-finals place Anderson across for Mike Edwards. Edwards took the starting line advantage with a perfect .000 of a second light. Even with a perfect light, Anderson was able to power past him the take the win. Anderson ran a 6.816, 203.06 mph to defeat Edwards with a 6.861, 200.23 mph.

The final round placed Anderson opposite POWERade Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. The two racers had nearly identical reaction times at the starting line but for the ninth time this season, Anderson took the win at the finish line. Anderson ran a 6.814, 202.67 mph to defeat Coughlin with a 6.825, 200.95 mph. This is the third consecutive win for Anderson.

"This is awesome," said Anderson of Charlotte, NC. "This was a big race for this Vegas General Construction team. In the last two years, this race has been a problem for us. We have never qualified well here, or even won a round. We came feeling like we had a score to settle with this racetrack. I think today we even that score.

"Pro Stock racing is so competitive. Any time you can win one of these things it is big, but getting past Kurt (Johnson) in the second round, well that was huge. That second-round win puts us a little further out in front of him for the championship, but I am not ready to relax yet. We still have five races yet to run. Anything can happen between now and the end of the season."

Memphis, Saturday: Greg Anderson, driver of the Vegas General Construction Pro Stock Pontiac Grand Am, will start the 16th annual O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals from the Number 2 position on the Pro Stock eliminations ladder.

It was in the Saturday morning session of qualifying where Anderson piloted his Grand Am to a 6.759, 204.23 mph to secure his position in tomorrow's race. When eliminations get underway Sunday morning Anderson will meet Steve Schmidt in Round 1.

"I think we are in pretty good shape for tomorrow's race," said Anderson of Charlotte, NC. "I have Steve Schmidt in the first round. If I get by him, I may have to race Kurt (Johnson) in the second round. As far as the championship goes that could be a huge for this Vegas General Construction team, but first we have to get past Steve.

"Tonight we will turn our attention to tomorrow's race. We will prepare the car, and prepare ourselves. This can be a tricky racetrack to get down, so keeping lane choice is going to be crucial tomorrow. I have all the confidence in the world that my guys are going to give me a great racecar to drive. Then the rest is up to me.

"We have what it takes to go the distance here Memphis, hopefully we will put it all together and wind up in the winner's circle tomorrow night."

Memphis, pre-race: Greg Anderson, driver of the Vegas General Construction Pro Stock Pontiac Grand Am, has a score to settle in Memphis. In his last two outings at the Memphis Motorsports Park, Anderson has qualified in the bottom half of the field and lost in the first round. Anderson is determined to improve his record at this weekend's 16th annual O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals.

"For some reason I have just never done well in Memphis," said Anderson of Charlotte, NC. "For the last couple years this particular racetrack has been a problem for us. Hopefully we can fix that problem this weekend.

"Our goal since the start of this season has been to improve at the racetracks where we were lacking last year. Memphis is definitely one of those tracks. The last two years we have struggled with qualifying, and race day has been a disaster; but I think this year will be different.

"The difference this year is not just the added horsepower. Yes, we do have much more horsepower under the hood than we did last year, but that is not all we have. My crew chiefs Rob (Downing), and Jeff (Pearly) have a much better grasp on how to use that extra horsepower. You can have all the horsepower in the world, but if you cannot get it to the ground, you have nothing.

"Sometimes it takes a lot of finesse to make these cars run on a marginal track. At every race Rob and Jeff keep finding new ways to get this Grand Am to the top end. They do not just try to out horsepower the competition. They use a combination of horsepower and set-up to make this car run quick, and they do it every race. Memphis should be an exception.

"I think we are in good shape for this weekend. I know that after watching it rain all last weekend this Vegas General Construction team is ready to rumble. I have a score to settle with Memphis Motorsports Park, and this is the weekend I plan to get even."