Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
Indianapolis, Ind.
(Sept. 1-6)
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Greg Anderson Summit Racing Equipment Grand Am |
Reports: Monday Sunday Pre-race |
Indianapolis, Monday: A determined Greg Anderson used drag racing's most celebrated stage to engrave his name into the NHRA record book, driving the Summit Racing Pontiac Grand Am to his 13th win of the season at the 50th annual U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Anderson tied John Force for the most victories in a season by a professional driver, moved within an eyelash of clinching his second straight POWERade championship and delivered Pontiac its 141st all-time win in NHRA Pro Stock competition.
"I just have to thank all of my team," said Anderson. "I can't say enough about everyone on this Summit Racing Pontiac program. What an organization - just a fantastic group of guys, from the top on down. Ken Black, the best team owner in the business. And I've got a great crew. Ken allows me to hire these guys, and they're the ones making it happen out here. I'm just living a dream right now, absolutely living a dream."
Anderson started today's eliminator from the No. 1 position, the 13th time this season the Summit Racing Pontiac driver has earned low qualifying honors. His qualifying run of 6.794 seconds was low elapsed time of the weekend, the 15th time this season Anderson's Pontiac has turned in the quickest round of the event. The Concord, N.C., resident defeated Steve Schmidt in round one, Bruce Allen in round two and Jeg Coughlin in round three before meeting up with Kenny Koretsky in the finals.
As in his 12 previous victories of 2004, Anderson's Pontiac was consistently fast, and today it turned the quickest times in three of the four eliminator rounds running 6.840/202.06 in the first session, 6.83/201.91 in the quarterfinals, and 6.838/202.15 in the semifinals.
In the championship heat, Koretsky's Dodge launched first off the line with a .037 reaction time, but by the 330-foot marker Anderson's Grand Am had inched by Koretsky and pulled ahead all the way to the finish line, crossing the stripe in 6.839 seconds at 202.09 mph. Koretsky's shot at his first Pro Stock win fell short by .0175 of a second, or approximately five feet.
For Anderson, it was his third victory in four final-round appearances at the U.S. Nationals, and he is now third on the Pro Stock list for most wins at the "Big Go" behind Bob Glidden (9) and Warren Johnson (6). It was also the defending POWERade champion's ninth time this year he has won from the pole position. Anderson has also driven his Pontiac Grand Am to 62 round wins this season and is just two rounds shy of a career mark of 200 round wins.
"I'm so proud," said Anderson. "It's such a great feeling to win here. This place is just so special. It's just so much bigger than anywhere else we race. Everybody races better, and everybody throws their best shot at you. Everything about it is like going from 'B' league to 'A' league when you come here. It's hard to explain, but everybody runs better at Indianapolis. I'm whipped right now. It's like a marathon. It's longer than any other race. You've just got to dig down and find enough energy to get through Monday. You're just drained by the time you get up on Monday morning. To survive at the end of the day is a very special feeling. I didn't really have an advantage, but somehow between car and driver we edged them out at the finish line."
With a net gain at the next race of 56 points over second-place Jason Line, Anderson will mathematically clinch his second straight NHRA POWERade championship.
"It's never been easy, but they're harder now than they've ever been, and they're going to continue to get harder," said Anderson. "There are a million ways to lose, and somehow today we avoided all of them. There were times actually, and it's been awhile since we've been considered an underdog, but there were plenty of times today where I had to say, 'You know, we're kind of the underdog,' especially up against Jeg Coughlin the way he ran in qualifying, the way he ran in first round, and the way he drives. I considered myself an underdog then. Maybe I shouldn't, but I did. I was so happy when I beat him, it was like winning the race. You don't think every one of these guys wouldn't have wanted to win the U.S. Nationals? I know, because I've been there, how special of a feeling it is. You absolutely learn that it's the best in the world, and this is why we race, right here. This is what it's all about, and this is the best you will ever feel at the end of the day like this when you win the U.S. Nationals."
Indianapolis, Sunday: Pontiac Grand Am driver qualified No. 1 in Pro Stock for the 13th time this season after the 16-car field was set today for tomorrow's eliminations at the 50th annual U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Anderson powered his Summit Racing Pontiac to an elapsed time of 6.794 seconds at 201.88 mph to edge Larry Morgan by .002 seconds. The 2003 POWERade Pro Stock champ and defending U.S. Nationals winner is hoping his 13th low qualifying effort leads to his 13th win of the season, tying him with Funny Car champ John Force for most professional NHRA wins in a season.
Now I need lucky No. 13 win tomorrow," said Anderson. "It's obviously going to be a heck of a challenge. We didn't exactly crush 'em today -- we were a little behind the eight ball. We ran great last night, but didn't exactly conquer the place today. That means we're going to have to work hard overnight to get it right for tomorrow. I don't think we're that far off. I think we learned a lot today top help us tomorrow. We're going to be in good shape, but it's going to be a battle out there tomorrow. You've got so many good-running cars. That's the way it should be at Indy.
"No. 13 - we're definitely going to have to earn it. There's nothing at this time more important to me than getting that 13th win at the U.S. Nationals, and it's the 50th annual. Everything you do here, anything you do that you succeed at, or you do good at, feels special. It feels that much better. To qualify No. 1, we've had a bunch of them this year, but this one feels extra special, just like it will be if we win tomorrow. It's just unbelievable the aura around this place and what it means to compete here. I can't wait for tomorrow. I'm kind of tired, so I'm going home and going to bed early, but I can't wait for tomorrow. I think we have a great shot at that record-tying win, and I tell ya, we're going to give it all we got
Indianapolis, pre-race: If anyone fully understands the true significance of winning the 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park, it's Greg Anderson.
The Summit Equipment-backed Pontiac Grand Am driver raced in his first career final round at Indy in 1999 when he was runner-up to then perennial favorite Warren Johnson. Anderson then went on to win the U.S. Nationals in 2001 and captured his second IRP victory during last year's championship season, setting the track speed record in the process at 205.01 mph. A win at this year's race would be his 13th of 2004 and would tie John Force for most victories in a season by a professional driver.
"We had a shot at win No.13 in Memphis. I felt like I had a good light in the semifinal but that Connolly kid was just a little better", said Anderson. The KB Framers team made a great call in the final installing Anderson's back-up motor in Jason's car as Line went on to defeat Dave Connolly in the final, winning his third race of the season. "I couldn't be more proud of Jason and our team," said Anderson.
Anderson and Line recently spent time testing in Indy following the team's Memphis win. Although Anderson and teammate Line's Pontiac Grand Ams recorded the quickest runs during the two days of testing, the team was not completely satisfied with the results.
"Testing here did enable us to get a handle on the weather and the track conditions," said Anderson. "The weather conditions were all over the map, which is what you would expect in Indiana this time of year. The track threw us a curve and had us guessing if that is what it will be when we come back. We're betting what we learned at the test will help us come race weekend.
"I said last year that winning the championship is the main goal, but if you don't have the U.S. Nationals in your win column, the title feels a little empty.
"Indy's just so doggone special that it's almost as important for us to win this race as it is to win the championship. Every thing about this race feels tougher, harder, and more important, it's a marathon unlike any other place we compete. After three days of trying to qualify you come in here on Monday morning feeling absolutely wiped out. But you have to dig down deep to find enough to get up for the eliminations. It's the closest thing we have to an endurance race, and if you can win the U.S. Nationals it's a heck of an accomplishment."
Anderson teammate Line will be doing double-duty this weekend. In addition to his Pro Stock driving duties Line will be behind the wheel of fellow Minnesotan Randy Hopkin's rare SS/AA Hemi Dart. Line will compete in the Mopar Performance Parts Super Stock Hemi Challenge on Friday and Super Stock class eliminations during the weekend.
"I'm definitely looking forward to this weekend, it's going to be a lot of fun and real interesting to say the least," said Line. "Hopefully, I won't embarrass myself."
Line's Pro Stock Pontiac Grand Am will also be sporting a new 50th anniversary Mac Tools paint scheme. Line and Pro category drivers Cory McClenathan in Top Fuel, Funny Car driver Del Worsham, and Pro Stock Bike racer Shawn Gann will showcase special commemorative paint schemes that will run one time only at this weekend's 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.
With six NHRA POWERADE National Events remaining, Summit Racing's Greg Anderson sits in the top spot with a commanding 552-point lead over leading Rookie of the Year contender and second place teammate Line. Following his recent Memphis win Line now holds a 116-point margin over the hard charging Bullet team and driver Dave Connolly.
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