NHRA News: Caution: New champ Anderson is still racing (2/25/2004)

Caution: New champ Anderson is still racing

By Rob Geiger, NHRA.com
2/25/2004

"I don't think anyone can say we didn't work for it."
– Greg Anderson

On his trip home from the rain-delayed K&N Filters Winternationals, Pro Stock racer Ron Krisher efficiently summed up what most of his peers we're thinking in one sentence. "Greg Anderson didn't sleep this off-season," he said deadpan, ruing the numbers the reigning champ posted in the lone session contested in Pomona.

"He's not far off," Anderson said, when told of Krisher's quip. "But it wasn't just me. There were plenty of nights I wanted to leave and the guys kept on working. It takes a team to win at this level and I think I have the best one out there. They all want to defend our title just as much as I do."

With the dynomometer grinding out simulated passes in the background, Anderson took a moment to speak with NHRA.com about his quick start, what it feels like to be No. 1, his relationship with his former employer Warren Johnson, and the pros and cons of adding a second car to team owner Ken Black's operation that will be driven by the man he credits with much of his success in 2003, tuner and teammate Jason Line.

Q: How does it feel to carry the No. 1 at the track?
Anderson: I love it. I think it fits me well. Some people probably think I don't deserve it but it feels quite natural to me. I honestly think I worked my way up to it. I won a couple races when I had no help or sponsorship, just a part-time deal. We won Indy that way. The next year we had some success and finished third with a shot at winning it all. The year that we won it all. I don't think anyone can say we didn't work for it.

Anderson feels this year's team is stronger than
the one that captured the 2003 Pro Stock title.
Racers Edge Photography

We're here for a reason and I think we're here to stay. Can we win it every year? Probably not, because there's so many variables. But we can contend every year. We have the team and the resources and the people in place just like the guys that have won it multiple times in the past. I think I can win it quite a few times.

I'm telling anyone who will listen we're a better team than we were last year. We were pretty doggone decent last year but I honestly think we've gotten better. We progressed more over the winter. We've added three guys to our team. We have a second truck and trailer. I started 2003 with one engine. Now I have five and they're all within three or four horsepower of each other. I was building a shop last year. This year we were full-on R&D in the off-season. We're in much better shape.

I feel good as the champion, and I feel just as good about our chances to repeat as champions.

Q: It's only one round, but are you surprised by your start?
Anderson: I hope I'm wrong on this but I almost think that round left us all with a bit of a false read. I think if we would have gotten a few more laps in you would have seen three or four more cars at least within a hundredth of me. I still think I can run at the top. I don't know what the gap's going to be but I don't think it'll be as big as that first lap.

Maybe we are in better shape then I think we are but from what I saw in the off-season there are definitely some teams that worked hard in the winter and are ready to race.

The teams I really look at are the ones with the Grumpy Jenkins motors, the Stevie Johns group and Dave Connolly's team. In testing they were within a hundredth of me. The Johnsons have stepped up. Warren's been running strong all winter. Kurt just didn't get down the track in Round 1 the other day. I also think Jeg Coughlin and Bruce Allen will be right there. By the time we get done with qualifying this weekend the top half of the field should all be within two hundredths.

It was a good start and at least we know where we're at. We now know no one has gone around us as far as performance goes.

Q: What's up with you and Warren Johnson?
Anderson: Warren's got this conspiracy theory or this chip on his shoulder that everybody's out to get him and steal from him. That's the last thing on my mind. I would absolutely never do that to anyone. Why would I need to? Did I look like I had trouble getting down the track? I wouldn't want anything from Warren. I've got a better program than he does.

Warren's still talking. He told the ESPN guys the other day I couldn't get my car down the track with the new tires for like 30 runs in a row. Where do they come up with this stuff? I haven't aborted a run yet. It's all ridiculous.

Q: Isn't it risky to let your lead tuner, Jason Line, drive a car?
Anderson: I've heard that from every racer out there. Why would I do something like that when I was dominating with the way things were? Why would I mess with that?

According to Anderson, letting Jason Line drive the second team car was part of the deal from the onset.
Racers Edge Photography

First of all, we need to back up. The only way I was able to get Jason to work for me in the first place was to dangle the carrot of him driving a second car. It was never meant to turn into a fulltime deal like it is now and he was fine with just driving every once in awhile. But our team owner decided we might as well go all-out with it so we are.

He's an old sportsman racer who never thought he'd have a chance to drive a Pro Stock car. He won the Stock Eliminator world title. He knows how to win. If you've won one title, you're on your way to the next one.

He had an excellent job at Joe Gibbs Racing. He was the head dyno operator and the track tuner for Bobby Labonte when he won. He just got tired of the road deal so he stayed in the shop for the last few years. He was running a $2 million dyno and he was the only one over there that knew how to run it. He loved his job but he was a drag racer.

When we moved to town he started hanging out and before long he was helping me dyno my engines in the evening. We had ties from Minnesota. He knew my mother and father. When I saw what he was capable of doing I wanted to hire him and, like I said, I had to dangle that carrot.

After all of my years working with Warren and Kurt I knew that the two-car team was the way to go. Every race it takes three or four runs until you feel like you have a good handle on things. So, if things don't go exactly right, the first round on Sunday can be a bit of a crapshoot. There isn't just one set-up that works everywhere. It changes every week. It's easy to run out of passes in qualifying. Having two cars helps you find the happy tune-up quicker.

We ran the second car four times last year. I won them all. So how bad a distraction was he? And, on top of that, he qualified at them all.

He tunes my car and I service his car. That's how we did it last year and that's how it'll be this year. He'll take care of my car and engine. All the same guys are there to support us so there shouldn't be any drop off. All I see is the gains we'll make in information. Plus, I gave him my word and that's good enough for me. If people think I'm crazy for letting him drive, let 'em think it.

2004 News Archive
Return to the Home Page