NHRA News: Anderson teams with Summit Racing Equipment (6/16/2004)

Anderson teams with Summit Racing Equipment

By Rob Geiger, NHRA.com
6/16/2004

"This can only make us better."
– Greg Anderson

Summit Racing Equipment, the world's largest direct marketer of automotive performance products, has signed reigning POWERade Pro Stock champion and current points leader Greg Anderson to a multi-year title sponsorship deal that will begin in Denver at the 25th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals.

Anderson has been running under the Vegas General Construction banner of team owner Ken Black, who will remain in control of the operation. Additionally, Anderson's teammate, Jason Line, will gain major associate backing from Summit for his KB Framers Pontiac Grand Am. Already a big part of the NHRA family, Summit holds the title rights to the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Sports Compact Series.

"It's been a lifelong dream of mine to have a corporate sponsor supporting our efforts in the POWERade Drag Racing Series," Anderson said. "The fact it came together with Summit Racing Equipment and all the fine folks in that company made it even more special.

Anderson has 24 national event wins, including
eight this year, in his brief 114-race career.
Racers Edge Photography

"They're a family-run organization, just like our race team, and they're obviously big into drag racing, just like us, so it's a perfect match. We've been proud to be a part of their team through our associate deal with them and this step up is obviously the thrill of a lifetime for all of us.

"This all came together in the last three weeks. We're honored they choose us. I know our on-track success helped but I'd like to think the personal relationships we have with everyone up there helped seal the deal."

Summit's race team currently consists of Mark "Cowboy" Pawuk, who has been associated with Summit for 12 years, as well as associate-level team members Warren Johnson, Kurt Johnson, Larry Morgan, and Funny Car Driver Tim Wilkerson, which all joined the Summit team earlier this year.

"The idea of joining forces came out of our ongoing associate sponsorships of Greg and Jason," said Kirk Heinbuch, Motorsports Coordinator for Summit Racing Equipment. "Greg and Jason are a winning team and they represent the high personal values we look for in Summit Racing Equipment drivers."

"Our goal is to strengthen our overall presence in the racing community, to reflect our leadership position in the performance marketplace, and to support the sport we love," said Jeff Winters, Marketing Team Manager for Summit Racing Equipment.

Beginning July 16, Anderson's Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac Grand Am will look very similar to Pawuk's current hot rod, while Line's car will retain the KB Racing color schemes with Summit signage on the quarterpanels.

"They'll be a pair of hot-looking racecars and hopefully we can put them in the winner's circle a bunch of times," Anderson said. "For three years we've done pretty well racing out of Ken's pocket. Regardless of the rumors, we have a pretty strict budget we follow over here. With this help from Summit we'll be able to step up to the level of the top teams in the class. This can only make us better."

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