Despite 88 career wins, with well over 400 races run and more than 700 round wins under his belt, Greg Anderson is still having fun.

Why is he still having fun?

Because of days like Saturday.

With near-perfect conditions, Anderson did the one thing he loves doing most - going fast - in taking his 91st career top qualifier award with the top spot Saturday at the sixth annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park.

Anderson topped three of the four sessions in the Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro, with his weekend-best 6.507-second pass at 212.33 mph earning him the green hat for the third time this season.

“It’s just a ball to drive in conditions like this. This is why we do it. We drive these cars to go fast. And in conditions like this, you stage the car with a grin on your face and you are grinning all the way down the racetrack,” Anderson said. “I said yesterday that I felt great about last night, but I just knew coming out today it was going to be a little bit cooler. These cars are so dependent on atmospheric conditions and when you get cooler temperatures, a huge barometer, a huge high pressure system, low humidity, all just combine to make these Pro Stock cars fly. That is what I love most about driving these cars.”

Anderson edged Pro Stock points leader Bo Butner by three-thousandths of a second as Butner crossed the stripe with a 6.510 at 212.03 mph. Jason Line completed the KB Racing sweep of the top three with a 6.512 at 213.30 mph. Drew Skillman (6.517) and Chris McGaha (6.523) round out the top five.

“There are so many cars in this class that can win right now that it all comes down to thousandths. I’m number one by three-thousandths of a second, but it is as good as a mile. That’s Pro Stock racing,” Anderson said. “And when you have conditions like what we saw today, that is the great equalizer. Everybody is able to make real, quality runs with their cars when you have a racetrack underneath of you like this. It tightens up the pack. You can’t miss one shift, you can’t stage too deep, you can’t make any mistakes if you want to be number one and get every spot you can.”

Now Anderson will shift his focus to Sunday where he will face Dave River in round one looking to make up some ground on Butner in his chase for yet another Pro Stock championship.

“Today we won the day. The race is tomorrow, but each day you come out here and it is no different when you go to test your race car, you are trying to run as fast as you can and at the end of the day, did we win the day? Were we the fastest? You are trying to win every day,” Anderson said. “It is no different than a golfer or a football player. You try to be the best on that day and you worry about tomorrow tomorrow. We have had two great days already and we are hoping for a third great day tomorrow.”