INSPIRED ANDERSON ON BRINK OF PRO STOCK HISTORY FROM NO. 1 STARTING SPOT

Written by Susan Wade, photo by Roger Richards    Sun, 2021-05-16 09:00

 

Inspired in a sentimental way like never before in his storied career, Greg Anderson set the bar Friday in Pro Stock qualifying for the NHRA NGK NTK Four-Wide Nationals at his home track, zMAX Dragway at Concord, N.C.

And his 6.524-second elapsed time in the quarter-mile remained quickest throughout two more sessions Saturday to give him his fifth consecutive No. 1 qualifying position. It’s also the 110th No. 1 start of his career, ranking him third in the NHRA in the category behind Funny Car’s John Force (160) and Warren Johnson (138).

It’s the second time Anderson has had five No. 1 starts in a row. He did so in 2007, a year in which he actually had a string of six (Atlanta, St. Louis, Topeka, Chicago, Englishtown, and Norwalk) and 11 totally.

If Anderson wins Sunday, he’ll tie Johnson for the most victories in Pro Stock history (97). That would lift him into a tie for second-most ever among all NHRA pros. Force is the runaway leader at 151.

What would make it all the sweeter would be the chance to share his joy with his new – and continuing – sponsor, NASCAR titan Rick Hendrick.

“I can’t thank him enough,” Anderson said, “but the only way I think I can thank him properly is to make sure I find Victory Circle with him, especially this weekend in front of him and his all his friends and family . . . local track . . . obviously Charlotte’s the world to him. Can’t think of a better place to win. This is the place to ‘git ’er done.’

“If he could find his way to Victory Circle, I don’t know that he’s ever done that in drag racing. I think that’d be pretty damn cool. And I’ll bet you that’d be a pretty neat feeling for him. I know it’d be a great feeling for me, but I’ll bet it’d be neat for him, even with all the neat things he’s won in his life. It’d be pretty cool,” Anderson said.

What would make that an almost indescribable moment for Hendrick is the fact Anderson’s Chevy Camaro carries the livery that once decked out his late son Ricky Hendrick’s stock car. Ricky Hendrick, a driver and co-owner of Hendrick Motorsports, perished in October 2004 in an airplane crash, along with seven other family members and friends, as they traveled to Martinsville, Va., for a NASCAR race.

“It’s a paint scheme he loves,” Anderson said of Rick Hendrick’s approval of the Pro Stock car’s HendrickCars.com theme. “He’s excited about it. It’s a paint scheme his late son Ricky had before we lost him, so it means a lot to him. He came out here the other day [to Anderson’s shop in nearby Mooresville, N.C.] and he basically fell in love with it. It’s just a very special paint scheme to him. That’s why he was able to offer to join on for the rest of the year – because he just loved the look of the car.”

Anderson has been selling sponsorship on a race-by-race basis this year in the wake of Summit Racing Equipment’s drastically reduced investment in his Ken Black-owned operation. So Anderson said he’s beyond thankful for Hendrick’s support – and for his No. 1 performance that’s getting to be a habit this year.

“Really, honestly, that should make any man smile – and it certainly does me, no doubt about that,” Anderson said after Saturday’s performance. “I really, really, really am excited. I want to make the man happy. He’s doing me a big favor here.”

Anderson has won two of the season’s three completed races, at Gainesville and Atlanta, and has set low elapsed time of the meet at all three. But the four-time champion – and No. 3 starter Erica Enders, as well – hears the stampede of the class’ young guns and knows Sunday’s eliminations won’t be easy.

Pro Stock’s newer competitors flexed their muscles all weekend. Aaron Stanfield, Kyle Koretsky, and Mason McGaha are top-six qualifiers in this crowded field. (McGaha’s dad, Chris, slipped into the No. 5 slot in the final qualifying session Saturday.) And Deric Kramer, Matt Hartford, Dallas Glenn, and Troy Coughlin Jr. follow.

However, Anderson has a powerful weapon: his Hendrick Cars.com Camaro.

“This is absolutely the best race car I’ve had in a lot of, lot of years,” he said. “My hat’s off to Rob Downing and Dave Connolly. They’re the maestros with it. They’ve figured it out. They’ve found a happy spot for it. It’s a happy car. All I can do is screw it up. Thank God I haven’t done that lately.

“As long as I can keep the oars in the water and keep ’er straight,” Anderson said, “I think we’re going to have a chance at a lot of race wins this year. Just to have the opportunity to come to a race and have a fast car on race day – a legitimate opportunity to win – it’s all a driver can ask. And I’ve got that – had it at all races this year, got it again this weekend. So it’s up to me. That’s just all you can ask from a driver’s standpoint. I’ve got it.

“Bring on the pressure. I love pressure. I love that part of it,” he said. “I can’t wait to get here tomorrow for first round.”

Anderson said if NHRA officials told him the opening round of eliminations were in 45 minutes, “I’d be up there [to the starting line] in 30. Pretty simple. I’m ready to race. I’m ready to race every day right now. When you’ve got a good hot rod like this, it’s a dream to drive. It makes it easy to drive. And it makes a driver look good. It’s as simple as that. It’s a winning combination. It’s a win waiting to happen. You’ve just got to go out and execute. We’re going to try to do that tomorrow.

“I’ve had a lot of very special wins in my career, and a couple of these last ones have been right near the top. If I could find a way to do it tomorrow, that might be the biggest carrot I ever took. I’m looking forward to it.”

Anderson will be lining up in the first round of eliminations Sunday against Cristian Cuadra, Deric Kramer, and Troy Coughlin Jr.

 

 
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