During the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, Greg Anderson has been putting on a clinic, especially in qualifying.

Anderson clocked a 6.513-secone elapsed time at 210.44 mph to take his seventh No. 1 qualifying spot in eight races this season at the Sonoma (Calif.) Nationals Saturday.

“We certainly watched the weather and know what's going to happen,” Anderson said. “And you haven't had bad weather for any of the three qualifying runs, but the one this morning (on Saturday) was a little bit better. And you hadn't had sun on the race track all day long. So, we knew that was going to be our best chance to snag it up whole. And we didn't make a great run (Friday night), but we still got the data. We got the info we needed. We made the changes we needed this morning and came out and hit her on the bullseye.”

This was Anderson’s 113th career No. 1 qualifying spot and he aims for career victory No. 97, which would tie him for first on the all-time Pro Stock win list with Warren Johnson.

“It felt good going all the way down the racetrack,” Anderson said. “Racetrack is smooth as can be and in great shape like it always is. The weather cooperated, and low and behold, there we go. We got a number one qualifier. So, job well done. The team did a great job. They've done a fantastic job all year long. I've had a great hot rod all year long. So, they just come to expect it from them. They certainly rise when they need to rise and make it happen. And it's a pleasure to drive right now. I'm having fun. I'm very proud to wear the colors, the Hendrick colors, on the side of the car, and try to record represent them as good as I can.”

Anderson knows mission No. 1 Sunday is making into the winner’s circle. Anderson has two wins this season in Gainesville, Fla., and Atlanta and two runner-up efforts in Epping, N.H., and Norwalk, Ohio.

“So far so good, but I need to win a race, man,” Anderson said. “I need to win a race. I've had a great car all year and it has been a few times in the last couple of races I've made the final round both times, got whooped in the final. I need to find a way to close the deal (Sunday). But try not to put a lot of extra pressure on myself, just enjoy what I'm doing and realizing how lucky I am to drive that hot rod. And it'll come. It'll absolutely come, I'm positive.”

With afternoon qualifying sessions Saturday, Anderson believes that will pay dividends Sunday.

“We're going to have similar weather conditions and track conditions really all three days so that eliminates any excuses,” Anderson said. “You don't have to make wholesale changes. I think everybody's pretty much figured out what they need to do right now. And what they got to do with their race cars, so everybody's going to be good (Sunday). Everybody's going to be fast.

"But it's also a great equalizer when you've got a great racetrack like this and great weather conditions, it bunches of pack up, so they're all able to run fast and I expect that it's going to happen tomorrow. Bottom line is, you can lose first round just as easy as the second round, third round, or fourth round in this class and you got to be on your toes and treat every round like the final round. So, that's what we're going to do. Anybody can beat anybody, so you're going to have to be perfect. Find a way to be perfect. Otherwise, you go home. So, I'll see how close to perfect I can be.”

For Anderson, the time he registered was part of the process when he got to the lower elevation in Sonoma.

“You know, we correct back our runs to sea level to what the weather is, and we kind of know if we make a perfect run, what the car should run,” Anderson said. “So that's pretty much what the weather station said. We should be able to run. If we get off the starting line with a good 60 foot, if you can run 960 or 970 at 60 foot, you'll have a chance to run in that corrected ET, which you can run. And we did this morning. We hit it on the nose.

“It's almost predictable, but you're still got to make the car do it. And we've been able to do a great job of making that car make that perfect run and a lot of times lately, so it's exciting and it's cool and this is one of my favorite places to race. I've had a lot of success here.”

Anderson said the power is there to put on the track in Sonoma.

“We're coming off of hot, humid racetracks running in the middle of the summer, where you just can't put all the power to the ground,” Anderson said. “You're more managing the racetrack, is what you're doing. And when you come out here, it's not a manage the racetrack, it's put everything you've got down to the racetrack, and who's got the most, who's running the most? So that's the more fun races for us drivers. We love to be able to do that and not leave anything in the trailer. So always fun to race here and beat your chest a little bit.”

Anderson is no stranger to Sonoma winning as he has won a Pro Stock record six times at the track.

“When you can put every bit of power that you've got down to the racetrack, you can't do that at some of the other tracks when it's 95 degrees out and humid as can be, the engines don't want to run, the cars don't want to hook, the tires on the hook,” Anderson said. “And you're more managing the racetrack, sort of like your fuel classes have to do pretty much every race.”

This season has not been like years past for Anderson as his longtime teammate and former world champion Jason Line retired last season and is now switched his role.

“It's a different situation this year,” Anderson said. “I don't have Jason Line at the racetrack with me, but I got him back at the shop working every day. He's spending more time working, doing R&D, and working on engines back to the shop, and that's certainly not hurting us, as far as what we're able to bring to the racetrack. So, I think it's a better package this year. 

"It's been a little tougher at the racetrack trying to tune these cars without him, but it's probably been a benefit because we've been able to bring a better package to the racetrack because of what he's doing back in the shop. So, it's a new chapter for us, but I think so far, it's working out pretty good.”