Greg Anderson walked into the Pomona media center at the In-N-Out NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif., with one talking point in mind. The winningest Pro Stock driver in NHRA Pro Stock was focused on one aspect: “All I need is a chance.”
Anderson stopped the timers with a 6.505-second, 211.20-mile-per-hour run to secure his eighth No. 1 qualifying effort of 2024.
Trailing point leader Aaron Stanfield by just 48 points, Anderson looked past his missed opportunities and the race wins that got away. All that mattered in his mind was what he needed to do to get his sixth Pro Stock series championship.
“I can’t worry about [what I didn’t do] right now,” Anderson said. “Certainly, during the week, I ask myself 100 times, ‘Where could I be right now if I would’ve closed the deal on some of these races?’ Because, honestly, for the last dozen races, I think I’ve had the strongest horse out there, and we just haven’t been able to close the deal. It’s been a different reason every time, and I can’t explain it. It just has not been in the cards. But I hope that period’s expired and tomorrow the good Lord shines on me and everything goes smooth and I find my way to the finish line error free.
“That’s all I can hope for. Can’t cry over spilled milk.. It is what it is, but I’ve still got a chance and that’s all you can ask for when you come to Pomona, is to have a realistic chance and I’ve got a realistic chance. So I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.”
The Pro Stock division had its two sessions rained out Friday in Pomona, but Saturday, Anderson made hay while the sun was out. He also ran a 6.505 in his first hit at the track.
“We had a great qualifying effort,” Anderson said. “We did everything team-wise that we needed to do in qualifying. I got all the points I could get. Dallas got just enough to get around Aaron Stanfield. So, who knows, that could be used tomorrow. It looks like we can control our own destiny. That’s all you can ask for.
“That’s a prayer answered and that’s the way you want it. You don’t want to have to sit back and hope and pray and depend on somebody else to do your dirty work. You want to do it yourself. That’s the way the ladder’s set up. It’s going to be a hell of a Sunday. I don’t know that I remember three cars in Pro Stock being within two rounds at the World Finals before since we’ve had the Countdown.
“It’s going to be one heck of a Sunday,” Anderson said. “I don’t have a clue how it’s going to turn out. I know I’m going to give it every single thing I’ve got and hope I find the fountain of youth tomorrow and can find a way to get to victory lane. And as you say, if I can find a way to get all the way to the finish line and win the race, I’ll be the world champion and, if I could pull that off, it would probably be the most important one I’ve had.
“Obviously, at this advanced stage I’m at and with all these young guns out there that are so deadly, it would mean the world to me. So, going to give it all I got. I don’t know if I’ve got enough or not. We’ll find out tomorrow what side of the bed I wake up on, but hopefully it’s the right side and we have a magical day.”
