{"id":3522,"date":"2016-06-08T12:50:19","date_gmt":"2016-06-08T17:50:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=3522"},"modified":"2016-06-09T13:01:07","modified_gmt":"2016-06-09T18:01:07","slug":"nhra-summer-nationals-feels-like-home-for-four-time-pro-stock-champ-greg-anderson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2016\/06\/08\/nhra-summer-nationals-feels-like-home-for-four-time-pro-stock-champ-greg-anderson\/","title":{"rendered":"NHRA Summer Nationals feels like home for four-time Pro Stock champ Greg Anderson"},"content":{"rendered":"

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. \u2014 Greg Anderson<\/strong> has a strong affinity for racing in the Northeast and the results back up that claim for the four-time Pro Stock world champion.<\/p>\n

\"109-GregAnderson-Atlanta-Saturday\"<\/p>\n

Anderson won in Epping for the second straight year on Monday and has a Pro Stock-best six victories at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, the site of this weekend\u2019s 47th annual NHRA Summernationals, including a win last season. It all adds up to what could be another promising event during an already superb start for Anderson during the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.<\/p>\n

Anderson has posted four wins and six final round appearances in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro, taking plenty of good vibes into a facility where he has always enjoyed success.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a great start to the year,\u201d said Anderson, who has advanced to four straight final rounds and is currently second in points. \u201cMy race team is on fire right now and it\u2019s just a dream to drive that race car. I love racing up here in the Northeast. It reminds me of Minnesota where I grew up. It feels like going back home. I love racing (in Epping), I love racing in Englishtown and these two weeks are probably a couple of my favorite race weekends of the year. I love racing up here and the fans love it. It\u2019s just a win-win deal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"149-Anderson-Monday-Epping-Celeb\"<\/p>\n

Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Jerry Savoie (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also winners last year at the iconic summertime event that for the first time will be televised on FOX Sports 1. It is the 10th of 24 events in 2016 and the second of four straight race weekends for NHRA teams during the month of June.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a banner season for Anderson and longtime teammate Jason Line, as the duo have combined to win all nine events in the all new Pro Stock class. The cars now feature electronic fuel injection, a 10,500 RPM rev-limiter, flattened hoods and shortened wheelie-bars, and Anderson and Line have continued to stay a step ahead of their standout Pro Stock counterparts this season.<\/p>\n

That was evident in Epping for Anderson and his Camaro was the best car on the grounds for most of the weekend. He posted low elapsed time in each round during eliminations, and now carries plenty of momentum into Englishtown.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got a great race team behind me and they keep making Jason and I look like heroes,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cMy confidence level is high and that goes a mile for me. I\u2019m a confidence type of guy, so when I\u2019ve got confidence it\u2019s a good feeling when you roll up there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anderson would like nothing more than to repeat the back-to-back wins he put together at Englishtown and Epping last year, with his sixth NHRA Summernationals win last season matching Joe Amato, Larry Dixon and Don Prudhomme for the most in NHRA history.<\/p>\n

Anderson, though, never imagined he would be in his current position in the off-season. Though it wasn\u2019t always pretty, Anderson and the entire KB Racing team worked hard to find the right combination for the new EFI cars, hitting on something that has clearly delivered impressive results.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt took a ton of work,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cIt was a huge mountain to climb with all the rule changes. It was ugly in November and December. We put in more hours this winter than any I can remember. We had to completely change the top of our engines. We had to redesign the front of the car to make room for the new air duct system. These cars aren\u2019t built in a day.\u201d<\/p>\n

The encouraging sign for Anderson is he still continues to make progress this season after the early success. That\u2019s a nod to the work his team continues to put in and the results have followed. He has posted two No. 1 qualifiers in this stretch of four straight finals, winning in Houston and Epping.<\/p>\n

But it hasn\u2019t led to any overconfidence, especially when Anderson considers a loaded talent pool in Pro Stock. It includes Allen Johnson, who reached his first final round of the year in Epping, as well as Line, rising star Bo Butner, back-to-back world champion Erica Enders, five-time world champion and four-time Englishtown winner Jeg Coughlin, 2015 Rookie of the Year Drew Skillman, veteran driver Shane Gray, hometown favorite Vincent Nobile and Chris McGaha.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve watched two or three teams make huge strides the last few weeks,\u201d said Anderson, who has 82 career Pro Stock victories, just three behind Bob Glidden for second-most in Pro Stock history. \u201cThere are still big gains to be made with these redesigned cars. We\u2019re working harder to keep the gap between us.\u201d<\/p>\n

New Jersey native Brown raced to his first win at Englishtown in Top Fuel last year en route to his second world championship and won the most recent event in Epping. He will be looking to defend his hometown event this year against a tough field, including points leader Doug Kalitta, who won three races in a row at Houston, Atlanta and Topeka. Other top standouts include Brittany Force, a two-time winner this season, and past NHRA Summernationals winners Richie Crampton, Shawn Langdon, Tony Schumacher and Steve Torrence.<\/p>\n

In Funny Car, Hagan outlasted Alexis DeJoria in the final round of last year\u2019s event and is currently riding high in 2016 after consecutive wins at Atlanta and Topeka. DeJoria also has a win this season but everyone is chasing points leader Courtney Force, who won in Houston. Other Funny Car drivers to keep an eye on include two-time winner this season Tim Wilkerson, four-time event winner and 16-time world champion John Force, three-time event winner Cruz Pedregon, Ron Capps, who has two wins this year including Monday in Epping, Tommy Johnson Jr. and reigning world champ Del Worsham.<\/p>\n

Pro Stock Motorcycle will make its fourth appearance of the 2016 season. Last year, Louisiana alligator farmer Savoie raced to his first victory of the season and finished a career-high third in points. Three-time world champion and 2012 Summernationals winner Eddie Krawiec, who was at one time employed by Raceway Park, currently has a grip on the Pro Stock Motorcycle points lead. His teammate, reigning world champ and two-time Englishtown winner, Andrew Hines has a win this year while others in the two-wheeled category hoping to race to the winner\u2019s circle include three-time event winner Angelle Sampey, Gatornationals runner-up Hector Arana, two-time champ Matt Smith, veteran rider Steve Johnson, Hector Arana Jr., Chip Ellis, LE Tonglet and Karen Stoffer.<\/p>\n

The NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series hits the track at Raceway Park for its fourth of 10 races in the 2016 season. The NHRA Summernationals also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.<\/p>\n

As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they\u2019re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand how the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.<\/p>\n

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 3:45 and 6:15 p.m. on Friday, June 10 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, June 11, at 1:45 and 4:15 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 12.<\/p>\n

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call Old Bridge Township Raceway Park at (732) 446-7800. Tickets also are available online atwww.racewaypark.com<\/a>. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult. For more information about the NHRA visitwww.NHRA.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/p>\n

NHRA SUMMERNATIONALS FACT SHEET<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

WHAT:<\/strong> 47th annual NHRA Summernationals, the 10th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – earn points leading to 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships. Competition in the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Series and the NHRA Lucas Oil Series also will be featured at this event.<\/p>\n

WHERE:<\/strong> Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, Englishtown, N.J. From the North, take N.J. Turnpike South to Exit 9, follow the signs to Rt. 18 South. Go six miles to the Englishtown exit. Take Rt. 527 South five miles. Make a left onto Pension Rd. Go \u00bc mile, track entrance on left. From the South, take N.J. Turnpike north to Exit 8 to Route 33 east. Go eight miles to the Englishtown exit. Take Rt. 527 north. Go through Englishtown. Make a right onto Gordons Corner Rd. Go \u00bc mile. Make a left onto Pension Rd. Got two miles. Track entrance is on the right.<\/p>\n

COURSE:<\/strong> Championship drag strip; Track elevation is 60 feet above sea level; Track direction is northeast to southwest<\/p>\n

WHEN:<\/strong> Thursday through Sunday, June 9-12, 2016<\/p>\n

SCHEDULE:<\/strong><\/p>\n

THURSDAY, June 9- LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying<\/p>\n

FRIDAY, June 10- LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying<\/p>\n

NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 3 and 5:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 3:45 and 6:15 p.m.<\/p>\n

SATURDAY, June 11- LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations<\/p>\n

NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 3:30 p.m.; Round 1 of eliminations at 6 p.m.<\/p>\n

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 1:45 and 4:15 p.m.<\/p>\n

SUNDAY, June 12 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.<\/p>\n

MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.<\/p>\n

TELEVISION:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Saturday, June 11, FS1 will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 1 a.m. (ET).<\/p>\n

Sunday, June 12, FS1 will televise three hours of finals coverage at 4:30 p.m. (ET).<\/p>\n

2015 EVENT WINNERS:<\/strong> Antron Brown, Top Fuel; Matt Hagan, Funny Car; Greg Anderson, Pro Stock, Jerry Savoie, Pro Stock Motorcycle.<\/p>\n

MOST VICTORIES<\/strong>: Kenny Bernstein, 7, (4 FC, 3 TF); Joe Amato, 6, TF; Greg Anderson,6, PS; Larry Dixon, 6, TF; Don Prudhomme, 6, FC; John Force, 4, FC; Jeg Coughlin, 4,PS; Bob Glidden, 4, PS; Warren Johnson, 4, PS; John Myers, 4, PSM; Dave Schultz, 4, PSM.<\/p>\n

TRACK RECORDS:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Top Fuel – 3.725 sec. by Antron Brown, June \u201915; 329.91 mph by Massey, June \u201912.<\/p>\n

Funny Car – 3.959 sec. by Cruz Pedregon, June \u201914; 321.04 mph by Del Worsham, June \u201914.<\/p>\n

Pro Stock – 6.464 sec. and 215.55 mph by Erica Enders, June \u201914.<\/p>\n

PS Motorcycle – 6.747 sec. by Eddie Krawiec, June \u201914; 199.37 mph by Hector Arana Jr., June \u201915.<\/p>\n

NATIONAL RECORDS:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Top Fuel – 3.676 sec. by Brittany Force, May \u201916, Topeka, Kan.; 332.75 mph by Spencer Massey, Aug. \u201915, Brainerd, Minn.<\/p>\n

Funny Car – 3.862 sec. and 335.57 mph by Matt Hagan, May \u201916, Topeka, Kan.<\/p>\n

Pro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.;\u00a0 215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May \u201814, Englishtown N.J.<\/p>\n

PS Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. \u201912, Reading, Pa.; 199.88 mph by Hector Arana Jr., March \u201915, Charlotte, N.C.<\/p>\n

TICKETS:<\/strong> For tickets call Old Bridge Township Raceway Park at (732) 446-7800. Tickets also are available online at www.racewaypark.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/p>\n

NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

GLENDORA, Calif. — Point standings (top 10) following the ninth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series –<\/p>\n

Top Fuel:<\/strong> 1.\u00a0 Doug Kalitta, 785; 2.\u00a0 Antron Brown, 739; 3.\u00a0 Steve Torrence, 658; 4.\u00a0 Brittany Force, 623; 5. Tony Schumacher, 483; 6.\u00a0 Clay Millican, 475; 7.\u00a0 J.R. Todd, 473; 8.\u00a0 Richie Crampton, 450; 9. Shawn Langdon, 399; 10.\u00a0 Leah Pritchett, 360.<\/p>\n

Funny Car:<\/strong> 1.\u00a0 Courtney Force, 654; 2.\u00a0 Jack Beckman, 639; 3.\u00a0 Ron Capps, 632; 4.\u00a0 Tim Wilkerson, 608; 5.\u00a0 Del Worsham, 558; 6.\u00a0 Matt Hagan, 556; 7.\u00a0 Robert Hight, 545; 8.\u00a0 John Force, 527; 9.\u00a0 Tommy Johnson Jr., 503; 10.\u00a0 Alexis DeJoria, 483.<\/p>\n

Pro Stock:<\/strong> 1.\u00a0 Jason Line, 1,026; 2.\u00a0 Greg Anderson, 937; 3.\u00a0 Bo Butner, 680; 4.\u00a0 Allen Johnson, 559; 5.\u00a0 Drew Skillman, 497; 6.\u00a0 Chris McGaha, 459; 7.\u00a0 Vincent Nobile, 405; 8.\u00a0 Alex Laughlin, 381; 9.\u00a0 Erica Enders, 373; 10.\u00a0 Jeg Coughlin, 372.<\/p>\n

Pro Stock Motorcycle:<\/strong> 1.\u00a0 Eddie Krawiec, 353; 2.\u00a0 Andrew Hines, 233; 3.\u00a0 Hector Arana, 207; 4.\u00a0 Jerry Savoie, 204; 5. Chip Ellis, 193; 6.\u00a0 Angelle Sampey, 179; 7.\u00a0 LE Tonglet, 143; 8.\u00a0 Matt Smith, 124; 9.\u00a0 Karen Stoffer, 118; 10.\u00a0 Scotty Pollacheck, 117.<\/p>\n

Story and photos courtesy of the NHRA<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. \u2014 Greg Anderson has a strong affinity for racing in the Northeast and the results back up that claim for the four-time Pro Stock world champion. Anderson won in Epping for the second straight year on Monday and has a Pro Stock-best six victories at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, the site of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3524,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4],"tags":[106,6,253],"class_list":["post-3522","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nhra","tag-greg-anderson","tag-nhra","tag-summernationals"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/109-GregAnderson-Atlanta-Saturday.jpg?fit=2200%2C1464","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-UO","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3522","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3522"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3522\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3526,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3522\/revisions\/3526"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3524"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3522"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3522"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3522"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}