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Three-time and reigning Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson, who drives the KB Racing LLC-owned, Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GTO, was turned back by his teammate Jason Line, who drives an identical KB Racing / Summit Racing Pontiac GTO, in the semifinal round.
The quickest field in NHRA Pro Stock history took to the Virginia Motorsports Park quarter-mile for eliminations at the Inaugural NHRA Torco Racing Fuels Nationals. Anderson and his opponent in the opening round V. Gaines made drag racing history when they recorded the NHRA's first 6.5-second side-by-side Pro Stock pass - a 6.588-second pass and the win light for Anderson to 6.594 seconds for Gaines.
In the second round, Anderson recorded his first run over 209 mph. In a match up against Mike Edwards it turned out to be an easy win, if there is such a thing as an easy win, when Edwards shut down shortly after leaving the starting line. While Edwards coasted to the finish line, Anderson raced away running a pass of 6.594 seconds at 209.14 mph.
This set the stage for the semifinal battle between the top two in the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock point standings - Anderson (No.2) versus teammate Jason Line (No. 1). Line has lane choice and only one Summit Racing Pontiac GTO will advance to the final round.
Unfortunately for Anderson, it was all Line. The POWERade point leader was out first and never looked back. Line crossed the finish line in 6.588 seconds with Anderson following in 6.623 seconds.
"I can blame it on lane choice all I want," said Anderson, "but the bottom line is we both had the same lane in the second round and the first round and (Jason) flat outran me. He deserved to have lane choice because he earned it. He was head and shoulders above the pack. Now we just have to figure out why we had one car so much faster than the other. He had a rocket ship and he did a great job of driving, and he deserved this win. He deserved that trophy and my hat's off to him.
"You only get a magical weekend like this in who knows how long, and he made the most of it. It's a proud moment for him, I'm proud of him and the whole team's proud of him. We've got a great 1-2 punch, without a doubt."
The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series is now down to two races on the 2006 schedule. Anderson now trails Line by 119 points. Line leads the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock point standings, a position he has held since the Denver race, with 1591 points. Anderson is second with 1472 points and Dave Connolly, who lost to Line in the second round, continues to hold on to third with 1323 points, 268 points behind Line and 149 behind Anderson.
In those final two races there are 138 points available in each, including 20 bonus points for setting a national elapsed time record. That a total of 276 points.
Yogi Berra, one of the most quoted figures in the sports world, is credited with coining the deceptively simplistic observation, "It ain't over 'til it's over." Well, for Anderson: "It ain't over 'til it's over." He is in this point battle until the last round is run at Pomona.
ESPN2 / ESPN2 HD will air qualifying highlights from Friday and Saturday along with same-day television coverage of today's eliminations tonight from 7 until 9:30 p.m. for the Inaugural NHRA Torco Racing Fuels Nationals. Television time is Eastern Time (ET) and subject to change at anytime. Check local listings.
Anderson and his team now take a weekend off from racing before moving to Las Vegas the home of KB Racing LLC team owners Ken Black and his son Kenny Black. The next-to-last event on the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule, the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals, will unfold at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Oct. 26-29.
KB Racing LLC is owned by Las Vegas businessmen Ken Black and his son Kenny Black. KB Racing LLC fields two Summit Racing Equipment Pro Stock Pontiac GTOs, one driven by Greg Anderson and the other by Jason Line in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Anderson has won three consecutive POWERade Pro Stock Championships (2003-2005). Line finished third in the 2005 POWERade point standings and was honored with the 2004 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future award, presented to the most outstanding rookie in a professional category. This year KB Racing LLC also began fielding a Top Fuel Dragster, managed by Kalitta Motorsports, with rookie Top Fuel driver Hillary Will handling the driving duties.
Anderson Turned Back by Teammate in Semifinals
Three-time and reigning Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson, who drives the KB Racing LLC-owned, Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GTO, was turned back by his teammate Jason Line, who drives an identical KB Racing / Summit Racing Pontiac GTO, in the semifinal round.
The quickest field in NHRA Pro Stock history took to the Virginia Motorsports Park quarter-mile for eliminations at the Inaugural NHRA Torco Racing Fuels Nationals. Anderson and his opponent in the opening round V. Gaines made drag racing history when they recorded the NHRA's first 6.5-second side-by-side Pro Stock pass - a 6.588-second pass and the win light for Anderson to 6.594 seconds for Gaines.
In the second round, Anderson recorded his first run over 209 mph. In a match up against Mike Edwards it turned out to be an easy win, if there is such a thing as an easy win, when Edwards shut down shortly after leaving the starting line. While Edwards coasted to the finish line, Anderson raced away running a pass of 6.594 seconds at 209.14 mph.
This set the stage for the semifinal battle between the top two in the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock point standings - Anderson (No.2) versus teammate Jason Line (No. 1). Line has lane choice and only one Summit Racing Pontiac GTO will advance to the final round.
Unfortunately for Anderson, it was all Line. The POWERade point leader was out first and never looked back. Line crossed the finish line in 6.588 seconds with Anderson following in 6.623 seconds.
"I can blame it on lane choice all I want," said Anderson, "but the bottom line is we both had the same lane in the second round and the first round and (Jason) flat outran me. He deserved to have lane choice because he earned it. He was head and shoulders above the pack. Now we just have to figure out why we had one car so much faster than the other. He had a rocket ship and he did a great job of driving, and he deserved this win. He deserved that trophy and my hat's off to him.
"You only get a magical weekend like this in who knows how long, and he made the most of it. It's a proud moment for him, I'm proud of him and the whole team's proud of him. We've got a great 1-2 punch, without a doubt."
The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series is now down to two races on the 2006 schedule. Anderson now trails Line by 119 points. Line leads the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock point standings, a position he has held since the Denver race, with 1591 points. Anderson is second with 1472 points and Dave Connolly, who lost to Line in the second round, continues to hold on to third with 1323 points, 268 points behind Line and 149 behind Anderson.
In those final two races there are 138 points available in each, including 20 bonus points for setting a national elapsed time record. That a total of 276 points.
Yogi Berra, one of the most quoted figures in the sports world, is credited with coining the deceptively simplistic observation, "It ain't over 'til it's over." Well, for Anderson: "It ain't over 'til it's over." He is in this point battle until the last round is run at Pomona.
ESPN2 / ESPN2 HD will air qualifying highlights from Friday and Saturday along with same-day television coverage of today's eliminations tonight from 7 until 9:30 p.m. for the Inaugural NHRA Torco Racing Fuels Nationals. Television time is Eastern Time (ET) and subject to change at anytime. Check local listings.
Anderson and his team now take a weekend off from racing before moving to Las Vegas the home of KB Racing LLC team owners Ken Black and his son Kenny Black. The next-to-last event on the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule, the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals, will unfold at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Oct. 26-29.
KB Racing LLC is owned by Las Vegas businessmen Ken Black and his son Kenny Black. KB Racing LLC fields two Summit Racing Equipment Pro Stock Pontiac GTOs, one driven by Greg Anderson and the other by Jason Line in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Anderson has won three consecutive POWERade Pro Stock Championships (2003-2005). Line finished third in the 2005 POWERade point standings and was honored with the 2004 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future award, presented to the most outstanding rookie in a professional category. This year KB Racing LLC also began fielding a Top Fuel Dragster, managed by Kalitta Motorsports, with rookie Top Fuel driver Hillary Will handling the driving duties.
