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JOLIET, Ill., June 5, 2007 -The NHRA POWERade series winds its way toward the Windy City for the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Route 66 Nationals at Route 66 Raceway on June 7 -10. Pontiac's Greg Anderson is coming off a strong showing at the recently completed O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka (Kan.) that saw the Summit Racing GTO driver pick up his fifth win of the year in a performance that included No. 1 qualifying honors and new track e.t. and speed records for the three-time POWERade champion. Anderson extended his lead in the Pro Stock standings to 222 points over second-place (and Topeka runner-up) Dave Connolly.
"That was a good day at the office," Anderson said on the winner's podium following the race win in Topeka. "I'm so proud of (crew chief) Rob Downing, my crew, and everybody who has worked on this race car and built these engines. We showed them this weekend what we do during the week. We worked hard the last three weeks and spent a lot of time on the test track. When you get a break you have to get at it or those guys and gals are going to get around you."
Anderson's 48th career victory (in 69 final rounds) was his fourth win at Heartland Park Topeka (2003-05, 2007). The Summit Racing Pontiac driver has also captured 44 victories since the beginning of his first championship season in 2003 (.440), 53 No. 1 qualifying awards (.530) and has a consecutive qualifying streak of 101 events heading into Chicago.
"As I've said before, it all comes back to the KB Racing crew and the team that (team owner) Ken Black has assembled," said Anderson. "We've got a great operation both in the shop in Mooresville (N.C.) and on the race circuit. We're all happy campers, let me tell you. My Summit Racing Pontiac was an absolute rocket ship in Topeka (Kan.). I'm living life and having a great time doing it."
Yet, for all of his on-track success, the one location where he is still yet to win a national event is Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., where in the past five years he's advanced to four final rounds, and in Oct. 2004, his Summit Racing Pontiac set the e.t. and speed record.
"We've certainly had the racecars to do well there over the years," said Anderson on his previous statistics from Route 66 Raceway. "And it especially shows with Jason (Line) winning there three times (2004-2005 and 2005/fall) and our national records at that facility. The unexpected time off during May has only helped us because it was like having a mini off-season. We were able to work on some things and get prepared for what will likely be a long, hot summer. But we're ready, and to get the win right out of the box at Topeka is a big plus for this Summit Racing Pontiac team and possibly indicative of what we can accomplish at Joliet."
GM RACING STATS AND FACTS
GM Pro Stock Racers Prepare for Double-Duty at Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Route 66 Nationals
Points Leader Greg Anderson Leads Field of Eight Into King Demon Crown Clash
JOLIET, Ill., June 5, 2007 -The NHRA POWERade series winds its way toward the Windy City for the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Route 66 Nationals at Route 66 Raceway on June 7 -10. Pontiac's Greg Anderson is coming off a strong showing at the recently completed O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka (Kan.) that saw the Summit Racing GTO driver pick up his fifth win of the year in a performance that included No. 1 qualifying honors and new track e.t. and speed records for the three-time POWERade champion. Anderson extended his lead in the Pro Stock standings to 222 points over second-place (and Topeka runner-up) Dave Connolly.
"That was a good day at the office," Anderson said on the winner's podium following the race win in Topeka. "I'm so proud of (crew chief) Rob Downing, my crew, and everybody who has worked on this race car and built these engines. We showed them this weekend what we do during the week. We worked hard the last three weeks and spent a lot of time on the test track. When you get a break you have to get at it or those guys and gals are going to get around you."
Anderson's 48th career victory (in 69 final rounds) was his fourth win at Heartland Park Topeka (2003-05, 2007). The Summit Racing Pontiac driver has also captured 44 victories since the beginning of his first championship season in 2003 (.440), 53 No. 1 qualifying awards (.530) and has a consecutive qualifying streak of 101 events heading into Chicago.
"As I've said before, it all comes back to the KB Racing crew and the team that (team owner) Ken Black has assembled," said Anderson. "We've got a great operation both in the shop in Mooresville (N.C.) and on the race circuit. We're all happy campers, let me tell you. My Summit Racing Pontiac was an absolute rocket ship in Topeka (Kan.). I'm living life and having a great time doing it."
Yet, for all of his on-track success, the one location where he is still yet to win a national event is Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., where in the past five years he's advanced to four final rounds, and in Oct. 2004, his Summit Racing Pontiac set the e.t. and speed record.
"We've certainly had the racecars to do well there over the years," said Anderson on his previous statistics from Route 66 Raceway. "And it especially shows with Jason (Line) winning there three times (2004-2005 and 2005/fall) and our national records at that facility. The unexpected time off during May has only helped us because it was like having a mini off-season. We were able to work on some things and get prepared for what will likely be a long, hot summer. But we're ready, and to get the win right out of the box at Topeka is a big plus for this Summit Racing Pontiac team and possibly indicative of what we can accomplish at Joliet."
GM RACING STATS AND FACTS
- Greg Anderson's win at Heartland Park Topeka was Pontiac's 177th all time in the NHRA Pro Stock category.
- More than just bragging rights are up for grabs when the top eight Pro Stock drivers face off in the 23rd annual King Demon Crown, a lucrative race-within-a-race bonus event scheduled during the 10th annual Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Route 66 Nationals at Joliet, Ill. The winner of the King Demon Crown earns $50,000, and the runner-up takes home $10,000. Pontiac's Greg Anderson is the defending event champion and won his second King Demon Crown in 2006 when he defeated teammate Jason Line in the finals.
- Six racers in GM-branded cars qualified for the eight spots in this year's King Demon Crown. Pontiac's Greg Anderson was the No. 1 qualifier with 3,600 points, Jason Line (Pontiac) was the No. 2 qualifier with 3,390 points, Dave Connolly (Chevrolet) is qualified No. 4 with 2,885 points, Kurt Johnson (Chevrolet) is qualified No. 5 with 2,785 points, Mike Edwards (Pontiac) is qualified No. 6 with 2,725 points and Greg Stanfield (Pontiac) is qualified No. 7 with 2,410 points.
- In addition to Anderson, current GM racers competing in this year's King Demon Crown who have previously won the event include Kurt Johnson (1994, 1998, 2003), and Dave Connolly (2005). Although not competing in this year's contest, Warren Johnson has won the King Demon crown three times (1993, 1995, 2002), Jim Yates has won the event twice (1997, 2001) and Jeg Coughlin Jr. has won twice (1999-2000).
- GM Performance Parts Pontiac driver Warren Johnson has qualified for the most King Demon Crowns (21), and among active drivers, Warren Johnson is first on the list, followed by Kurt Johnson (14) and Jim Yates (11).
- ACDelco Chevy Cobalt driver Kurt Johnson is the defending Pro Stock champion at the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Route 66 Nationals. Johnson defeated Greg Anderson in the final round of last year's contest, and he also won the event in 2003. Other former winners currently in GM-branded cars include Jason Line (Pontiac) in 2004-05, Mike Edwards (Pontiac) in 2001, Ron Krisher (Chevrolet) in 2000 and Warren Johnson (Pontiac) in 1999. Jason Line won the fall contest in 2005, Dave Connolly (Chevrolet) won the fall contest in 2004, Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Chevrolet) won the fall contest in 2002-03 and Warren Johnson (Pontiac) won the fall contest in 2001.
- Jason Line holds the track speed record at 208.17 mph which was set at the fall event in Sept. 2005.
- There are still nine events to be contested before the final cut for the Countdown to the Championship, and six drivers in GM-branded cars currently occupy a spot in the elite eight of the points standings. Greg Anderson (Pontiac) is in first place with 798 points and leads second-place Dave Connolly (Chevrolet) who has 576 points. Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Chevrolet) is in third place with 541 points, Jason Line (Pontiac) is fourth with 501 points, Kurt Johnson (Chevrolet) is fifth with 398 points and Warren Johnson (Pontiac) is seventh with 382 points.
- Team Chevy's Tom Hammonds was runner-up to Bruce Allen at the 2002 Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Route 66 Nationals. He has been running strong since he started the season at the ACDelco Gatornationals at Gainesville (Fla.), the third race of the year, and despite the late start, he is only 188 points out of the elite-eight.
- Del Worsham is a two-time winner in Funny Car at the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Route 66 Nationals. The Checker Schuck's Kragen Chevy Impala driver won this event in back-to-back seasons in 2001-02 and the fall event in 2004.
