After Mission Challenge win, Greg Anderson takes HendrickCars.com Chevrolet to the Virginia semifinals
On the heels of winning his first Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge title, Greg Anderson wheeled the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro to the semifinals on raceday at the PlayNHRA Virginia Nationals. Anderson retained his position as No. 2 in the Pro Stock points with KB Titan Racing teammate Dallas Glenn in the lead.
“It was a challenging weekend in many ways, but this is such a special racetrack, and being able to finally win the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge yesterday was great,” said Anderson, who will bank the three points earned and play them when the Countdown to the Championship begins at Maple Grove Raceway in September. “I sure wish we could have closed the deal today with the event win, but it was not meant to be. I’m certainly looking forward to next week at Summit Motorsports Park and getting another shot.”
Anderson, qualified in the No. 8 position, drew longtime rival Jeg Coughlin Jr. as a first-round opponent. In a rematch of the Bristol final round two weeks ago, the veteran drivers pulled to the starting line to meet for the 109th time. Coughlin won the race in Bristol, but entering the round here in Virginia, Anderson held a 60-48 advantage over his opponent and extended it by one with a better reaction time – .025 to .029 – and better run, 6.635 to 6.692.
The second round brought Anderson, the most winning driver in the history of Pro Stock with 105 Pro Stock wins, to the starting line for a match with the reigning Pro Stock champion, Erica Enders. There, Enders was first to launch, but Anderson came charging with his HendrickCars.com Chevy, ultimately slamming the door on his challenger with a 6.623, 207.05 to top a 6.653, 208.07.
The semifinals brought Anderson up against third-generation competitor Aaron Stanfield, a driver he had met 15 times before in eliminations. Although identical 6.627’s appeared on the scoreboards downtrack, it was Stanfield’s win light flashing based on a quicker reaction time.
As the season hits the halfway mark next week at Norwalk’s Summit Motorsports Park and the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Anderson is pleased with his current position in the Pro Stock points but focusing on the race-by-race results rather than the season-long goal.
“We’re in a good position at the moment, but really, that isn’t what we’re focused on,” said Anderson. “Right now, we’re thinking about what we can do in the shop and on the racetrack to turn on four win lights on Sunday, every race weekend. That’s what we’re working toward right now, and that’s what we’re thinking about going into Summit Racing territory next week.”
The next event on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series tour will be the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, June 27-29, 2024.
This story was originally published on June 24, 2024.
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