After Reaching the Money Round in Las Vegas, Greg Anderson Has Big Plans for the NHRA Season-Closer
The HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro driven by five-time world champion Greg Anderson was absolutely primed to go all the way in Las Vegas, but this time around, the most winning driver in the history of NHRA Pro Stock came up one win light short. That translates to big goals for the season-closing In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals in Pomona in two weeks, where qualifying and elimination rounds will count for points-and-a-half.
Heading into the season-closer third in the standings, Anderson is just 56 marks out of the lead – less than two rounds. Aaron Stanfield leads the points by 32 over KB Titan Racing’s Dallas Glenn, who held the top spot through much of the season. Defending series titlist Erica Enders is fourth, 128 points back.
With points holding more value in Pomona, low elapsed time in each session of qualifying will be awarded four points; second-quickest will get three; third-quickest will receive two; and fourth-quickest gets one. The No. 1 qualifier will receive 10 points, second place will get nine, third will receive eight, etcetera, with No. 13 through 16 getting three points each.
Elimination rounds will be bulked up with points, as well: a first-round exit will net 30; second-round 60; third round 90; and runner-up 120. The winner of the event will score a massive 150 marks as opposed to the typical 100.
“There’s a lot on the line in Pomona. A lot up for grabs,” said Anderson. “Rounds can make or break you, so what happens there means everything.”
In Las Vegas, Anderson and his KB Titan Racing team had to wait until Monday to compete in the 181st final round of his long and prosperous career, when he came just .006-second away from a 106th event title.
The weekend started on a high-note for the seasoned veteran, who raked in a stack of bonus points as one of the top cars in two of four qualifying sessions before nailing down the 131st No. 1 of his career and seventh of the season.
With a hot rod packed with horsepower fresh out of the KB Titan Racing stable, Anderson was ready for whatever came his way at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In the first round, he handily ousted Chris McGaha with low elapsed time of the round, a 6.610-second pass at 205.04 mph, to a 6.671, 205.88, and in round two, he was again quickest with a 6.605, 204.91 to stop 2022 Rookie of the Year Camrie Caruso.
In the battle for the series title, both Glenn and Enders exited early, while Anderson and Stanfield advanced. An extensive oil down delayed the next two rounds until Monday, and with the Cuadra twins on the other side of the ladder, both championship contenders left in the Las Vegas fight knew they would have to rise to the occasion on a crisp Monday morning in order to stop the first Cuadra brothers final – and they did just that. Stanfield got the nod over David Cuadra thought shaking the tires, while Anderson defeated Cristian Cuadra with an experienced .021-second reaction time to an .080 and another blazing number to lock into the final. His 6.599, 207.37 defeated a 6.648, 205.66.
The final crested midday, with bright sun, cool air temps, and a stifling headwind. Anderson once again played low elapsed time of the round – and of eliminations – as he flew down the quarter-mile dragstrip to a 6.591, 206.39. At the finish line, however, it was Stanfield with the win. His 6.606 got the nod over Anderson’s strong stance by just .005-second.
“It was a disappointing outcome,” said Anderson. “We had high hopes for Las Vegas and getting Dallas and I to Pomona as the top two in the points – and I had a great car. We went there with a very specific set of goals, and we did not accomplish them. But as I’ve said all along, it’s going to come down to Pomona, and I guess you have to say that there’s something special about that. The NHRA Finals is where the champion will be crowned, and we’re still in the hunt. It’s not over yet.”
The 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will conclude at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif., Nov. 14-17.
This story was originally published on November 6, 2024.
The post After Reaching the Money Round in Las Vegas, Greg Anderson Has Big Plans for the NHRA Season-Closer first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
