November 17, 2019, 10:50 AM
DragRaceResultsGreg Anderson explains strategic approach at Pomona
The Summit Racing NHRA Pro Stock team is
well-versed in racing. KB Racing holds 160 Pro Stock wins and eight NHRA Mello Yello
Drag Racing Series championships heading into Sunday at the Auto Club NHRA Finals,
making them one of the most winning teams in the history of the sport, let alone the
class.
But the group isn't just intelligent and capable in terms of generating and applying
horsepower; they also know how to race. In qualifying at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
and with the championship on the line, the team put together an old-school bracket
racing strategy to ensure that Greg Anderson, driver of the red Summit Racing
Chevrolet Camaro, would have the opportunity to race points leader Erica Enders in
the first round of eliminations and take their fate into their own hands.
The scenario coming into Pomona was that if Enders were to qualify, Anderson would
be mathematically eliminated from championship contention. His teammates, Summit
Racing Chevrolet Camaro driver Jason Line and Bo Butner, driver of the Jim Butner
Auto Group Chevrolet powered by KB Racing, would remain in striking distance of the
big trophy if he could take out Enders in the first round on their behalf.
When it became evident in the first session of qualifying that Enders would, indeed,
make the field, Anderson and his team moved forward with a plan used commonly in
bracket racing. He lifted off of the throttle as he neared the finish line stripe
and hoped that his qualifying position would land directly across from Enders, who
was in the No. 2 spot.
"I'm out of it mathematically and have nothing to gain, so we figured we might as
well take a shot at trying to round it up early and get a shot at her," said
Anderson on the first day of qualifying, immediately unveiling their intentions.
"That's really the only chance we've got, so that's what we decided to do to try to
give the rest of the class at least a slight glimmer. We'll see how it works out."
Through each qualifying round, Anderson's concerted efforts to gauge when to lift to
keep him in the right position produced the desired results, much to the frustration
of the opposing – and very vocally offended – team across the way.
"I don't really see what's wrong with it," said four-time champion Anderson, in
response to the outrage of Enders and the Elite Motorsports group. "Do they expect
me to come to the race and just hand it over? It's not technically over yet. You
have to keep swinging 'til the bell rings. That's what I'm going to do. I'm going to
try. It's a long shot, a miracle, really.
"It's going to take, first, getting qualified right, and second, trying to beat her
in the first round. It's a long, long shot, but I'm going to try all I can, and I
don't see what's wrong with that. They shouldn't either. They have a lot of pride in
their team, that's a great team over there. Why would they worry about me?"
When it was all said and done, Anderson accomplished the first part of his goal.
Qualified in the No. 15 position, he was guaranteed a first-round meeting with
Enders.
"Unfortunately, we probably got the easy part done – although that was not easy,
that was very difficult and probably just pure luck that we ended up in that spot,"
said Anderson, acknowledging the work cut out for him on Sunday. "That job is done,
but now it's the big job tomorrow. It's going to be fun. It's going to be a blast.
This is what NHRA Pro Stock racing is all about right here. If anybody isn't excited
about first round tomorrow, I'd think there's something wrong with them."
Line, a three-time world champion in the category and currently No. 3 in the points,
must win the race on Sunday if he is to claim a fourth Pro Stock championship. He
claimed a slew of bonus qualifying points in order to do his part and remain in the
game. The same holds true for Butner, who must win and needed the bonus qualifying
points to stay alive.
Line scored 11 bonus points to Enders' four. His Summit Racing Chevy was the
quickest Pro Stock car in the third session and second-quickest in both Q1 and Q4.
He was fourth-best in the second qualifying round to plump his accumulation of
valuable "baby points," which could very well come into play if he should meet Jeg
Coughlin Jr. (No. 2 in the standings) in the final. If the two should meet there and
Line should win, it would give him the season title by one point.
"Qualifying was big, for sure. A little strategy involved," said Line, who recorded
a best time of 6.544-second at 210.01 mph and races Shane Tucker in round one. "We
shouldn't have gotten ourselves in this position in the first place, but [Elite
Motorsports] has done a great job, and we have to catch them. We're trying to do the
right things and give ourselves an opportunity to win for Team Summit."
Butner, the 2017 Pro Stock champion, brought in eight bonus points in qualifying –
exactly what he needed. He will square off with Val Smeland in round one as he
starts from the No. 4 spot with a best time of 6.557, 210.83.
"We talked about this a couple of races back, and then seeing how [Anderson] did in
Vegas, this was our only choice," said Butner, a longtime Sportsman competitor who
has experienced a great deal of success as a bracket racer. "Maybe some people were
frowning on it, but it's just what you do. We're not going to give up the
championship. Greg let it be known that he's out for Jason or myself to win. A KB
Racing Chevy Camaro needs to win the championship.
"It's going to take a miracle, we know, but I like our chances with Greg Anderson
racing Erica Enders first round. The fate has already been decided, so we're going
to wake up tomorrow like it's Christmas. It feels great that we have enough bonus
points and we're not locked out. It could end up being a very cool day."
Eliminations for the Auto Club NHRA Finals will begin on Sunday at Auto Club Raceway
at Pomona at 11 am PT.