KB Racing LLC: Greg Anderson NHRA Winternationals Prerace Report
FEBRUARY 6, 2006 KB RACING NHRA POWERADE DRAG RACING SERIES SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT PONTIAC GTO PRO STOCK GREG ANDERSON - DRIVER Greg Anderson continues to prepare for NHRA season-opening event Greg Anderson, driver of the KB Racing LLC/Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GTO, continues to prepare for the 2006 season-opening NHRA CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway on the grounds of the LA County Fairplex in Pomona, Calif. Anderson, who won the 2004 Speed Channel Driver of the Year award and is once again nominated for the 2005 award, knows he must be ready when qualifying begins on Thursday. "I've been looking forward to Pomona for the last couple of months," said Anderson, who has been testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway since last Saturday. "This preseason test kind of gives you a hint to what everybody else has done over the winter and it looks just like what I thought. A lot of guys have made up some ground and a lot of guys have put in a good winter's work and are running well. "Thus far, the biggest surprise has been the Glidden cars (of Don Schumacher Racing). I knew they would be good, but I didn't quite expect them to be as good as they have been. Richie Stevens has been lightening fast. "In fact, all the Mopar cars - Larry Morgan and Allen Johnson - have been lightening quick. The Mopar guys seem to have made some real headway over the winter. They seem to have done a good job, now it's up to us GM guys to make sure that we have a better product than they do when we get to Pomona. That's why we're going to stay in Vegas and test these Summit Racing GTOs - right up to Pomona, if necessary." Teammate Jason Line, who became a proud papa approximately two weeks ago, will join Anderson in Las Vegas today to ready his car for Pomona. Anderson, who seeks his fourth consecutive NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Championship, knows that this season could be his most difficult challenge to defending his title. "The competition is going to definitely be deeper than it has been in the last couple of years," reflects Anderson. "It's going to be a battle royal when we get to Pomona. That's cool. That's good for the sport. That's good for the fans. It's going to take a perfect performance to win at Pomona, that's why we must be ready and start the season strong." Qualifying for Anderson and his KB Racing LLC/Summit Racing Equipment Pro Stock Pontiac GTO begins with one session each on Thursday and Friday scheduled for 2 p.m. and concludes with two additional sessions on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Anderson begins his quest for the CarQuest Winternationals Pro Stock title on Sunday with eliminations for all classes beginning at 11 a.m. All times are local Pomona time (PST) and subject to change at anytime. Qualifying highlights for the 46th annual NHRA CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals can be seen on ESPN2 on Saturday (Feb. 11) from 10 p.m. until 12 midnight. ESPN2 will also air same-day television coverage of eliminations from 7:30 until 10:30 p.m. on Sunday (Feb. 12). The elimination show repeats early Tuesday morning from 3-5 a.m. Television times are Eastern Time (ET) and subject to change at anytime. Check local listings. KB Racing LLC is owned by Las Vegas businessmen Ken Black and Kenny Black. KB Racing LLC fields two Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GTO Pro Stock cars, driven by Greg Anderson and Jason Line on 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 will also begin fielding a Top Fuel Dragster, managed by Kalitta Motorsports, with rookie Top Fuel driver Hillary Will handling the driving duties.