NHRA NEWS: PRO STOCK RACERS CHASE BIG PAYDAY IN KING DEMON CROWN

ANDERSON TOP SEED AGAIN IN NHRA KING DEMON CROWN

            JOLIET, Ill. ¯  Greg Anderson will lead the NHRA King Demon Crown field as the No. 1 seed for the third year in a row as the lucrative special event takes center stage June 10 during the ninth annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway. 

            A purse of $76,000 is available for the eight drivers competing in the NHRA King Demon Crown. The winner of the 22nd annual King Demon Crown will earn $50,000. The runner-up will earn $10,000, the two semifinalists $3,000 each, and the four first-round finishers $2,500 apiece. Should a driver win Saturday's NHRA King Demon Crown and Sunday's Pro Stock eliminations at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals, he or she will earn a $25,000 'Double-Up' bonus from NHRA. 

            Anderson, from Charlotte, N.C., qualified No. 1 at 10 of the 23 NHRA national events that drivers could earn King Demon Crown points. It is Anderson's fourth career appearance in the bonus event.

            The $145,000 King Demon Crown showcases the eight best Pro Stock qualifiers during a 23 race span between the 2005 CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals in Joliet, Ill., and 2006 O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka. Besides the $76,000 available in the King Demon Crown, bonuses of $69,000 were paid to quick Pro Stock qualifiers throughout the 23-race NHRA King Demon Crown series. 

            Drivers accumulated points during qualifying at those events, and a $3,000 bonus was awarded to the No. 1 qualifier at each race. 

            This year's King Demon Crown field features three past winners, last season's runner-up and two rookies. Defending King Demon Crown winner Dave Connolly did not qualify for the event.

Top seed Anderson, who won the event in 2004 and was runner-up in '03, will face first-time King Demon Crown finalist V. Gaines in the opening round. Jason Line, last season's runner-up, and Allen Johnson will battle in the first round; while former multi-time winner Warren Johnson will meet King Demon Crown rookie Erica Enders - the first female to ever qualify for the bonus race. King Demon Crown veterans Kurt Johnson, a three-time winner, and Richie Stevens, making his fourth appearance and first since 2001, also will meet in round one.

            King Demon Crown rounds are scheduled for noon, 3 p.m. and 4:25 p.m. on June 10.

 

2006 NHRA KING DEMON CROWN FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Greg Anderson, Charlotte, N.C., Summit Racing Pontiac GTO                                 3740

2. Jason Line, Terrell, N.C., Summit Racing Pontiac GTO                                             3450

3. Warren Johnson, Buford, Ga., GM Performance Parts Pontiac GTO                         3100

4. Kurt Johnson, Lawrenceville, Ga., ACDelco Chevy Cobalt                                       3090

5. Richie Stevens, New Orleans, Team Mopar Dodge Stratus R/T                                2830

6. Erica Enders, Houston, Slammers Ultimate Milk Chevy Cobalt                                  2660

7. Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., J&J Racing/Team Mopar Dodge Stratus R/T        2575

8. V. Gaines, Lakewood, Colo., Kendall Synthetic Blend Dodge Stratus R/T                2540

 

2006 KING DEMON CROWN ROUND PAIRINGS:

FIRST ROUND (Noon): Anderson vs. Gaines; Line vs. A. Johnson; W. Johnson vs. Enders; K. Johnson vs. Stevens.

SEMIFINALS (3 p.m.): Anderson-Gaines winner vs. K. Johnson-Stevens winner; Line-A. Johnson winner vs. W. Johnson-Enders winner.

FINAL (4:25 p.m.)

 

PAST NHRA DOUBLE-UP BONUS WINNERS, KING DEMON CROWN:

2004: Greg Anderson (event was rain-delayed, held in Topeka)

1993: Warren Johnson

1991: Darrell Alderman

1989: Larry Morgan

1988: Bob Glidden

1987: Bob Glidden