NHRA (JOLIET) - TOP SEED ANDERSON GOES FOR THIRD VICTORY

Greg Anderson will lead the NHRA King Demon Crown field as the No. 1 seed for the fourth consecutive year as the lucrative special event takes center stage June 9 during the 10th annual Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals at spectacular Route 66 Raceway near Chicago.

A purse of $76,000 is available for the eight drivers competing in the NHRA King Demon Crown. The winner of the 23rd 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.

Anderson, from Charlotte, N.C., who drives the Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GTO, qualified No. 1 at 11 of the 22 NHRA national events that drivers could earn King Demon Crown points. It is Anderson’s fifth career appearance in the bonus event.

The $142,000 King Demon Crown showcases the eight best Pro Stock qualifiers during a 22-race span between the 2006 Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet, Ill., and the 2007 O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka (Kan.). Besides the $76,000 available in the King Demon Crown, bonuses of $66,000 were paid to quick Pro Stock qualifiers throughout the 22-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 NHRA King Demon Crown field features three past winners, the runner-up during the last two seasons, the 2002 runner-up, one driver making his fourth appearance, a sophomore driver and one rookie.

Top seed Anderson, a winner in ’06 and ‘04 and runner-up in ’03, will face sophomore King Demon Crown finalist Vieri Gaines in the opening round. Jason Line, runner-up the last two seasons, and rookie Greg Stanfield will battle in the first round; while four-time King Demon Crown finalist Allen Johnson will meet ’02 runner-up Mike Edwards. Past King Demon Crown champs Kurt Johnson, a three-time winner, and Dave Connolly, who won the event in ’05, also will meet in round one.

King Demon Crown rounds are scheduled for noon, 3 p.m. and 4:25 p.m. on June 9.

2007 NHRA KING DEMON CROWN FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Greg Anderson, Charlotte, N.C., Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GTO 3,600

2. Jason Line, Mooresville, N.C., Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GTO 3,390

3. Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., J&J Racing/Team Mopar Dodge Stratus R/T 3,025

4. Dave Connolly, Elyria, Ohio, Torco Chevrolet Cobalt 2,885

5. Kurt Johnson, Lawrenceville, Ga., ACDelco Chevy Cobalt 2,785

6. Mike Edwards, Coweta, Okla., Young Life/ART Pontiac GTO 2,725

7. Greg Stanfield, Bossier City, La., PiranaZ Pontiac GTO 2,410

8. Vieri Gaines, Lakewood, Colo., Kendall Motor Oil Dodge Stratus R/T 2,370

2007 NHRA KING DEMON CROWN ROUND PAIRINGS:

FIRST ROUND (Noon): Anderson vs. Gaines; Line vs. Stanfield; A. Johnson vs. Edwards; Connolly vs. K. Johnson.

SEMIFINALS (3 p.m.): Anderson-Gaines winner vs. Connolly-K. Johnson winner; Line-Stanfield winner vs. A. Johnson-Edwards winner.

FINAL (4:25 p.m.)