NHRA Summit Racing Greg Anderson Pre Race: Anderson Headng to Phoenix on a Mission

Contact: Jon Knapp
Summit Racing PR
Ph: 704.662.3121
J2Racing@aol.com
Anderson Heading to Phoenix on a Mission
 
Mooresville, N.C., February 17, 2010 – Motivation has never been a problem for Summit Racing GXP pilot Greg Anderson.   Despite posting the highest elimination round win percentage in NHRA history, a combination of respect for his competition and fear the success will come to an end drives the three-time champion to continually find new ways to elevate his program.
 
However, as the Full Throttle Drag Racing Series comes to Phoenix, AZ for this weekend’s Arizona Nationals, Anderson is inspired by a cause much closer to his heart.  Following a most eventful season he looks to use a win to elevate the spirits of team owner Ken Black, who continues his recuperation from a December stroke, and his family, who are back in North Carolina working to recover from a devastating house fire.
 
“I have to make something positive happen for this Summit Racing team,�?? said Anderson.  “We’ve had too many negatives lately and I need to bring some happiness to some very important people, namely Ken and my family.  
 
“Ken Black means the world to me and to this entire KB crew, while my family has allowed me to come out here and do what I love to do while they put up with the mess created by the fire. That’s why I need to finish the deal this weekend in Phoenix, doing what we need to do, which is winning races.  That will help everybody heal.�??
 
Anderson and his crew took advantage of the short week between races to head to the Nevada desert and visit their team owner.  It was a stop that proved to be welcome therapy for all involved, as well as further fueling the three-time champion’s desire to deliver good results for his friend and benefactor.
 
“The top thing on my mind after Pomona was blasting over to Las Vegas and seeing Ken,�?? said Anderson.  “I hadn’t seen him since his stroke, and the whole team was itching to get there.  It was great to spend some time with him.   We had hoped to take him a trophy and put a smile on his face, but came up three thousandths shy in the final, so hopefully he’ll just have to wait another week for it.  
 
“Ken’s working hard to rehab himself back into condition so he can get back to the racetrack, and we need to get this Summit Racing Pontiac back to winning races to help him do it.  That’s our goal, so I can’t wait to get going in Phoenix.�??
 
For the KB Racing crew to achieve their goal, they will have to conquer a track that has given them some trouble in the past.  Throughout his career Anderson has posted an incredible record of success across the NHRA circuit, scoring wins at 20 different tracks, with multiple victories at 17.  Firebird International Raceway, site of this weekend’s race, is currently among the few with single successes, as the Concord, NC racer enters the event with only one prior trip to the Arizona winner’s circle in 2003, a statistic he is more than ready to change.
 
“There’s no doubt that Firebird Raceway has been a challenge to the KB Racing crew,�?? agreed Anderson.  “However, we’ve really been studying to see what we’ve done wrong in Phoenix, and think we have a pretty good idea of what it is.  Among other things, you have to run the car completely differently than we did in Pomona last weekend.  
 
“We’ve also worked on our cars since last weekend, testing in Las Vegas, trying to make them better.  Therefore, I think we’re going to be in better shape when we get there this weekend. However, we are not going to rest until we conquer that racetrack and put one of our Summit Racing Pontiacs back in the winner’s circle.  After all, we have a lot riding on it.�??
 
Greg Anderson Firebird International Raceway Scorecard –
 



Races

Wins

Finals

#1 Qual.

Rounds W

Rounds L

Pct.


9

1

2

2

13

8

.619



 
Notes for Greg Anderson & the Summit Racing Pontiac crew
At Firebird International Raceway:
 
Anderson at Firebird: In 9 career starts at Firebird International Raceway, Greg has one win in two final round appearances and three finishes of the semifinals or better.  Greg’s only Phoenix win coming into this weekend came in 2003, when he qualified third and defeated Ron Krisher, Mark Pawuk, Jeg Coughlin and Troy Coughlin for the fifth win of his Pro Stock career.
 
One year ago: Greg qualified second and advanced to the second round.
 
Firebird has been a bit of a puzzle for the KB Racing crew: Throughout their careers, KB Racing teammates Greg Anderson and Jason Line have combined to post an incredible record of success, scoring wins at 21 different tracks, with multiple wins at 18.  However, Firebird Raceway has been somewhat of an anomaly, as the Summit team has only one win by Greg in 2003. 
 
Anderson’s Firebird Qualifying Stats:  In nine career FIR starts, Greg has two No. 1 qualifying performances, and six starts in the top four spots.  Overall, he has an average starting spot of 4.11.
 
Event Schedule:
            Friday, February 19:                Two qualifying sessions at 1:30 & 4:00 p.m.
            Saturday, February 20:            Two qualifying sessions at 12:30 & 3:00 p.m.
            Sunday, February 21:              Final eliminations starting at 11:00 a.m.
 
Television Coverage (all coverage on ESPN2):
            Qualifying:                   Sunday, February 21 – 2:00 – 4:00 a.m.
            Eliminations:                 Sunday, February 21 – 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
            RaceDay:                     Sunday, February 21 – 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
(All times Eastern)   
 
Established in 1968, Summit Racing Equipment is the leading high performance parts and accessories company. Summit Racing offers the largest selection, lowest prices, and best customer service in the high performance industry via catalogs, Internet, and Retail Super Stores. The company is headquartered in Tallmadge, Ohio with retail locations in Tallmadge, Ohio; Sparks, Nevada; and McDonough, Georgia.  For more information, please visit www.summitracing.com.
 
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