In addition to points, weather is on Anderson’s mind
DINWIDDIE, Va. (October 4, 2006) – With only three races remaining on the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule, Greg Anderson, driver of the KB Racing LLC / Summit Racing Equipment Pro Stock Pontiac GTO, continues his pursuit of teammate and Pro Stock point leader Jason Line, as the Inaugural NHRA Torco Nationals unfolds this weekend at Virginia Motorsports Park located in Dinwiddie, Va., just a short drive from Richmond.
That is, weather permitting.
The advance weather forecast calls for cool temperatures – 58 degrees on Friday, 62 on Saturday and 71 on Sunday. That’s the good news.
The bad news is that along with cool temperatures the advance forecast, as of Oct. 4, is calling for wet weather. Weather.com says there is a 90 percent chance of precipitation on Friday in the form of heavy rain, accompanied by wind. Saturday and Sunday the rain chance drops to 40 percent.
“The cool weather sounds good as that might make for record-setting times and speeds again this weekend, but we can’t do it if the track is wet,” said Anderson from his shop in Mooresville, N.C. “We’ll just have to wait and see.
“When racing does get underway, I have to have a perfect weekend if I’m going to catch up to Jason. No make that a perfect three races. And while most people think either Jason or me have it locked up, I can’t forget that there are still several other drivers with a chance at the championship. That’s why I’ve got to be at the top of my game. There’s no room for a bad race.”
Anderson is the reigning NHRA POWERade Pro Stock champion, having won three consecutive years (2003-2005). If he should win his fourth consecutive POWERade championship, Anderson will join the legendary Bob Glidden, who won a total of 10 championships – five consecutively (1985-1989) – and Lee Shepherd, who won four consecutive titles (1981-1984) before an untimely death in a testing accident cut short a great career, as the only Pro Stock drivers to win four consecutive championships.
Anderson has pulled to within 56 points of his teammate Line as a result of his win last weekend at Maple Grove Raceway. Line, who collected 20 extra points for establishing a new elapsed time record (6.609 seconds) at Reading last weekend, leads the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock point standings entering this weekend’s Torco Nationals with 1453 points. Anderson is second with 1397 points. Dave Connolly continues to hold on to third with 1270 points, 183 points behind Line and 127 behind Anderson.
Teammates Anderson and Line both have three wins apiece this season (Anderson at Pomona, Indianapolis, Reading; Line at Bristol, Englishtown, and Sonoma). In 2006 qualifying, Anderson has earned 11 No. 1 and Line four.
Qualifying for Anderson and his KB Racing LLC/Summit Racing Equipment Pro Stock Pontiac GTO begins with two Pro Stock sessions on Friday, Oct. 6, scheduled for 3 and 6 p.m. and concludes with two additional Pro Stock sessions on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 12 noon and 3 p.m. Anderson begins his quest for the Torco Nationals Pro Stock title on Sunday, Oct. 8, with eliminations for all classes beginning at 11 a.m. All times are local Richmond time (ET) and subject to change at anytime.
