As qualifying wrapped at the NHRA Brainerd Nationals, incoming Pro Stock points leader Greg Anderson made yet another strong move as he powered to a third Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge victory of the season in his KB Titan Racing-powered HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. In defeating KB Titan teammate Dallas Glenn in the final, Anderson tied his friendly rival in the battle for the specialty series championship, which will be decided at the next race on tour, the Cornwall Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.
“I definitely felt like the underdog going up there; Dallas was just a tick faster than I was all weekend, and everybody in the grandstands knows how well he lets his foot off the clutch and leaves the starting line,” said six-time world champion Anderson, who has found Glenn — the reigning Pro Stock champion — to be his biggest competition in recent years.
“I was having a decent day, and I figured I could be close to him, but I definitely figured he’d outrun me,” Anderson continued. “I did not expect that win light to come on at the finish line. I was scared to look over, but we were both good on the tree and our cars ran similar. It was a great drag race, and anytime you get around Dallas Glenn and can beat him, it’s a feather in your cap. He’s tough to beat.”
In the first round of the specialty race, Anderson defeated Erica Enders with a .021-second reaction time and 6.549-second pass at 208.68 mph to his opponent’s .054 and 6.567, 209.14. Glenn’s defeat of Greg Stanfield on the other side of the ladder, 6.535 to 6.550, set up the final round. There, Glenn left the starting line first but only by .005-second, and Anderson’s 6.555, 209.04 was just enough to defeat Glenn’s 6.566, 208.26 by six-thousandths of a second.
The Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge takes place during Saturday qualifying at NHRA national events throughout the regular season, and the runs made during the bonus race also count toward qualifying position. Through two rounds of qualifying on Friday and the two runs on Saturday, Anderson’s best time of 6.549 was good for the No. 2 position. He will race Mason McGaha in the first round on Sunday at a racetrack where he has four times been the last man standing. Anderson, the defending event champion, also holds the track record for elapsed time with a 6.521-second pass recorded there one year ago.
Doing well in Brainerd is particularly meaningful to Anderson, a native of Duluth, Minn., who considers Brainerd International Raceway his home track. It’s always special to race there, but this year will mark the first time he’s raced alongside his son, Cody, at the historic dragstrip. Cody, the No. 5 qualifier in his KB Titan Racing Chevrolet, will race Enders first round.
“This was a great place to grow up, and I thank my lucky stars I was born in this crazy state,” said Anderson. “It means a lot to do good here in front of my hometown, and it’s great to be able to share this with my son, Cody. He’s doing a fantastic job, and I think he’s going to break through and win one of these races. We have a lot to be proud of at KB Titan Racing; all of our cars can win.
“I’m very proud of the day we had today, and I have to thank the folks at Mission Foods for putting on this challenge. You don’t worry about qualifying today, you get to go up there in race mode and try to do everything you can to win the round. I had a good day behind the wheel, and we’re on a small run here. I think we have a decent chance tomorrow, but you better bring your A-game.”
Eliminations for the 44th annual NHRA Brainerd Nationals are set to begin on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Central Time at Brainerd International Raceway.
The post Greg Anderson Closes Brainerd qualifying With Another Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge Title first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
