Final qualifying solidified a stout Pro Stock field at the second-to-last Mission Foods Drag Racing Series event of the season, with Greg Anderson and his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro leading the charge for KB Titan Racing (KBT). The cars in the KBT stable were strong throughout qualifying to set up a charge for the trophy at the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals, and Anderson’s incredible final pull on Saturday afternoon culminated in the 140th No. 1 qualifier award of his career and eighth of the season.
“I didn’t do a great job yesterday, we were just a little bit off, but today was picture-perfect for me,” said Anderson, who made the quickest pass in each of Saturday’s sessions to net six total bonus points. His best time was a bold 6.572 in the fourth session. “The whole KB Titan camp looks really good this weekend, and it’s going to be fun tomorrow. I’m happy my car is running like it does because for me right now, this race is everything. I’m not worrying about Pomona yet; I have to do well here. I have to gain ground on Dallas Glenn here, or Pomona is just going to be another race for me.”
Anderson and Glenn have been neck-and-neck since the first race of the season, carrying the 2024 late-season battle for the championship into the new year and extending it with each event. Glenn held the lead after winning Gainesville over Anderson, and then Anderson’s win in Phoenix gave the reigning and six-time world champion the top spot for three races before Glenn got it back with victories at the Las Vegas and Charlotte four-wide events. Anderson’s back-to-back wins in Epping and Bristol put the lead in his hands until Seattle, when Glenn again took the top spot. The young gun has held it ever since and was 60 marks ahead of Anderson entering this weekend’s race. At the conclusion of Las Vegas qualifying, Anderson had chipped away at the gap and is 52 points back heading into Sunday.
Anderson and Glenn have regularly qualified on opposite sides of the ladder this season and have met in the final round seven times. Here in Las Vegas, though, Elite Motorsports-powered Aaron Stanfield disrupted the pattern with a run in the final qualifying session that wedged him between No. 1 qualifier Anderson and previously No. 2 Cory Reed, and Glenn, who had been No. 3, was bumped down to fourth. That brought Glenn and the RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet to the same side of the ladder as Anderson. Only twice this season have Anderson and Glenn met in a round that was not the final — in Reading, Glenn got the nod over Anderson in the semifinals, and in St. Louis, Anderson got the best of Glenn in the second round. Anderson won St. Louis and Glenn won Reading.
“Coming in, I didn’t figure we’d get a chance to lock horns until the final round, but now, if we do our job, we’ll lock horns in the semifinals,” said Anderson. “It doesn’t matter when it happens, though. I have to find a way to get to the finish line first, not only with Dallas, but everybody I run tomorrow. I have to win the event; it’s that simple for me. I don’t have to think about anything else, just win.”
Anderson will race Troy Coughlin Jr. in the first round, and if he should advance, he will take on the winner of a match including KBT stablemate Matt Latino and Greg Stanfield. Glenn will start eliminations with a tough draw in 26-time Pro Stock winner Dave Connolly, who is not only part of the KB Titan Racing braintrust of crew chiefs, but who is also driving a Vegas General Construction car as tribute to Ken Black, the original owner of KB Racing who started the team with Anderson at the helm and behind the wheel of the original Vegas General Construction entry. The winner in the Glenn vs. Connolly match will race either David Cuadra or Erica Enders in round two.
While Rookie of the Year contender Matt Latino qualified No. 8 in the FASS Diesel Systems car and in the top half of the field for the sixth time in his first 11 races, his father Eric wheeled the GESi Camaro to a start from the No. 7 position. Eric Latino will take KB Titan power to a first-round meeting with Jeg Coughlin Jr.
Reed and the KB Titan Racing J&A Service Camaro were atop the pole on the first day of qualifying in Las Vegas, but were bumped down on day two. Starting third, he will race Fernando Cuadra Jr. in the opening act. Racing with KB Titan bullets under the hood, Matt Hartford and Deric Kramer will square off in round one, Hartford from the No. 6 position in his Eddie Guarnaccia-tuned The Hose Connection entry and Kramer 11th for Get BioFuels with Michael Hiner turning the wrenches.
“You’ve had all year to practice, to hone your skill,” said Anderson. “When you finally get down to these last two races, there are no excuses. You’ve made plenty of runs down the racetrack in the car, and you’re not knocking any rust off. You’re supposed to be at the top of your game and peaking at this time of the year, and I’ve been fortunate to do that in my career. I did it last year, and I’d love to repeat the same thing this year, but there are plenty of land mines you can step on out there. You have to avoid them and race error free.
“It’s been a magical weekend celebrating Ken Black here at his home track, and I’ve felt him riding on my shoulder. He was loved by all, and no one more than me. If the stars align, we can have a magical day tomorrow. No matter what, it’s going to be a big day.”
Final eliminations at the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway are slated to begin at 11 a.m. PT.
This story was originally published on November 2, 2025.
The post Greg Anderson Lands 140th No. 1 Qualifier, Leads KB Titan Into Raceday in Las Vegas first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
