Anderson and Line Clinch Countdown Spot sat Sonoma

Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson earned enough points at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals to clinch a spot in the 2015 Countdown to the Championship. The six-race playoffs will begin in Charlotte in September. The four-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion continues to hold the Number One position in the points standings.

Anderson qualified third with a strong 6.507 second, 212.16 MPH pass. He defeated Alex Laughlin in Round One of eliminations, 6.502/211.99 to 6.556/211.76 in the other lane. Anderson’s run would stand as the quickest of eliminations.

Anderson unleashed the power of his Summit Racing Camaro in Round Two with a 6.518/211.86 against Jonathan Gray. Unfortunately, Gray’s .032 second starting line advantage was enough for him to win the round with a 6.533/210.54.

“I just didn’t do my job, and you can’t have that in this class,” said Anderson. “But the great news is that we did clinch our spot in the Countdown to the Championship. This is a big difference from last year. My car seems to get better every weekend, and I have an opportunity to win every race. There are so many positives right now with our program. It’s a tough category, but that’s why we love it. We love the challenge.”

Line Makes Semi-Finals and Countdown to the Championship
Jason Line also had a good weekend in Sonoma, making the semifinals and clinching a spot in the 2015 Countdown to the Championship.

Line qualified second with a 6.507/212.26 pass. He defeated Pro Stock newcomer Aaron Strong in Round One of eliminations, 6.518/211.53 to 6.603/208.68. Line got a .025 second holeshot on Bo Butner in Round Two, which was enough to win with a slower 6.528/211.39 to Butner’s 6.527/211.66. The round win locked Line into the Countdown to the Championship.

Line’s day came to an end in the semifinals against Jonathan Gray. This time it was Gray with the starting line advantage, turning his 6.544/211.10 into a win over Line’s quicker and faster 6.514/212.09.

“I was very happy with my Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro,” said Line. “We didn’t win the race today, but we had really good cars. I think we really know what we need to work on going forward.”

Line is currently third in the Pro Stock points standings.

Team Summit Results: Top Fuel
Doug Kalitta qualified 11th (3.812/315.12) but lost to Clay Millican in Round One of eliminations. He is currently fourth in the points standings.
J.R. Todd qualified third (3.724/328.30). He defeated Jenna Haddock and Clay Millican in the first two rounds of eliminations but lost to Dave Connolly in the semifinals. Todd is currently ninth in the points standings.

Team Summit Results: Funny Car
Tim Wilkerson qualified seventh (3.979/320.81) but lost to Tommy Johnson Jr. in Round One. He is currently eighth in the points standings.
Del Worsham qualified ninth (4.027/320.43) but lost to Chad Head in Round One. He is currently sixth in the points standings.
Alexis DeJoria qualified sixth (3.974/320.13) but lost to Cruz Pedregon in Round One. She is currently 10th in the points standings.

Final Round Results
Top Fuel: Antron Brown defeated Dave Connolly, 3.787/320.74 to 3.808/319.14. Brown clinched a spot in the Countdown to the Championship.
Funny Car: Jack Beckman defeated Tommy Johnson Jr., 4.037/310.63 to 4.073/308.99.
Pro Stock: Chris McGaha defeated Jonathan Gray, 6.531/212.13 to 6.560/211.03.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: Eddie Krawiec defeated Jerry Savoie, 6.881/191.00 to 6.891/194.13.

Next Race
The next event is the NHRA Northwest Nationals, August 7-9 in Seattle, Washington. Visit Drag Race Central for more news and in-depth results from the NHRA Sonoma Nationals.