Anderson Makes Final Round in Reading, Closes Points Gap

Coming into the NHRA Keystone Nationals, Greg Anderson was second in the Pro Stock points standings with a significant gap between himself and the points leader. Thanks to a final round finish in Reading, Anderson is now just 72 points out of the top spot.

Due to rain delays, there was just one round of qualifying; Anderson qualified fourth with a 6.526 second, 213.23 mph pass. He handily defeated John Gaydosh in Round One of eliminations, 6.479/214.31 to 6.800/205.69. It was much the same in Round Two against Summit Racing teammate Jason Line. Anderson got a .044 second jump on Line and never looked back, taking the win with a 6.488/213.98 to Line’s 6.967/156.48. Anderson’s run was the quickest and fastest of the round.

Anderson had lane choice in the semifinals against Larry Morgan. It proved most helpful as Anderson ran a 6.475/214.38—the quickest pass of the weekend and fastest of the round—to take the win over Morgan’s 6.502/214.21.

It was Anderson versus Chris McGaha in the final round. Anderson’s Camaro was the better of the two cars, but McGaha’s .042 second starting line advantage gave him enough edge to win with a 6.492/213.64 to Anderson's 6.484/214.59. That pass gave Anderson top speed of the event honors. Only four runs over the course of the weekend exceeded 214 mph, and Anderson had three of them.

“My Summit Racing Chevy Camaro was great all weekend,” said Anderson. “I don’t have any excuses for not winning this race, because my team gave me the car to do it. It will be very important in these next three races to finish the job, to drive your best all the way to the winner’s circle. I know I have the car, and I know I can get there.”

Line Second Quickest in Reading
Jason Line has a very fast hot rod, and drove the point home by posting the second-quickest elapsed time for the event, right behind Summit Racing teammate Greg Anderson.

Line qualified fifth with a 6.536/213.23 pass. In Round One of eliminations, Line powered to the win with a 6.477/213.91 pass over a tire-rattling Vincent Nobile. That run was the second quickest of the event and the 281st race of Line’s career.

In the second round against Greg Anderson, Line ran into trouble and had to push in the clutch, handing the win to Anderson.

“That was a nice start for Team Summit,” said Line. “We did well in the first round, but we had a little ways to go. Our Summit Racing Camaros show that we have the equipment to win. We haven’t been getting it done lately, but we know we can. We have the right tools, we just have to use them effectively in order to get to where we want to be.”

Line is currently eighth in the Countdown to the Championship points standings.

Team Summit Results: Top Fuel
Doug Kalitta qualified sixth (8.092/99.81) but lost to Dom Lagana in Round One of eliminations. He is currently eighth in the points standings.
J.R. Todd qualified 11th (11.443/79.41) but lost to Tony Schumacher in Round One. He is currently sixth in the points standings.

Team Summit Results: Funny Car
Tim Wilkerson qualified fourth (7.717/84.76). He defeated Tony Pedregon in Round One, but lost to John Bojec in Round Two. Wilkerson is currently eighth in the points standings.
Del Worsham qualified sixth (8.172/84.23) but lost to Tommy Johnson Jr. in Round One. He is currently Number One in the points standings.
Alexis DeJoria qualified 14th (13.036/76.76) but lost to Jack Beckman in Round One. She is currently ninth in the points standings.

Final Round Results
Top Fuel: Antron Brown defeated Tony Schumacher with a 3.717/328.46 as Schumacher went up in smoke at launch.
Funny Car: Jack Beckman defeated Chad Head, 3.910/326.79 to 3.903/326.16.
Pro Stock: Chris McGaha defeated Greg Anderson, 6.492/213.64 to 6.484/214.59.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: Andrew Hines defeated Chip Ellis, 6.794/197.25 to 6.818/196.39.

Next Race
The next event is the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals, October 16-18 in Ennis, Texas. Visit Drag Race Central for more news and in-depth results from the NHRA Keystone Nationals.