Anderson Makes it Three in a Row for Summit Racing with Gainesville Win

The Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaros of KB Racing continue to dominate the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series as Greg Anderson claimed victory in an all-Summit Racing final round at the AMALIE Oil Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida.

The victory was the 80th career win for Anderson. It was also his second Gatornationals win in a row and his fourth overall at Gainesville Raceway. Anderson calls it one of his favorite tracks.

“This place is magical to me, I love it,” said Anderson. “It makes me smile thinking about coming down here. It’s like a seven hour drive from Charlotte and I smile the whole way.”

Anderson qualified third with a 6.595 second, 209.65 MPH pass. He defeated V. Gaines, Jeg Coughlin Jr., and Allen Johnson on the way to the final round contest with teammate Jason Line.

Anderson cut the better reaction time with a .009 second light to Line’s .064. At the finish line it was Anderson turning on the win lights with a 6.598/210.01 to Line’s quicker and faster 6.581/210.57.

“It was definitely surprising to win on a hole shot,” Anderson explained. “As the weekend went on, Jason had absolutely the strongest car. But these races are not decided on paper, they are decided on the race track.”

“I had a couple of .060 second lights the prior two rounds and was kicking myself wondering what was going on,” Anderson continued. “I figured I would get my runner-up and go home. Well, I overachieved in the final and stole a win away from Jason.”

Anderson leaves the Gatornationals second in points, just six points behind Jason Line.

Line Remains First in Pro Stock Points after Runner-Up Finish
Jason Line came into race day as the Number One qualifier with a 6.584/208.84 run. By claiming the top qualifying spot, Line earned a $3,000 bonus in the K&N Filters Horsepower Challenge Award.

His Summit Racing Equipment Camaro ran consistent all weekend, even under constantly changing weather conditions. Line had a bye-run in the first round of eliminations. He defeated Vincent Nobile and Drew Skillman respectively to reach the final round.

“I was frustrated with myself because I didn’t do a very good job in the final,” said Line. “We have two great hot rods though, and we aren’t going to trade these two Camaros for anything. We’ll go home and go back to work. It’s fun to come to the track every week knowing you have a good chance to win.”

Line currently holds the NHRA Pro Stock points lead.

Wilkerson has Early Gatornationals Exit
Tim Wilkerson qualified his Levi, Ray, and Stroup Shelby Mustang fourth with a 3.928/321.65. He faced Cruz Pedregon in Round One of eliminations. Both drivers have won at Gainesville Raceway before; Wilkerson in 2010 and Pedregon in 1998.

Wilkerson went up in smoke as soon as he hit the throttle on the starting line. Pedregon had problems as well, dropping a cylinder early and shaking the tires around 400 feet out, forcing him to pedal to take the win with a 4.513/198.52.

“I thought the car would whistle right down through there, but the air just got away from me. I had it too tuned up I believe,” said Wilkerson. “I noticed after I did that everyone switched lanes and ran in the right lane. I don’t think it was the lane, I think I just missed the tuneup.”

Wilkerson will be sticking around Gainesville Speedway for an extra day to test a new car he plans to debut at the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas.

“We’re going to test the new car and see if we can get the new fuel system dialed in,” said Wilkerson. “And if we don’t like the new fuel system, then we’ll put our old one back in before Vegas.”

Wilkerson leaves this race seventh in the Funny Car points standings.

Team Summit Results: Pro Modified
Kenny Lang qualified 14th (5.926/245.63), but was defeated by Jonathan Gray in Round One of eliminations. Lang is in a three-way tie for 13th place in the points standings.

Team Summit Results: Top Fuel
J.R. Todd qualified tenth (3.779/323.35). He defeated Steve Torrence in Round One, but lost to Clay Millican in Round Two. Todd is currently seventh in the points standings.
Doug Kalitta qualified eighth (3.761/324.05), but was defeated by Dave Connolly in Round One. Kalitta is currently third in the point standings. 

Team Summit Results: Nitro Funny Car
Del Worsham qualified eighth (3.958/320.28) but lost to John Force in Round One. Worsham is currently sixth in the point standings.
Alexis DeJoria qualified 11th (4.041/314.61) but lost to Matt Hagan in Round One. DeJoria is currently ninth in the points standings.

Final Round Results
Top Fuel: Brittany Force defeated Terry McMillen, 3.77/318.77 to 3.981/266.90.
Funny Car: Robert Hight defeated Ron Capps, 4.429/280.95 to DQ/crossing the centerline. 
Pro Stock: Greg Anderson defeated Jason Line, 6.598/210.01 to 6.581/210.57.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: Eddie Krawiec defeated Hector Arana, 6.820/198.23 to 6.920/196.44.
Pro Modified: Rickie Smith defeated Danny Rowe, 5.829/249.86 to 5.869/233.76.

Next Race
The next event on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule is the 17th Annual DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals, April 1-3 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Visit Drag Race Central for all the results from the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.