Anderson Retains Points Lead After Mile-High Nationals

Qualifying for the Mopar NHRA Mile-High Nationals proved to be a challenge for Greg Anderson and the KB Racing team, but a first round win during eliminations and a powerful race car kept Anderson in the Pro Stock points lead, ready to pick up momentum as the Western Swing continues.

Anderson qualified 11th with a 6.930 second, 199.05 MPH pass. He did not have lane choice heading into the first round of eliminations, but that proved to be no problem as a 0.17 second starting line advantage was enough to give Anderson the win against a quicker and faster Chris McGaha, 6.925/198.96 to 6.924/199.91.

Anderson made the second-quickest pass of Round Two with a 6.904/199.73. Unfortunately, it was opponent Erica Enders who was the quickest of the session, taking the win with a 6.900/199.91.

“We didn’t do a great job of qualifying, but we certainly got better today, and that’s good news," said Anderson, who has claimed four wins in seven final rounds so far this year. “Now we get to go on to Sonoma, which has been very good to me, and plan for everything to come together there and end up in the winners circle. You can’t predict anything in this Pro Stock class. The battle continues, and it should be a battle royale.”

Line Shows Power
Jason Line and the Summit Racing Pro Stock team didn’t shy away from the challenge of a very hot race track in Denver. Line qualified seventh with a 6.899/199.29, and started eliminations with a victory over Vincent Nobile, 6.915/ 199.97 to 6.940/198.50.

In Round Two, Line reached the 200 MPH mark with a 6.910/200.00 pass. Unfortunately, Larry Morgan’s .017 second starting line advantage gave him the win with a slower 6.918/199.37 pass.

“Today was a good day, I was just a little tardy there in the second round,” said Line. “Denver is a difficult place to race, and we got a little behind early in the weekend. We had a chance to think about it last night, and we made changes that made a difference. It was good to have gone 200 MPH. That is an accomplishment for the Summit Racing team, and the guys all worked very hard for that. We have a lot to look forward to.”

Line retains third place in the Pro Stock points standings.

Team Summit Results—Top Fuel
Doug Kalitta qualified fifth (3.828/317.34) but lost to Richie Crampton in Round One of eliminations. He is currently fourth in the points standings.
J.R. Todd qualified ninth (3.884/312.28). He defeated Antron Brown in Round One but lost to Larry Dixon in Round Two. Todd is currently 10th in the points standings.

Team Summit Results—Top Fuel
Tim Wilkerson qualified second (4.026/317.27). He defeated Jeff Diehl in Round One, but lost to Alexis DeJoria in Round Two. Wilkerson is currently tied with Cruz Pedregon for seventh place in the points standings.
Del Worsham qualified 11th (4.143/295.53) but lost to Matt Hagan in Round One. He is currently fifth in the points standings.
Alexis DeJoria – qualified seventh (4.077/306.26). She defeated Courtney Force and Tim Wilkerson in the first two round of eliminations, but lost to Jack Beckman in the semifinals. DeJoria is currently ninth in the points standings.

Final Round Results
Top Fuel: Steve Torrence defeated Tony Schumacher, 3.925/319.37 to 3.940/305.08.
Funny Car: Jack Beckman defeated John Force 4.190/293.92 to 4.291/258.96.
Pro Stock: Larry Morgan defeated Allen Johnson, 6.944/199.02 to 6.930/199.23.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: Eddie Krawiec defeated Hector Arana Jr., 7.239/185.51 to 7.230/186.43.

Next Race
The next event is the NHRA Sonoma Nationals, July 31-August 2 in Sonoma, California. Visit Drag Race Central for more news and in-depth results from the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals.