Anderson Still Number One after Chicago Race

Greg Anderson proved he has a very fast hot rod this weekend at the Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Chicago, Illinois. He recorded low elapsed time of eliminations, backing up the track record ET Anderson set during qualifying. Add in his semi-final round finish and Anderson managed to hold on to the Pro Stock points lead.

Anderson qualified third with a 6.554 second, 201.01 MPH pass. He defeated Dan River in the first round of eliminations, 6.575/201.34 to 6.707/205.76. Anderson’s pass was the quickest of eliminations.

Anderson met up with Vincent Nobile in Round Two. He and his challenger were just .001 second apart off the starting line, with Anderson taking the win with a 6.604/ 209.98 to Nobile’s 6.621/209.46. The tables turned in the semi-final match with Allen Johnson. Johnson got a .025 second starting line advantage, enough to take the win with a 6.605/209.88 to Anderson’s 6.588/210.08.

“My Summit Racing Chevy Camaro was a great race car today,” said Anderson. “I should have won this race, but we’ll go to Denver and make amends for it. Our Summit Racing team did a fantastic job today. When we get it all together we’re just about unstoppable.”

Anderson is looking forward to the next block of races on the tour, the strenuous Western Swing that begins in Denver, travels on to Sonoma, and ends the following weekend in Seattle.

“Team Summit is going to spend the next few days getting everything ready for this big trip out West,” said Anderson. “It was a bit of a bee sting to not get to another final round here this weekend, but it’s still a great feeling to know we have a really good race car.”

Line Still Third in Points
Jason Line didn’t make it past the first round of eliminations at the Route 66 Nationals, but he still holds third place in the Pro Stock points standings.

Line qualified fifth with a 6.546/210.57, his best qualifying performance in the last two races. While Rodger Brogdon defeated him in Round One of eliminations 6.608/209.65 to 6.612/209.17, Line was not disheartened.

“I think we’re still on a good path,” said Line. “We have some work to do with my Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro, and Team Summit is more than willing to put in the hours. We’ll get right back to work at the shop when we get home and come out ready to win in Denver.”

Team Summit Results: Top Fuel
Doug Kalitta qualified eighth (3.763/324.36). He defeated Spencer Massey in Round One of eliminations, but lost to Antron Brown in Round Two. Kalitta is currently fourth in the points standings.
J.R. Todd qualified seventh (3.756/325.22). He defeated Leah Pritchett in Round One, but lost to Tony Schumacher in Round Two. Todd is currently ninth in the points standings.

Team Summit Results: Funny Car
Tim Wilkerson qualified second (3.982/314.75). He defeated Bob Bode and Del Worsham in the first two rounds of eliminations, but lost to Matt Hagan in the semi-finals. Wilkerson is currently eighth in the points standings.
Del Worsham qualified seventh (4.017/316.75). He defeated Robert Hight in Round One, but lost to Tim Wilkerson in Round Two. Worsham is in a three-way tie with John Force and Jack Beck for third place in the points standings.
Alexis DeJoria qualified ninth (4.024/317.72), but lost to John Force in Round One. She is currently 10th in the points standings.

Team Summit Results: Top Dragster and Top Sportsman
Marco Abruzzi qualified seventh in Top Dragster, but lost to Phillip Oakley in Round One of eliminations. Abruzzi qualified 19th in Top Sportsman, but lost to Lester Johnson in Round One.

Final Round Results
Top Fuel: Tony Schumacher defeated Larry Dixon, 3.844/320.20 to 3.932/298.93.
Funny Car: Tommy Johnson Jr. defeated Matt Hagan, 4.259/245.27 to 12.646/73.08.
Pro Stock: Allen Johnson defeated Larry Morgan, 6.624/209.88 to 6.667/210.18.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: Hector Arana Jr. defeated Matt Smith, 6.918/194.66 to 6.957/190.24.

Next Race
The next event is the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, July 24-26 in Denver, Colorado. Visit Drag Race Central for more news and in-depth results from the Route 66 NHRA Nationals.