Desire to Win Burns strong for Anderson at Season-Ending NHRA Finals

2014 was a most unusual year for Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson. The four-time world champion had to sit out the first five races of the year as he recovered from open-heart surgery. It was an admittedly difficult three-month period for a man driven by an intense hunger for victory on the race track. As the 50th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals come are set to begin, Anderson has renewed optimism for a final chance at a trophy in 2014.

"We've been full steam ahead since we got back to the shop after Las Vegas," said Anderson. "We want to be the best we can be when we get to Pomona. I love that race track. I can remember many a final round where the sun had gone down, you're racing under the lights, and the atmosphere is electric. It's awesome. It's the perfect place to end the year."

Although the year was abbreviated for Anderson, his ambition is untamed. The driver who has claimed 74 NHRA wins in 116 final rounds ran for the money on three occasions in 2014 and added to a round-win total that surpasses the personal record of every other driver in the category. Anderson has 607 round wins and just 258 round losses in 355 Pro Stock races contested.

Anderson is ready to help KB Racing teammate Jason Line run for the big trophy. Line is just 17 points back from the top spot.

"I think we're just as capable now as we have ever been," said Anderson. "We still have the same group, the nucleus has never separated, and we’re a great team from bottom to top. We have competition amongst us without egos butting up against each other. All of the guys on our team want to win. You aren't going to go very far if you just want to have fun out there, and we've never lost the desire to win. That's why we've been able to have the success we have had."

"No matter what happens this weekend, the arrows are all pointing up for the future. I'm very satisfied with the way that we’ve competed this year, and hopefully we can close out the year with a bang."

You can follow Greg Anderson and the rest of Team Summit at the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Drag Race Central.

Greg Anderson By the Numbers, the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona Edition
5: Wins scored by Anderson at the NHRA Finals heading into this weekend, the most of any active Pro Stock competitor.
8: Number One qualifying performances in 24 starts. 
10: Total wins by Greg at Auto Club Raceway in 24 career starts, the second most by a Pro Stock competitor (now-retired Bob Glidden has 12).
11: Final round appearances.
15: Semi-final or better finishes in 24 previous starts.

Event Schedule (All Times Pacific)
Friday, Nov. 14: Two qualifying sessions at 11:45 am and 2:45 pm
Saturday, Nov. 15: Two qualifying sessions at 11:45 am and 2:45 pm
Sunday, Nov. 16: Final eliminations starting at 11:00 am

Television Coverage on ESPN2 11/16/2014
Qualifying: 3-5 am Eastern/12-2 am Pacific
Qualifying Re-air: 3-4:30 pm Eastern/12-1:30 pm Pacific
Eliminations: 7:30-10:30 pm Eastern/4:30-7:30 pm Pacific