Greg Anderson and Jason Line Finish the NHRA Season Second and Third in Pro Stock Points

All season long, KB Racing was battling for the Pro Stock Championship with one goal: to finish 1-2-3 with Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro drivers Greg Anderson, Jason Line, and KB Racing-powered Bo Butner. At the Auto Club NHRA Finals, it came all the way down to the final round. In the end, Butner won the race to clinch his first Pro Stock world title. Anderson finished second, and Line was third.

Last season Greg Anderson missed the championship by just three points to Summit Racing teammate Jason Line. He was on a quest for the 2017 title, and made a total of 11 final round appearances, winning four. He also earned six Number One qualifier awards, including the last one at the NHRA Finals.

“I told the world coming in here that this deal could go down any one of three ways,” said Anderson, a 12-time Pomona winner who has six NHRA Finals victories on his scorecard. “We had to go out today and earn it. It’s disappointing, but the bottom line is I’m proud of the team, and I’m proud of what we did. Bo had a better car, and he won. Simple as that. I’m happy for him.”

After winning the season-opener in Pomona and being the Number One qualifier at the first five races of the year, Jason Line looked ready to defend his third championship title. On Sunday Line scored a first-round victory over Deric Kramer with a 6.550 second/210.97 MPH pass to Kramer’s 9.378/99.57. Line had a second-round triumph over Erica Enders, 6.561/210.47 to 8.367/116.80. In the semifinals, Line faced Tanner Gray, but he left too early and lit the red light, giving Gray the win.

“I was trying to have a perfect .00 light, and I was, just on the wrong side,” said Line. “I couldn’t outrun Gray, we were equal. The kid is good. But I’m proud to represent Summit Racing.”

“I’m happy for Bo. To win a championship is such a difficult thing to do,” Line continued. “Most people can’t really grasp how hard that is, but he got it done—we got it done. I don’t want to say it’s bittersweet. This is one of those moments where it tests your mettle a little bit, but I’m super excited for Bo. Winning the championship is a huge honor.”

KB Racing now owns eight NHRA Pro Stock world championships. Anderson has four, Line has three, and Butner has one. Collectively, the team has amassed 143 Pro Stock wins for team owners Ken and Judy Black with crew chief Rob Downing at the helm. For Butner, being part of the team is an honor that he does not take for granted.

“Greg [Anderson] was one of the first ones to meet me down there at the top end. He is the most competitive guy, and he’s like a big brother to me,” said Butner. “He actually told me, ‘you deserve it this year.’ That’s big coming from Greg because he is so tough to beat. Everyone at KB Racing has been awesome, and so have the guys at Summit Racing. What a great year, and what a great team.”

Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson had high hopes coming into the final race of the Countdown, but the veteran driver smoked the tires in the Round One of eliminations against Robert Hight. Hight’s 3.839/332.51 bested Wilkerson’s 9.851/79.25.

“That was not what I wanted to do. I think we got bit by the lane there,” said Wilkerson. “But, I’m proud of my people and all of the sponsors.”

“This year was pretty unusual, but I’m already planning out what I’m going to do next season.” added Wilkerson, who finished eighth in points and logged a top 10 finish for the 13th time in his career and the 10th time in a row. “Hopefully, we can make things better for next year, start out in the top 10, and maybe even win the Championship.”

Final Round Results
Top Fuel—Brittany Force (3.668/330.07) defeated Shawn Langdon (9.818/89.10)

Funny Car—Tommy Johnson Jr.  (3.920/329.10) defeated Robert Hight (6.827/103.71)

Pro Stock—Bo Butner (6.554/210.70) defeated Tanner Gray (6.653/208.62)

Pro Stock Motorcycle—Andrew Hines (6.856/196.02) Eddie Krawiec (6.930/177.58)

For more information and complete race results, visit DragRaceCentral.com.

To see the 2018 NHRA schedule, visit NHRA.com.