Anderson secures 105th career pole and sixth at U.S. Nationals, NHRA’s most historic event

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 5, 2020) – Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson truly believes that Indy holds something special. In qualifying for the 66th annual DENSO Auto Parts NHRA U.S. Nationals, he drove that point home by securing the 105th No. 1 of his career and his sixth at the venerable racetrack.

The four-time NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world champion clocked into qualifying with a brilliant 6.549-second pass at 209.52 mph to set the tone for the weekend and continued his hot streak with a 6.563, 209.92 in the early Saturday session. Overall, Anderson claimed seven bonus points as one of the top three quickest cars in each round of qualifying.

“My Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro is really happy right now, and we made a couple of really good runs this weekend in qualifying,” said Anderson. “I don’t know if we could be more ready for tomorrow. It won’t be easy tomorrow, but I feel good.”

Anderson will race Val Smeland in the first round of eliminations. The 94-time national event winner has six wins in nine final rounds at the prestigious U.S. Nationals heading into Sunday – more than any other active Pro Stock driver. His most recent Indy final was in 2017, and his last U.S. Nationals trophy came in 2011.

“I’m due. It’s time to quit messing around and get ‘er done,” Anderson stated simply.

Summit Racing teammate Jason Line landed in the No. 9 position with the silver Summit Racing Chevy on a best time of 6.582, 209.17 and will race Aaron Stanfield in the opening act. Line has finished in the semifinals or better at each race so far this season and was No. 2 in the Pro Stock points entering the event.

Now competing in what he has deemed his final season as a Pro Stock driver, Line is looking for his first U.S. Nationals trophy in the class.

“The fact is, it either happens tomorrow, or it isn’t going to happen,” said Line. “The U.S. Nationals trophy is one every driver wants, for sure, and I know we’re capable of getting it. It’s going to take some work, but I’m looking forward to it.”

Anderson acknowledges that although the KB Racing Chevrolet Camaro Pro Stockers are well-armed for battle, the journey to the final finish-line stripe of the 2020 DENSO Spark Plugs U.S. Nationals will not come easy.

“The way all the cars are running in Pro Stock this weekend is just like every year when we come here for the U.S. Nationals,” said Anderson. “Everyone seems to elevate their game for this race, they bring the best of the best, and there’s more depth. That’s why it means so much when you win here. It’s tougher to win here than anywhere else.”

Team Summit Driver Results

Greg Anderson
KB Racing, Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro
Results:
Q1: 6.549-second at 209.52 mph (No. 1, +3 bonus points)
Q2: 6.563, 209.92 (No. 1, +3)
Q3: 6.583, 209.17 (No. 1, +1)

First-round opponent: Val Smeland

Jason Line
KB Racing, Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro
Results:
Q1: 6.582-second at 209.17 mph (No. 6)
Q2: 6.596, 209.43 (No. 9)
Q3: 6.598, 209.07 (No. 9)

First-round opponent: Aaron Stanfield

Bo Butner
KB Racing, Strutmasters.com/Jim Butner Auto Group Chevrolet Camaro
Results:
Q1: 6.576-second at 210.05 mph (No. 4)
Q2: 6.588, 209.95 (No. 5)
Q3: 6.588, 209.26 (No. 5)

First-round opponent: Alex Laughlin

Quote:
“We’ve got an awesome car with our Strutmasters.com/Jim Butner Auto Group Chevy Camaro – the best I’ve had this season – so I’m very, very happy. I didn’t drive the best, and it still made good runs. Rob [Downing, KB Racing crew chief] and the guys got on it this week, and we have a good shot tomorrow. I’m excited, but it’s kind of a good and bad thing. Since this is my last season committed to running Pro Stock full time, it could be my last chance of winning a Pro Stock trophy at the U.S. Nationals. That’s definitely a trophy I’d like to have.”

2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock Standings
(after Pro Stock race 4, the Dodge NHRA Indy Nationals)

1. Jeg Coughlin 414
2. Jason Line 370
3. Erica Enders 337
4. Greg Anderson 225
5. Alex Laughlin 211
6. Chris McGaha 210
7. Kenny Delco 196
8. Bo Butner 195
9. Matt Hartford 194
10. Aaron Stanfield 157

Race Info
66th DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals
Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis
Brownsburg, Indiana
September 3 – 6, 2020

Run Schedule (all times local)
Sunday, September 6
7:15 a.m. – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman eliminations continue
10:00 a.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro eliminations begin,
eliminations for all categories continue

#NHRAonFOX Schedule (all times ET)
Finals / Sunday – 11 AM-1 PM ET / FS1
Finals / Sunday – 1-4 PM ET / FOX

Event hashtags: #USNats, #BigGo
**Full results at DragRaceCentral.com**