Greg Anderson advances to quarterfinals in Dallas; ranks second in points
The NHRA Countdown to the Championship is more than halfway over, and with just two races remaining, Greg Anderson is No. 2 in the standings and eager to close the gap. After a quarterfinals finish in one of the best and fastest cars on the property in Dallas, the Texas NHRA FallNationals No. 1 qualifier will have to wait a week and a half for the Las Vegas Nationals to get back to business.
Hot off of back-to-back Countdown wins in Charlotte and St. Louis, the most winning driver in the history of Pro Stock claimed the 123rd low qualifier award of his career this weekend at Texas Motorplex. Anderson's HendrickCars.com Chevrolet showed incredible power en route to his second No. 1 of the year, and race day looked promising, but a second-round exit to Aaron Stanfield cut his day short. Anderson's well-equipped Chevy put a 6.488, 210.69 on the scoreboard to his opponent's 6.498, 210.50, but a small .024-second deficit at the starting line cost him.
"Every matchup is tough out here; these guys are bad to the bone, and anybody can beat anybody right now," said the five-time world champion and six-time Dallas winner. "[Stanfield] did the better job, and my hats off to him. It's an absolute dogfight out here right now. It's been a good run lately, but I didn't get it done right there – now I need a miracle."
Although disappointed seeing a win slip away – one that would have tied Anderson with John Force as the most winning driver at prestigious Texas Motorplex – a miracle is not, in fact, necessary. The facts show a championship well within reach, particularly because the NHRA Finals in Pomona will count for points and a half.
Anderson has won at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway a remarkable eight times, and he will enter the final race of the year in Pomona as the defending event champion and a 14-time winner overall. That's second-most in any professional category (Force leads with 16).
"It's certainly not over, but we need everything to be perfect these last two races," said Anderson. "I think we can do that. I love these last two races, I love the intensity of this time of year. You just can't tell what's going to happen, you can't pick a favorite right now – but we're in the hunt, we have a chance, and that's all you can ask for."
The next race on the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series schedule is the NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Oct. 26-29.
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