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Mon, 13 Oct 2003, 12:19 PM

Anderson Clinches Pontiac's Sixth NHRA Pro Stock Championship Since '96

Courtesy of Jeff Romack, GM Racing
Photo by:Auto Imagery, Inc.

ENNIS, Texas --

Kim and Greg Anderson

With his second-round win over Gene Wilson today at the O'Reilly Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex, Pontiac SC/T Grand Am driver Greg Anderson mathematically eliminated his closest challenger, second-place Kurt Johnson, to clinch his first NHRA POWERade Pro Stock title. It was the sixth NHRA Pro Stock crown for Pontiac since 1996 and the second POWERade championship for Grand Am in the last three years.

"To be honest, winning the championship really hasn't sunk in yet," said Anderson. "This is just a tremendous accomplishment for everybody on this team and a testament to what an outstanding racecar we have in the Pontiac SC/T Grand Am. When we made the switch over to the Grand Am at the beginning of the year we had a feeling that it was going to be a great racecar, and it has more than lived up to our expectations. For whatever reason, the Grand Am has been easier to compete with and has provided us with the kind of aerodynamic package needed to be an NHRA POWERade champion."

It's been a remarkable year, to say the least, for the 42-year-old Anderson. Prior to this weekend's event at the Texas Motorplex, Anderson had won nine national events (including his second U.S. Nationals), raced in 12 final rounds, posted 11 low-qualifying efforts and captured 55 round wins. Anderson has also driven his Pontiac SC/T Grand Am to the track-record elapsed time at nine venues in 2003 (Chicago twice) and to 11 track top-speed records (Chicago twice).

On May 18 at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J., Anderson's Pontiac set both ends of the national record with a run of 6.670 seconds at 207.18 mph. To date, Anderson's Grand Am has run the five quickest elapsed times and the four fastest top speeds in NHRA Pro Stock history.

"I can't say enough about what my guys have been able to do with the racecar and what the guys in the engine shop have done," said Anderson. "When we go to a racetrack, not only has the car adjusted well, but the engine has also adapted well regardless of the conditions. Whether it's an adjusted altitude of 5000 feet or 500 feet below sea level, the motors have run great and our Pontiac Grand Am has been tremendous. It's been a total team effort. I can only brag about the guys we have on this team and the job they've done."

With three eliminators remaining on the schedule, Anderson is within reach of Darrell Alderman's 11-win record for most Pro Stock victories in one season set in 1991.

"Everyone at Pontiac and on the Grand Am marketing team is proud of what Greg, Ken Black and their racing team have been able to achieve this year," said Jim Panaretos, Pontiac Grand Am marketing director. "Pontiac has a long history of performance excellence and this season Greg has certainly carried that tradition forward."

Pontiac is the Official Car of the National Hot Rod Association and the title sponsor of the 40th annual Pontiac Excitement Nationals in Columbus, Ohio on June 10-13, 2004.