“Great to be here,” said Greg Anderson as he greeted the media following his first Pro Stock win of the season in the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd Int'l Raceway.

“It's been a long time. It's been a long dry spell.”

Anderson wanted this win really bad. The last time he won at Brainerd the trophy went to the family of John Hagan, the man who gave Anderson his Pro Stock start. This time the Wally went to his father, Rod.

“Great to be here,” said Greg Anderson as he greeted the media following his first Pro Stock win of the season in the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd Int'l Raceway.

“It's been a long time. It's been a long dry spell.”

Anderson wanted this win really bad. The last time he won at Brainerd the trophy went to the family of John Hagan, the man who gave Anderson his Pro Stock start. This time the Wally went to his father, Rod.

“I have never been able to actually give my father a trophy at a race. I owe a lot to John Hagan and his family but I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my father. He brought me to this racetrack, the Minnesota Dragway, back  when I was ten, twelve years old and got me hooked on it. If it wasn't for that I wouldn't be in this sport.”

Anderson has been waiting for just this day and true to his word, he gave the trophy to his father.

After qualifying third, Anderson defeated Larry Morgan, Jeg Coughlin and Allen Johnson in the early rounds before facing his Summit stable mate Jason Line in the final for the second consecutive race.
 
In one of the closest races of the day, Anderson used his quickest and fastest pass of the weekend at 6.641 seconds and 207.53 mph to edge his teammate by 2/1000ths of a second.  It was Anderson’s first win of the season, 58th of his career and second at Brainerd International Raceway.
 
“It is a tremendous feeling to finally win again,” said Anderson.  “It’s like the first race I ever won. I know it seems crazy to talk like that considering that I have been very fortunate to win a lot of races over the years, but I was absolutely starting to doubt I could ever do it again.
 
“But we never gave up, and this Summit Racing team was able to break through today.  I’ve said it before that you never know when it might be your last win, so you have to treat them like they’re special, and this one is extra special because of it being in Minnesota in front of my hometown friends and family. 

“With this win under my belt, I can now have a little faith and confidence in myself, and start driving this Summit Pontiac like I know I can,” said Anderson.  “I needed a day like this for a long time.  We’re getting close to the Countdown (the NHRA’s championship playoff) so it’s time to start getting your game face on, and it seems like I am.  I feel pretty good right now, and hopefully this will be the start of bigger and better things.”
 
IF YOU CAN'T WIN, AT LEAST BEAT THE YELLOW – Greg Anderson and Jason Line don't have to win an event to leave winners, it helps, but there is another rivalry that is almost as important.

“My day is complete when we beat the yellow car,” said Jason Line.

“When we race Jegs, as far as Summit is concerned, if we can beat them we might as well park the car. We don't have to win the race, just beat them and park the car,” added Anderson. 

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