Allen Johnson taunted Greg Anderson and because of that, Mike Edwards paid the price in the final of the K&N Horsepower Challenge, a race-within-a-race during the NHRA Summit Nationals.

Two years earlier Johnson strapped a perfect .000 reaction time on Anderson to claim the $60,000 winning purse. At the time, Anderson was the top dog in the Pro Stock class.

Fast forward to Saturday afternoon at Summit Raceway Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

Anderson worked his way through the eight-car field from the second seed only to meet the top ranked Edwards for the prize. He beat Edwards on a hole shot, recording a 6.685, 206.23 pass to secure the victory.

Allen Johnson taunted Greg Anderson and because of that, Mike Edwards paid the price in the final of the K&N Horsepower Challenge, a race-within-a-race during the NHRA Summit Nationals.

Two years earlier Johnson strapped a perfect .000 reaction time on Anderson to claim the $60,000 winning purse. At the time, Anderson was the top dog in the Pro Stock class.

Fast forward to Saturday afternoon at Summit Raceway Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

Anderson worked his way through the eight-car field from the second seed only to meet the top ranked Edwards for the prize. He beat Edwards on a hole shot, recording a 6.685, 206.23 pass to secure the victory.

His greatest weapon in the final round wasn’t necessarily a quicker reaction time, although it helped. A strong run down the quarter-mile was the same story.

The largest weapon in his arsenal on Saturday afternoon was a flashback.

“When I saw that ring on the podium this morning that did it for me,” said Anderson, whose win on Saturday marked his third career triumph in the specialty race. “Allen Johnson has flashed that ring underneath my nose so many times since that day. Thanks for giving me that drive.”

The drive was there for the final round but for Anderson moments after the victory he couldn’t grasp the enormity of the moment.

“I looked at those rings, that hood scoop trophy and I had no idea how I was going to pull it off,” said Anderson, reflecting on his pre-race moments. “I still don’t know how it happened. I had a decent car and I drove decent today. Somehow the timing was right and we had just enough to win every round. It all comes down to timing.”

Anderson realized after the victory he owed his team an apology and delivered.

“It was a crazy day. I haven’t been brimming with confidence lately. My guys kept telling me we were going to win this thing. They told me to stop acting like we weren’t going to win. I apologized to them because they are right. I need to start thinking positive because if you don’t, you aren’t going to win. My guys cheering me up and giving me confidence won it today.”

So did those shining rings, Anderson attests, and the glowing vote of confidence.

‘The mind is a powerful thing    and it’s a weak thing apparently on top of my head,” Anderson admitted. “I’ve gotta work my mind and get it stronger. I have to be more positive because you won’t win if you’re not. Seeing those rings was the intangible I needed.”