No one really likes change.

As humans, we tend to enjoy our comfortable little lives and dread anything that interrupts that peace.

So for a savvy racing veteran like Greg Anderson, with years of experience and mountains of wins to his credit, an offseason change from 30+ years of carbureted motors to a new electronic fuel injection package in the Pro Stock ranks did not exactly sit well. In fact, it downright left him scared.

“It is incredibly scary. We came in here incredibly worried, not knowing where everyone is going to be when we got here,” Anderson said. “I am a stubborn person. I don’t like change and this is a major, major change. I am not a spring chicken anymore, so to completely change our world like that, it was a shock.”

So when Anderson rolled into Pomona for this weekend’s NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season opener and placed his Summit Racing Equipment-sponsored Chevrolet Camaro squarely in first place in the very first race of the EFI era, it is safe to say he was more than thrilled.

“I feel extra proud of the job these guys have done. It just goes to show the talent we have got on this team,” Anderson said.

After struggling on day one, Anderson blasted to the top spot Saturday evening in front of the eager California fans as he claimed the 81st pole position of his career at the 56th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway.

Anderson put the Summit Racing Camaro in first place with a 6.585-second pass at 209.62 mph in the final run of the afternoon, producing low ET in both runs on Saturday after producing a run no better than fifth on day one.

Anderson’s KB Racing teammate Jason Line qualified second - the first time since 2011 the two Summit-sponsored cars have qualified 1-2 - with a 6.592 at 210.14. Bo Butner qualified third with a 6.594 at 209.30, while Drew Skillman and Vincent Nobile round out the top five.

Defending Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders, in her first race in a Mopar-powered car, qualified ninth.

“To qualify one, two, three with our three KB Racing teams, that is quite an accomplishment,” Anderson said. “These Summit Chevys are a dream to drive right now and I feel like a very lucky man to be behind the wheel in one of these fast hot rods.”

After struggling during much of the offseason, not only to come to grips with the new rules package, but to make the cars conform to their gameplan, Saturday’s fast start left Anderson in a bit of shock - not an easy task for a man who has seen it all.

“The first time we put a motor on the dyno, it was pretty ugly. Pretty depressing,” Anderson said. “To be where we are today versus that day two months ago shows that we have come a long way. We have learned a lot and I couldn’t be prouder of the guys around me.

“When you come to Pomona to start any season, you are scared to death. Scared of what the competition has done over the winter. Scared of what kind of gains everyone has made. It has been a huge challenge to make the changeover, but it has been a great team effort by everyone back at KB Racing.

“I came here three months ago on a Saturday night during the season finale and, after qualifying number one, I might have shed a tear or two knowing that was the end of carburetors. Now, at least for the time being, I am able to forget about it, move forward and embrace the new challenge.”

Anderson will open competition on Sunday against Matt Hartford during round one of eliminations as the four-time champion tries to put his name in the record books as the very first winner in the new EFI era of NHRA Pro Stock racing.

“Right now everyone is still trying to figure this out. We knew it was probably going to get spread out when we first got to Pomona, but three months down the road it will be tighter than ever,” Anderson said. “We are nowhere near calling ourselves fuel injection experts right now, but I think I have at least finally come to grips with it.

“As much as I drag my feet and fear change, once you finally accept it, there is no stopping us. This is a new chapter, a new opportunity. We will see if we can go out there tomorrow and be the first to win in the fuel injected era.”

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