Peer pressure can be a mother. 

And when you’re the minority motorsports representative in a world of oval track racing. When they win, you have no choice but to win. 

Anderson, at 62, thought he was done with peer pressure. But it’s really no big deal when the pressure is to win and you’re the winningest driver in the class. 

By beating teammate Dallas Glenn in the final round, Anderson gave Hendrick Motorsports a two-series sweep Sunday. After watching snippets of the Martinsville race, the now 104-time winner said he felt the pressure to perform. His Hendrick Motorsports brothers William Byron, Kyle Larson, and Chase Elliott posted a 1-2-3 finish as the team was marking its 40th anniversary in the Cup Series.

“Before the semifinal, we watched the end of that race. So proud of everybody on that team, and it was a great motivator,” Anderson said. “I love to be a part of that team. I love it to represent the colors on my car and love everything that that group has done for me. I love the man himself. Mr. Hendrick is a great, great man and has done a ton for me. So it just feels fantastic to finally get it done and not drop the ball. They certainly don’t drop the ball. They’re on a hell of a run this year and they’re celebrating 40 years in the sport, so I’m going to have to fight to get a part of that acknowledgement that they’re getting this year. So it just feels great to be part of it. It’s a dream come true.”

On paper, Anderson didn’t look like the odds-on favorite to win, but he adjusted and kept moving forward as the hurdles flew his way. Besides, races aren’t run on paper. 

“This feels great,” Anderson said. “It is just so hard to win in this class anymore. I didn’t embarrass myself. I actually did a good job behind the wheel, so I’m really thrilled with that. But that’s what it takes to win this class anymore. You have to have the whole total package. You have to have the best car, you have to have the best crew, and you have to drive it well. So we were able to put all three together today on a very, very tricky racetrack. We managed the racetrack.”

Track management was a key spoke in the racing wheel all weekend. On Friday, the suspended chassis professional categories didn’t run at all. Saturday was challenging, and then it was a battle of the wills on Sunday. 

“The biggest part all weekend, the racetrack has been tricky down track,” Anderson said. “Then, as the sun came out, it was only 70, 75 degrees today, but the racetrack got up to 135 degrees. I don’t understand. Is the sun like eight miles in the sky? What is the deal out here? So we’ve never seen a racetrack that hot with the air temperature that cool. So we were all shocked and it seems like when you first start a season, you forget a little and you’re not ready for conditions like this. You don’t generally get top track conditions to start the season and to end the season.” 

Anderson had a superior reaction time against his opponents in each of the four elimination rounds, and with a powerful racecar that kept an edge, he had lane choice on a weekend when it mattered most. After locking down a victory over racing partner Eric Latino, Anderson sailed smoothly past tire-rattling Troy Coughlin Jr. in round two before his semifinals defeat of Coughlin’s uncle Jeg in the semis.

Anderson headed to the final round for a meeting with KB Titan Racing teammate Dallas Glenn, who had won the delayed Winternationals event the day before.
 
In the final round, Anderson left the starting line first, .022 to .032, and earned the win light on a 6.582, 208.97 to 6.618, 208.91 decision. It was the third time Anderson has won in Phoenix.

“Every day isn’t a great day behind the wheel, you know what I mean?” Anderson said. “Some days you struggle, some days you don’t and today I didn’t. Don’t ask me why. You just be thankful you had a day like that where everything worked out great, your head was clear, and I could go out there and block horns with the 18, 20-year-olds and do just fine. So it’s a really neat deal to do and I love this class. I love what the sport is. I love the fact that we’ve got elders, statesmen like myself.”

And even elder statesmen, can fall victim to peer pressure.