PRO STOCK’S GREG ANDERSON RETURNS TO WINNER’S CIRCLE, CARRIES MOMENTUM INTO NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — At some point this week, a feeling of accomplishment, excitement and even reflection will come over longtime Pro Stock star Greg Anderson.

A year ago, Anderson wasn’t able to compete at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at prestigious zMAX Dragway, the home track for his Summit Racing Equipment team, after off-season heart surgery. Instead, he watched from the starting line as teammate Jimmy Alund drove his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro to the winner’s circle.

It was certainly a different feeling for the four-time Pro Stock world champion, but any doubts of returning and competing at a high level are now a distant memory. Anderson broke the longest winless drought of his Pro Stock career at the most recent event in Gainesville, to not only put his 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series on track, but also give Anderson his milestone 75th career victory.

That momentum has Anderson excited about what is ahead, beginning with this weekend’s NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway. The state-of-the-art dragstrip sits just a short distance from the KB Racing team headquarters in Mooresville, N.C.

"This time last year, I hadn’t even been able to get back in the racecar yet,” Anderson said. “I was standing on the sidelines and watched my racecar go to victory circle with no idea if I would be able to do this again, or be able to do it at a high level. A lot of crazy things went through my mind standing on the side of the racetrack there last year, but those are all in the past. I have no worries or concerns. This is a completely different chapter and so far it’s a pretty great one."

The next chapter includes Anderson competing at one of the most unique races of the season and the fourth of 24 races in 2015. Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Alund (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (PSM) were last year’s winners of the event that will once again be televised on ESPN and ESPN2. ESPN will provide live eliminations coverage on Sunday starting at 2 p.m., and Mello Yello Series racing will begin at 1 p.m. (ET) at the track.

Anderson has always enjoyed great success at zMAX Dragway, winning the Four-Wide Nationals two different times. The strength of the Summit Racing team was again on full display last year when Alund put together an impressive performance, winning the Four-Wide Nationals in just his fifth career Pro Stock race. This year, Alund will return to zMAX alongside teammates Anderson and Jason Line, who won the season-opening race in Pomona.

"I was very proud of Jimmy and the race team, but boy what a strange feeling knowing that’s my racecar and where I’m supposed to be,” Anderson said. “That just shows you what kind of team we’ve got. It’s a very deep team to be able to win like we did last year with Jimmy in one of the Summit Racing Chevy Camaros. It gives us a lot of confidence as a team."

Anderson finally got the boost of confidence he needed with his outstanding performance in Gainesville that included a final round victory over Line. After a winless streak that stretched back to Englishtown in 2012, getting the win in Gainesville was meaningful in a number of ways.

“Finally winning again was something really special, not just for me but for this whole team,” Anderson said. “You know, I was shocked when that win light came on for me, I was surprised, and I can’t remember a feeling quite like that before. The emotion came close to one of my first victories. It’s very hard to win these days. It was hard back when we first started, but I never realized how hard it truly was until these last few years."

Outside of two stellar Summit Racing teammates, Anderson will try to thwart off a talented Pro Stock field led by reigning world champion Erica Enders-Stevens. Other top contenders include Allen Johnson, rookie Drew Skillman, Shane Gray and Jonathan Gray, Chris McGaha and current points leader Rodger Brogdon.

After extensive work on the zMAX Dragway racing surface during the off-season, Anderson also tested at the facility leading up to the race and came away impressed with the improvements.

"We had a great test at zMAX Dragway last week, and KB Racing has had a lot of victories at that particular facility and at the Four-Wide,” Anderson said. “It’s a different challenge to race this format, and it’s an odd thing that you only do once a year, but for Team Summit, this Four-Wide concept has been pretty good to us. My hat’s off to zMAX Dragway and the folks there. It’s such a beautiful facility, and a great place to race, and the Summit Racing team is fortunate that we can call it home."

In Top Fuel, Brown won at the Four-Wide Nationals for the first time last season and claimed six victories in 2014. Spencer Massey, who was victorious at the most recent event in Gainesville, won in 2012 and 2013, while reigning world champ Tony Schumacher, who won the most recent event in Phoenix, has two victories at zMAX Dragway, but is looking for his first in the unique four-lane format. Doug Kalitta, J.R. Todd, three-time world champ Larry Dixon, reigning rookie of the year Richie Crampton, Brittany Force, Steve Torrence and 2013 world champ Shawn Langdon will all be major contenders as well.

Robert Hight scored a Funny Car victory at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in 2014, his first of three straight victories on the season. The winningest driver in NHRA history at zMAX Dragway with four victories, Hight has won twice at the Four-Wide Nationals. Reigning world champ Matt Hagan, who opened the season by winning the first two races and is the current series points leader, is a three-time winner at Charlotte, while other stars include John Force, Courtney Force, three-time national event winner Alexis DeJoria, Del Worsham, Cruz Pedregon, Jack Beckman, Tommy Johnson Jr. and recent Gainesville winner Ron Capps.

Hines and Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson teammate Eddie Krawiec dominated the Pro Stock Motorcycle season in 2014, combining to win 11 of the 16 events. Hines claimed his first win of the year in Charlotte and claimed five more titles en route to his fourth career world championship. Krawiec, 2009 world champ Hector Arana Sr., 2013 event winner Hector Arana Jr.; two-time world champ Matt Smith, Angie Smith, Gatornationals winner and current points leader Karen Stoffer and former zMAX Dragway winner Steve Johnson will all be competitive in the two-wheeled category.

As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and enjoy some cherished face time with their favorite NHRA drivers.

Fans also will want to visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.

Mello Yello Series qualifying begins Friday, March 27, with sessions at 1:15 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, March 28, also at 1:15 and 4 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 29.

The NHRA Four-Wide Nationals also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

Be a part of the action all weekend with a Three-Day Pass to the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals starting at $99. Tickets for children 13 and under are free with any paid adult ticket; to purchase general admission or reserved seats please visit www.zMAXDragway.com or call the box office at (800) 455-FANS (3267). For more information about NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.

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NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS FACT SHEET

WHAT: Sixth annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, the fourth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – earn points leading to 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.

WHERE: zMAX Dragway- Track is located on Hwy 29 off I-85 at exit 49 (Speedway Blvd.) in the Concord, N.C. area.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, March 27-29

FORMAT: Qualifying sessions and elimination rounds will be conducted using four lanes in all Mello Yello Series classes; Lanes will be identified from left to right facing downtrack as 1-4; The standard Friday qualifying procedure of a top 12 format will not be in use; Two Christmas Trees will be in use, one between each two lanes; The Compulink Autostart system will continue to be utilized and it will not activate until all four vehicles are pre-staged and one vehicle has staged; The ladder structure will feature Race A: qualifiers 1, 8, 9, 16, Race B: qualifiers 4, 5, 12, 13, Race C: qualifiers 2, 7, 10, 15, and Race D: qualifiers 3, 6, 11, 14; Race A and Race B will be on one side of the ladder, while Race C and Race D will be on the other; Lane choice for eliminations goes to the driver with the quickest E.T., then the second-quickest, and so on; The first two drivers in each elimination round to cross the finish line advance to the second round and final; In the final round, teams will finish in the order they cross the finish line (barring any red-light starts), with winner, runner-up and two semifinalists in that order.

SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY, March 27 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 1:15 and 4:15 p.m.

SATURDAY, March 28 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 1:15 and 4:15 p.m.

SUNDAY, March 29 – Pre-race ceremonies, 11 a.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 1 p.m.

TELEVISION:

Saturday, March 28, ESPN2 will televise 90 minutes of qualifying coverage at 8 p.m. (ET).

Sunday, March 29, ESPN will televise three hours of eliminations coverage at 2 p.m. (ET).

2014 EVENT WINNERS: Antron Brown, Top Fuel; Robert Hight, Funny Car; Jimmy Alund, Pro Stock; Andrew Hines, Pro Stock Motorcycle.

MOST VICTORIES: Spencer Massey, 2, TF; Robert Hight, 2, FC; Greg Anderson, 2, PS; Mike Edwards, 2, PS.

TRACK RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.749 seconds by Tony Schumacher, Sept. ’12; 332.18 mph by Spencer Massey, April ’12.

Funny Car – 3.980 seconds by Cruz Pedregon, Sept. ’13; 322.27 mph by Matt Hagan, Sept. ’11.

Pro Stock – 6.471 sec. by Mike Edwards, April ’13; 213.91 mph by Jason Line, April ’12.

Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.810 sec. by Eddie Krawiec, Sept. ’11; 198.3 mph by Matt Smith, April. ’14.

NATIONAL RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.701 sec. by Antron Brown, Oct. ‘12, Reading, Pa.; 332.18 mph by Spencer Massey, April ’12, Charlotte, N.C.

Funny Car – 3.965 sec. and 324.12 mph by John Force, Feb. ’14, Pomona, Calif.

Pro Stock – 6.464 sec. and 215.55 mph by Erica Enders-Stevens, May ‘14, Englishtown N.J.

PS Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 199.26 mph by Eddie Krawiec, March ’11, Gainesville, Fla.

TICKETS: Order tickets by phone at (800) 455-FANS. Tickets also are available online at www.zmaxdragway.com.

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NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS

GLENDORA, Calif. — Point standings (top 10) following the third of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series –

Top Fuel: 1. Shawn Langdon, 281; 2. Tony Schumacher, 268; 3. Spencer Massey, 250; 4. Antron Brown, 241; 5. Doug Kalitta, 184; 6. Richie Crampton, 159; 7. (tie) Larry Dixon, 140; Brittany Force, 140; 9. J.R. Todd, 139; 10. Steve Torrence, 121.

Funny Car: 1. Matt Hagan, 267; 2. Ron Capps, 241; 3. Del Worsham, 213; 4. Robert Hight, 177; 5. John Hale, 173; 6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 172; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 162; 8. (tie) Courtney Force, 157; Cruz Pedregon, 157; 10. Tim Wilkerson, 145.

Pro Stock: 1. Rodger Brogdon, 284; 2. Jason Line, 277; 3. Drew Skillman, 229; 4. Chris McGaha, 220; 5. Erica Enders-Stevens, 217; 6. Greg Anderson, 203; 7. Shane Gray, 166; 8. Allen Johnson, 142; 9. Larry Morgan, 121; 10. Vincent Nobile, 119.

Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Karen Stoffer, 115; 2. Eddie Krawiec, 98; 3. (tie) Shawn Gann, 72; LE Tonglet, 72; 5. Angelle Sampey, 66; 6. Andrew Hines, 59; 7. Hector Arana, 54; 8. Angie Smith, 51; 9. Matt Smith, 43; 10. (tie) Steve Johnson, 34. Jim Underdahl, 34.