FOUR-TIME PRO STOCK WORLD CHAMP GREG ANDERSON SAVORS RECENT HOT STREAK APPROACHING NHRA NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS

With a nearly three-year winless streak now in the rearview mirror, the four-time Pro Stock world champion is back in championship contention and feeling as good as ever in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro.

Along with a return to his winning ways, Anderson, who claimed his 76th career victory last weekend in Englishtown, is grateful for how he and his team recovered from that prolonged slump that stretched back to 2012.

But it also has Anderson hungry to pick up his third win during the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season at this weekend’s third annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway.

“When you win kind of as often as we used to win back in the day and then you go through a dry spell like we did, you wonder if you’ll ever win again,” Anderson said. “You really then appreciate all those wins we need and think to yourself, ‘Man, if I can ever do it one more time it would be the best feeling ever,’ and it is.

“There is no win more important than the last win. Every win that I find a way to get is the most important win I ever had. It’s just a great feeling when you finally do win because of the competition we race against. I feel fantastic when I win. It’s the coolest thing in the world.”

Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Dave Connolly (Pro Stock) are defending winners of the event that will be telecast on ESPN2. It is the 10th of 24 events during what has been a massive bounce back season for Anderson.

The longtime Pro Stock standout has collected victories in Gainesville and Englishtown this season and advanced to five final rounds. It’s a welcome change from the struggles that he endured since winning at Englishtown in 2012. Anderson went winless in 2013, finishing eighth in points and missed the first portion of 2014 following off-season heart surgery.

Anderson then failed to qualify for the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship despite a late surge, but that feels like a distant memory now. The win last weekend in Englishtown gave Anderson the points lead for the first time since 2012, something that could only make the Duluth, Minn. native smile.

“That’s a whole lot of cool stuff right there,” Anderson said. “I had a great weekend. The car ran great right off the trailer and I made eight runs in a row, between four in qualifying and four on race day that felt awesome. All I could have done is screw it up. We got the victory and it’s good to be back.”

The early-season performance also has Anderson excited for the rest of the year against a talented Pro Stock field. There will be a litany of challenges along the way but if Anderson continues to perform like he has, he will take plenty of confidence into the key stretch of the season.

“It’s a neat feeling to have a race car that can win the race if you just pilot it down the track and not make a mistake,” Anderson said. “That’s all a driver can ask for and I had it (last) weekend and I hope I can get it many more times this year. It’s going to be a great battle as we go forward here. I feel great about our chances and our future, but it’s certainly not going to be easy. It’s going to be a heck of a battle and I’m looking forward to it. The best part is I truly believe I will be part of the championship chase this year and that fight to the end. I’m looking forward to the battle.”

That battle in Epping will include defending world champ Erica Enders, last season’s points runner-up and teammate Jason Line, Phoenix winner Rodger Brogdon, Allen Johnson, Larry Morgan, rookie Drew Skillman, Chris McGaha, V Gaines, Shane Gray, Jonathan Gray and Vincent Nobile.

Even with that, Anderson is excited to return to Epping after sensing the momentum he built in Englishtown.

“It seems like all up and down the East Coast we get support for Pro Stock and I can’t thank (the fans) enough for that,” Anderson said. “It makes you feel good and it makes you feel proud to do what you do. When we get the good power conditions, that’s when we seem to excel.”

Top Fuel competition has been intense at Epping. Eight-time and defending world champ Tony Schumacher is the defending winner of this event, piloting his U.S. Army dragster to the win over Doug Kalitta one year ago. His teammate Spencer Massey won the inaugural event over 2013 Top Fuel world champ Shawn Langdon. Other stars include Antron Brown, the current points leader who picked up his third win of the season last weekend in Englishtown, Connolly, who moved to Top Fuel in 2015, Richie Crampton, three-time Top Fuel world champ Larry Dixon, Clay Millican, J.R. Todd and Brittany Force.

The powerhouse teams of the Funny Car class have dominated action at the NHRA New England Nationals with Don Schumacher Racing’s Ron Capps winning last season and John Force Racing’s Courtney Force taking the inaugural victory. Capps drove to a thrilling victory last season over Alexis DeJoria. Courtney Force is in search of her first win in 2015, while others to watch are John Force, a 16-time world champ, defending and two-time world champ Matt Hagan, who won in Englishtown to take over the points lead, Jack Beckman, Del Worsham and 2009 world champ Robert Hight.

The NHRA New England Nationals will also feature thrilling side-by-side competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

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 get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying begins Friday, June 12, with sessions at 4:30 and 7 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, June 13, at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 14.

To purchase tickets, call 603-679-8001 or visit www.newenglanddragway.com. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.

NHRA NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS FACT SHEET

WHAT: Third annual NHRA New England Nationals, the 10th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Drivers in three categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock – earn points leading to 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.

WHERE: New England Dragway, Epping, N.H., the track is on Route 101 off Exit 8, an hour north of Boston and just 20 minutes from Manchester and the New Hampshire sea coast. From I-95, take Exit 2 in New Hampshire. Travel west on Route 101 to Exit 8, then turn right. From I-93, take Exit 7 in New Hampshire. Travel east on Route 101 to Exit 8, then turn left, and the track is straight ahead. From I-495, take Exit 51-B to Route 125 north. Travel east on Route 101 to Exit 8, then turn left, and the track is straight ahead.

COURSE: Championship drag strip; Track elevation is 90 feet above sea level.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, June 12-14

SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY, June 12 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 4:30 and 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, June 13 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 12:30 and 3 p.m.

SUNDAY, June 14 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:

Saturday, June 13, ESPN2 will televise two and a half hours of qualifying coverage at 7:30 p.m. (ET).

Sunday, June 14, ESPN2 will televise three hours of eliminations coverage starting at 5 p.m. (ET).

SATELLITE (Digital HD feed):

Saturday, June 13, 7 – 7:30 p.m. (ET), SES 1/Transponder 23C

Sunday, June 14, 6:30 – 7 p.m. (ET), SES 1/ Transponder 23C

(4160 MHz, vertical; Data Rate: 40.46147055 Mbp; Symbol Rate: 29.27 Ms; FEC: ¾; Bandwidth: 36 Mhz)

Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners’ interviews on Sunday.

2014 EVENT WINNERS: Tony Schumacher, Top Fuel; Ron Capps, Funny Car; Dave Connolly, Pro Stock.

TRACK RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.770 sec. by Antron Brown, June ’14; 326.63 mph by Spencer Massey, June ’14.

Funny Car – 3.988 sec. by Robert Hight, June ’14; 323.35 mph Courtney Force, June ’14.

Pro Stock – 6.485 sec. by Shane Gray, June ’14; 214.25 mph by Jeg Coughlin, June ’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. by John Force, Feb. ’14, Pomona, Calif.; 325.06 mph by Courtney Force, May ’15, Topeka, Kan.

Pro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May ‘14, Englishtown N.J.

TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also available online at www.NHRA.com/tickets.

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NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS

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

Top Fuel: 1. Antron Brown, 751; 2. Tony Schumacher, 633; 3. Spencer Massey, 588; 4. Richie Crampton, 579; 5. Doug Kalitta, 554; 6. Shawn Langdon, 530; 7. Larry Dixon, 508; 8. Brittany Force, 479; 9. J.R. Todd, 456; 10. Clay Millican, 427.

Funny Car: 1. Matt Hagan, 692; 2. Ron Capps, 653; 3. Del Worsham, 587; 4. Jack Beckman, 567; 5. John Force, 533; 6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 513; 7. Robert Hight, 492; 8. Alexis DeJoria, 487; 9. Tim Wilkerson, 480; 10. Cruz Pedregon, 458.

Pro Stock: 1. Greg Anderson, 781; 2. Erica Enders, 759; 3. Jason Line, 698; 4. Chris McGaha, 578; 5. Rodger Brogdon, 493; 6. Drew Skillman, 488; 7. Larry Morgan, 486; 8. Shane Gray, 474; 9. Allen Johnson, 461; 10. Vincent Nobile, 453.

Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Eddie Krawiec, 339; 2. Andrew Hines, 286; 3. Hector Arana Jr, 273; 4. Hector Arana, 259; 5. Karen Stoffer, 238; 6. Jim Underdahl, 224; 7. Scotty Pollacheck, 207; 8. (tie) Jerry Savoie, 198; LE Tonglet, 198; 10. Angelle Sampey, 193.