The famed NHRA Western Swing, currently run as a two-race stint, concluded at Sonoma Raceway this past weekend, and six-time Sonoma winner Greg Anderson recorded a solid performance wheeling his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet to preserve his position just one slot out of the Pro Stock points lead.
“Leaving here without a trophy is disappointing because Sonoma Raceway has been so good to us in the past, and my HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro is absolutely capable of getting the job done,” said Anderson, who is No. 2 in the standings behind KB Titan Racing teammate Dallas Glenn. “But it was such a good, good weekend in so many ways. Qualifying was great, and we absolutely had a hot rod on Sunday. We’re not down, leaving here. If anything, we’re more excited than ever to get to the next one.”
In qualifying, Anderson reset the Sonoma Raceway track record for elapsed time (6.491-second) on the way to securing the 128th No. 1 qualifier award of his career, fourth of the season, and ninth at Sonoma Raceway. Qualifying in the top spot equated to a first-round match-up with Derrick Reese and the Frank Iaconio-powered entry out of the Kenny Delco Racing stable. In Reese’s debut Pro Stock event, he put forth good effort – but it was the most winning driver in the history of the class with the win light, 6.528, 210.97 to 7.411, 150.63.
That set up a “just like old times” second-round meeting between Anderson and longtime rival Jeg Coughlin Jr. Heading into the round, the two had met 109 times before during eliminations, and Anderson held the upper hand, 61-48. The driver of the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro extended his stance as he launched first by .001-second and powered into full-gallop for a quick-of-the-round 6.538, 209.39 win over a 6.557, 210.18.
In a semifinals stand-off with Aaron Stanfield – a driver he’d already met four times this season in eliminations – the two launched nearly together (Stanfield with a .025 and Anderson with a .028 reaction time) but as they left the starting line, Anderson’s tires shook hard and spoiled his intentions. Stanfield advanced.
“I was certainly not expecting that,” said Anderson. “Overall, a good weekend, but another reminder that we have to be perfect every time, in every way. The Countdown to the Championship is close, very close, and I guess the good news is that we’ll be racing in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday in Brainerd. That’s important because it could give us important points for the Countdown. We only have a couple of races left before the points are reset, and we get to go home to Minnesota for this next one. With the racecar I have right now and with the team I have behind me, I absolutely see great days ahead.”
The next race on the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series tour will be the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., August 15-18.
This story was originally published on July 29, 2024. 
