Anderson's Dominance Borders on Ridiculous

By MARTIN HENDERSON

July 30, 2004 12 AM PT

Times Staff Writer

Greg Anderson still can’t believe it. Can’t believe he is rewriting the record books, can’t believe he has become the New York Yankees of the National Hot Rod Assn.’s Pro Stock class.

Dominance? Anderson has won 11 of 14 events this season, one short of the record 12 he set in Pro Stock last year in 23 races, and two short of John Force’s all-time NHRA season record in Funny Car.

Dynasty? In only his team’s second year, Anderson has won 23 of 37 national events. His record in elimination rounds over that span is 116-14 (.892).

“It almost is stupid,” Anderson said of his remarkable success, which he credits to team chemistry -- he handpicked each member. “The guy with the biggest ego in the world wouldn’t think he could do this.

“Now it’s getting to the point where setting records is more important than just trying to win races.”

Not that the North Carolina resident wants it that way. He just can’t avoid the media glare. He has become the Michael Schumacher of Pro Stock, and the fact is that he may never get another chance to set the records he has in his crosshairs.

Then again, that’s what he told himself last year.

“I told everyone I can’t imagine what we’ll do to top last year,” said Anderson, 43, while preparing for this weekend’s 17th Fram Autolite Nationals at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. “It was our first year together last year, I knew we’d be better. We’ve had a year to mature and we’ve absolutely gotten better.”

He says there’s room for improvement.

“Starting to get a handle on the driving part,” he said. “I’m decent, but I’m not the best. It’s mostly mental, how you hold up under pressure.”

In a sponsor-driven sport, Anderson’s dominance yielded one of the easiest sells of all time. Summit Racing called him before the three-race Western Swing with a three-year deal. Anderson then won at Denver and Seattle before heading to Sonoma.

“Didn’t even have to come up with fancy proposals,” Anderson said. “They said, ‘This seems to be the only guy that can beat Jeg’s.’ It comes down to them wanting to go head-to-head vs. Jeg’s.

“Win on Sunday, sell parts on Monday. It’s absolutely true in mail-order. People are thinking, ‘Hey, maybe that’s why these guys are fast.’ ”

Anderson has a 49-3 record in elimination rounds this season. The NHRA record for round wins is Anderson’s 67 set last year.

He leads his teammate, second-place Jason Line, by 527 points in the standings, and Kurt Johnson by 541. Essentially, it is a six-race lead. “Blows your mind to even think about it,” Anderson said.

Southland Scene

Kerry Earnhardt will be the biggest name in the NASCAR Grand National Division West Series race on Saturday at Irwindale Speedway.

The oldest son of Dale Sr., Kerry Earnhardt takes his first green flag at the half-mile oval in the NAPA Auto Parts 150. The plan is for him to race the rest of the season for Bill McAnally Racing so that he can stay sharp while waiting for a full-time Nextel Cup ride next season for Richard Childress Racing.

“It just goes to show the name helps, but it don’t get you everything people think it does,” said Earnhardt, who has raced three Nextel Cup races this season and will retain his rookie status. “Sponsors put up big money and look at results. That’s why I hooked up with Richard Childress. He has the best equipment, the best organization, the best opportunity to get seat time and show that we do have the talent, we just have to get someone to believe in us to allow us to go full time.”

Earnhardt said he has three more Cup races scheduled: at Michigan, Talladega and Atlanta.

He made his West Series debut last Saturday with a fourth-place finish at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash. His McAnally teammate, Austin Cameron, won the race, his second in a row.

Mike Duncan of Lamont, Calif., leads Cameron, of El Cajon, by 25 points and David Gilliland of Riverside by 36 in the standings.

Last Laps

Morgan Lucas of Riverside will be the successor to the late Darrell Russell as the NHRA Top Fuel driver for Joe Amato Racing. Their first event will be Aug. 12-15 in Brainerd, Minn.

Motocross prodigy James “Bubba” Stewart, 18, signed a contract that will keep him with Kawasaki for the next two years, including his debut in the 250cc class of the AMA THQ Supercross Series that begins Jan. 8 at Anaheim Stadium.

The VRA Sprint Cars will compete Saturday at Perris Auto Speedway.

Garrett Hansen of Manhattan Beach led only through the final homestretch at Ventura Raceway in winning the 30-lap USAC Western Midget feature last Saturday. Wally Pankratz led the first 29 laps. Ventura Raceway holds races Wednesday and Thursday during the county fair.

Nextel Cup team owner Cal Wells III has signed Bobby Hamilton Jr. and his Busch series crew chief, Harold Holly, to drive for PPI Motorsports in 2005.

This Week’s Races

NASCAR NEXTEL CUP

Pennsylvania 500

* When: Today, qualifying (TNT, noon); Sunday, race (TNT, 10:30 a.m.).

* Where: Pocono International Raceway (triangular oval, 2.5 miles, 14 degrees banking in Turn 1, 8 degrees in Turn 2, 6 degrees in Turn 3), Long Pond.

* Race distance: 500 miles, 200 laps.

* 2003 winner: Ryan Newman.

* Next race: Aug. 8, Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis.

NASCAR BUSCH

Goulds Pumps/

ITT Industries 250

* When: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 3 p.m.); Saturday, race (TNT, 12:30 p.m.).

* Where: Pikes Peak International Raceway (D-shaped oval, 1 mile, 10 degrees banking in turns); Fountain, Colo.

* Race distance: 250 miles, 250 laps.

* 2003 winner: Scott Wimmer.

* Next race: Aug. 7, Kroger 200 at Indianapolis.

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS