Denver: Greg Anderson Saturday summary

Anderson starts from the No. 5 position at Bandimere Speedway MORRISON, Colo. (July 15, 2006) -- After spending the mid season break vacationing in Aruba, where he and wife Kim celebrated the 16th birthday of daughter Brittany, Greg Anderson once ...

Anderson starts from the No. 5 position at Bandimere Speedway

MORRISON, Colo. (July 15, 2006) -- After spending the mid season break vacationing in Aruba, where he and wife Kim celebrated the 16th birthday of daughter Brittany, Greg Anderson once again began his pursuit of his fourth consecutive NHRA POWERade Pro Stock championship at this weekend's NHRA Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, near Denver.

In the 130-degree plus heat during qualifying, Anderson drove his new KB Racing LLC/Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GTO, to a No. 5 position on the final qualify ladder. He recorded elapsed times of 7.161, 7.094, 7.104, and 7.101 seconds during his four qualify passes.

"We're going to have to try to tune her up," said Anderson following qualifying. "It's a new car. It's been very consistent and it been getting quicker every run versus the field. That a plus for our side going into tomorrow's eliminations. Even with the hot temperatures and the track getting worse due to the heat, we got better every run. We're going in the right direction for tomorrow."

Denver marks the first of three grueling back-to-back-to back races, known among NHRA racers and fans as the "Western Swing," races at which Anderson has done well in the past. In 2004, he swept the three races at Denver, Seattle and Sonoma, Calif., becoming one of only five professional drivers to sweep the "swing" and the only Pro Stock driver to do so. The other drivers are Joe Amato, Cory McClenathan and Larry Dixon in Top Fuel and John Force in Funny Car.

When eliminations get underway tomorrow, Anderson, who has gone to the final round four times this season -- winning one -- will face Tommy Lee, who qualified 12th and took over the ride vacated by Erica Enders.

Anderson, a former native of Minnesota now living in Charlotte, North Carolina, begins his quest for the Mopar Mile-High Nationals Pro Stock title on Sunday, July 16, with eliminations for all classes beginning at 12 noon. Time is local Denver time (MT) and subject to change at anytime.

Qualifying highlights for 27th annual NHRA Mopar Mile-High Nationals can be seen on ESPN2 on Saturday (July 15) from 10 p.m. until 12 midnight. ESPN2 will also air same-day television coverage of eliminations from 9 p.m. until 12 midnight. (Sunday, July 16). The elimination show repeats early Monday morning (July 17) from 2:30-4:30 a.m. Also, tune in to NHRA2Day on ESPN2, the weekly show that gives you the latest information about the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. NHRA2Day can be seen on Sunday morning, July 16, from 11:30 a.m. - 12 noon. Television times are Eastern Time (ET) and subject to change at anytime. Check local listings.