63-year-old Greg Anderson addresses retirement talk after winning sixth NHRA Pro Stock title
Veteran NHRA Pro Stock racer Greg Anderson is not ready to step away just yet. The 63-year-old claimed his sixth Pro Stock championship at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals this Sunday.
Anderson competed against younger drivers, winning the semifinal against 29-year-old Aaron Stanfield and qualifying first with a 6.505-second run. He narrowly defeated teammate Dallas Glenn, 34, by just .002 seconds in Pomona, California. In a post-race press conference, Anderson discussed the impressive young talent in racing. Here's what he said:
"Our class is in great shape. That's the good news. We've got so many young guns that can drive the wheels off these race cars. It's race for wins, race for championships. And yes, they're trying to push me out the door. So I'm dragging my feet. I'm not going and I keep saying it." (via Bob Pockrass)
He further stated that he would compete until he stopped winning.
"People ask me, when you're going to quit? I'm going to quit as soon as I can't win anymore. And apparently I can't quit yet, so we'll see. It's not going to be tomorrow, maybe, you know, three days after that, but it's not going to be tomorrow," he added.
Anderson had won three championships in a row from 2003 to 2005 before adding two more in 2010 and 2021. The Minnesota native now joins NHRA legends Warren Johnson and Erica Enders as a six-time champion, with only Bob Glidden’s 10 titles ahead of them.
Overall, he has 106 career wins and 182 final-round appearances.
"Thank you, Mr. H" - Greg Anderson extends gratitude to Rick Hendrick
Greg Anderson began his drag racing career in 1998 and now competes for KB Racing. He previously worked as the crew chief for retired drag racer Warren Johnson and helped him win three championships in the 1990s.
"It's so hard to win out here. I haven't been able to win for the last three months. I've had a great car. I haven't been able to win. I had a rocket ship today," Anderson said after the win.
The 2024 season started in Gainesville with HendrickCars.com on Anderson’s Chevrolet Camaro. He also thanked Rick Hendrick for sponsoring his car.
“Thank you, Mr. H. I told you, ‘Make more room in the trophy case. I'm bringing you some home this week. Thank this great race team. KB Titan is 1 and 2 in the world this year. That is beyond belief. That's too cool," he added.
Hendrick Automotive Group renewed its partnership with Anderson and his KB Titan Racing team in March of this year.