Thursday, July 31, 2003 | 9:20 a.m.
Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at [email protected] or (702) 259-4089.
The dream season continues for NHRA Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson and his team owner, Ken Black of Las Vegas.
Anderson recorded his sixth victory of the season Sunday at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash., and increased his lead in the Pro Stock standings to 112 points over Kurt Johnson. The victory was the 10th of Anderson's professional career.
"I thought I was starting to slump in Denver," Anderson said of his second consecutive second-round loss. "I really had big hopes of sweeping the 'Western Swing' and got drilled by Warren (Johnson) on the tree in Denver and he taught me a lesson.
"I come back over to Seattle and I have to race him again. It would have been demoralizing if I would have lost again."
Instead, Anderson turned in his best run of the weekend against Johnson in the third round and then defeated Larry Morgan in the final.
"This class is so competitive that anyone can win out here," Anderson said. "Look at Larry Morgan, who has qualified for two races all year, and he had me beat in the final and I just got around him at the finish line.
"I would have never thought in my wildest dreams that I could have won six races this year because look at last year when we had 13 different winners. I may not win another race, but that's just how it goes in this class."
Anderson was the No. 1 qualifier for the eighth time this season and set a track record for elapsed time (6.754 seconds) and speed (205.19 mph). Anderson joined Top Fuel winner Larry Dixon in completing the sweep at Pacific Raceways by being the top qualifier, setting the low e.t. and top speed, and winning the event.
In addition to his career-high six victories, Anderson has broken 16 track records this season and holds the national records for elapsed time (6.670 seconds) and speed (207.18 mph).
The NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series completes it three-race "Western Swing" this weekend with the Fram-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.
"I'm not thinking championship," Force said. "I can still win the championship but I feel my job is to take out the other contenders for Tony. I got so far behind early in the season that I am still in the role of the helper."
Dixon, however, isn't buying that.
"You are watching the greatest comeback in drag racing history," Dixon said of Force. "I'm so glad I'm not in that category; it's going to be fun to watch.
"My money's on John."
The last Top Fuel driver to win the "Western Swing" was Cory McClenathan in 1997. Joe Amato (1991) also completed the sweep in Top Fuel, as did Force in Funny Car in 1994.
"Well, when we did it before, bottom line (is) the competition wasn't this good," Force said. "Now, just to win one race is tough, to win two is tougher and to win three in a row, well, you shouldn't be able to do that. But we'll go after it and see what happens."
Dixon agreed with Force.
"If it happened, that would be great only because I know how difficult it is," Dixon said. "Knowing how difficult it is to do, I think it is great just to be the position to make the attempt."
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