Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Pro Stocker Anderson ahead of last year’s fast pace

Thursday, April 8, 2004 | 11:10 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Greg Anderson is putting his money where his mouth is.

Six months ago, after winning his NHRA record-tying 11th Pro Stock race of the season in the fall event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Anderson said he wouldn't be surprised "to see us go a little farther next year and do even better."

A bold statement, to be sure, but the reigning Pro Stock champion who won a record 12 races in 2003 is off to an even better start this season. Anderson, who drives the Vegas General Construction Pontiac Grand Am for team owner Ken Black of Las Vegas, earned his third victory in four races this season at last weekend's NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals at The Strip.

"I didn't want to tell anybody that I thought we could really (top what we did last season) but I did tell everybody we were going to be a better team than we were last year and I think I'm right on the money on that," Anderson said.

"Who knows? Maybe we can win more than 12 races and set more records, but the major goal is obviously the championship."

Not that Anderson and his team, led by crew chiefs Rob Downey and Jeff Pearley, are resting on their laurels.

"We could come back to Houston (next weekend) and someone (could) find 20 or 30 horsepower and all of a sudden the rage is gone," Anderson said. "But they're going to have to work really hard to do that because we're going home from here and going to try and find that ourselves.

"They better go home and work, is all I can say, because we're going to do the same thing. The more we win, the more you want to win and the harder it makes you work."

Anderson has won 13 of the past 20 Pro Stock races and has led the points standings after each of the past 17 races. That run left even Anderson shaking his head in amazement after his most recent victory, which was his third in a row in Las Vegas.

"You've got to wonder how long it can go and what things are going to be like three, four months from now but, geez, the way it's looking, it's going to get even better for us," he said. "I see no end to it. You've got to ride that wave when you're on top and right now, we're obviously on top of the wave ... and we're going to ride that wave like the best surfer you ever saw."

Littlefield reportedly suffered only minor cuts when a semi truck hit and demolished the truck he was driving. According to news reports, Littlefield had to be extricated from his truck but his racecar, which he was towing in a trailer, was not damaged in the accident.

Nitro-powered, front-motored Top Fuel dragsters, Nostalgia nitro funny cars, AA /Gas and 10 other classes will compete in the two-day nostalgia drag racing event, which also will feature an outdoor car show, manufacturer exhibits and a used auto parts swap meet.

Additional information on the event can be found at www.good-guys.com or by calling (925) 838-9876.