NHRA champion voted Driver of the Year

Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2005 | 9:36 a.m.

Greg Anderson, who fashioned arguably the best season in NHRA history en route to winning his second consecutive Pro Stock championship, on Monday was named the 2004 Speed Channel Driver of the Year.

Anderson, who drives for team owner Ken Black of Las Vegas, became only the second NHRA driver in 38 years to win the award that recognizes the top driver from among all of the major racing series in the United States. John Force, the 13-time Funny Car champion, in 1996 was the first NHRA drag racer to win the award.

"During this amazing run, we've had a lot of neat things happen but this definitely tops them all," Anderson said. "It's great for me personally and especially for the sport of NHRA drag racing. Not only does this award mean that my team had an outstanding year on the racetrack, but it also means that people are taking notice of NHRA drag racing.

"I have set some pretty lofty goals for my racing career but, heck, I never dreamed this big. I'm just numb. It is an individual honor, but I was able to win it because of the great team I have assembled. I am just so proud of my team and I am going to share this award with them, because we did it together."

In winning 15 of the 23 NHRA national events in 2004, Anderson established numerous NHRA single-season records, including most victories (15), most final rounds (19), most rounds won (76), most No. 1 qualifying awards (16) and most points accumulated in a season (2,402).

"The outstanding Pro Stock season that Greg Anderson enjoyed in 2004 certainly ranks among the greatest individual performances in NHRA history," NHRA president Tom Compton said. "It is fitting that he is rewarded for his accomplishments with the distinguished honor of being recognized as the Driver of the Year for all of motor sports."

A panel of 18 prominent American auto-racing journalists, as well as fan voting conducted on speedtv.com, determines the Speed Channel Driver of the Year Award; Champ Car World Series champion Sebastien Bourdais won the fan voting.

Other finalists for the award were Las Vegas native Kurt Busch, the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup champion; Jimmie Johnson (NASCAR); Tony Schumacher (NHRA); Steve Kinser (World of Outlaws); Tony Kanaan (Indy Racing League); and Bourdais.