Greg Anderson Wins K&N Horsepower Challenge in Las Vegas for Record 6th Time

11 Apr 2017

Greg Anderson, NHRA, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, K&N Horsepower Challenge, KB Racing

NHRA Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson won the K&N Horsepower Challenge in Las Vegas

NHRA Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson had home-track advantage at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a history of winning the K&N Horsepower Challenge, and a little revenge on his mind in the final against Shane Gray. Anderson won the $50,000 K&N Horsepower Challenge in one of the closest races of the day, finishing 0.015 seconds ahead of Gray in the final round.

“This means the world,” Anderson said. “This is the most fun race of the year for me. I love K&N (filters) and all they do for this class and the sport in general. Without them, it wouldn’t be the same. Six wins; that’s $300,000, can you imagine that? That’s more money than I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Anderson won the sixth K&N Horsepower Challenge of his career. Ken Black, the owner of his KB Racing team, lives in Las Vegas. It made winning the K&N Horsepower Challenge in Las Vegas sweeter.

NHRA driver Greg Anderson won $50,000 in the K&N Horsepower Challenge in Las Vegas

“To come out here in front of Ken Black and get the job done is awesome,” Anderson said on Saturday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “That’s home field advantage and we made the most of it. Every time you race it can go either way. It goes back and forth. They say you can’t win them all. We try to but the truth is you’re not gonna.”

Anderson lost to Tanner Gray in the second round of the NHRA Pro Stock races in Las Vegas. Two weeks ago at Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida, Anderson lost to Shane Gray, Tanner’s father, in the final.

“That (Gainesville final) was a tough loss. I took it personally. I made a mistake and I think I lost the race because of it,” Anderson said. “If I had lost twice I would have had a tough time dealing with it.”

NHRA driver Shane Gray lost to Greg Anderson by .015 seconds in the final of the K&N Horsepower Chal

Anderson, a four-time NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock champion, won the K&N Horsepower Challenge in 2016, 2011, 2010, 2006 and 2004. He was the No. 2 seed in the 2017 K&N Horsepower Challenge based on his qualifying efforts in the past 23 NHRA Pro Stock events. Anderson beat Allen Johnson and his KB Racing teammate Bo Butner in the first two round of the eight-driver K&N Horsepower Challenge field. Anderson gave credit to his crew chief Rob Downing for giving him a “perfect race car.”

“The sun was out today and that made it tricky for for crew chiefs,” Anderson said. “The truth is that Rob Downing did a better job managing that track than any of the other crew chiefs. That (Cold Hart Art) trophy is beautiful and I love it but it’s going to Rob Downing.”

Shane Gray, making his fourth appearance in the K&N Horsepower Challenge, reached the final after beating Vincent Nobile in the opening round. Shane Gray, who drives for Gray Manufacturing Technologies, beat Erica Enders, two-time winner of the K&N Horsepower Challenge, in the second round before meeting Anderson in the final.

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