NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Meet the new boss; same as the old boss.

For all the talk of a youth movement in the Pro Stock class, four-time world champion Greg Anderson isn’t quite ready to abdicate his throne. Anderson, who began racing in the Pro Stock class in 1999, celebrated his 60th birthday in the best way possible by driving to a victory at the season-opening 2021 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. Anderson now has 95 career wins in the factory hot rod class, putting him just two behind Warren Johnson for the class all-time lead. Five of those wins have now come in Gainesville.

Anderson turned on the win light in the final with a 6.602, 209.33 run after Coughlin shook the tires off the starting line and had to lift off the throttle. For Anderson, the win also breaks a long dry spell that dates back to the 2019 Dallas race.

“Thanks to everyone who works on this great race team,” said Anderson. “We came here with Race Star Wheels on the car this weekend and I think they made the car faster. This is a match made in heaven. Finally, it’s great to get back to victory lane in Gainesville.”

The Pro Stock field in Gainesville was so tightly bunched that it would be hard to pick out a favorite, but Anderson’s KB Racing Camaro was certainly among them. In qualifying, Anderson was the top qualifier for the 107th time in his career, and he worked his way to career final No. 159 with a combination of smooth driving and brute horsepower. Anderson opened with a 6.550 on what amounted to a single run after Cristian Cuadra left ahead of the green light. Anderson left first against Alex Laughlin’s Speed Society Camaro in the quarterfinals and ran a consistent 6.555 to advance and he finished off the drive to the final with a narrow 6.56 to 6.58 win against Deric Kramer’s Camaro, which also uses engines from KB Racing.

Nine races into his Pro Stock career and third-generation racer Troy Coughlin Jr. seems destined to find the winner’s circle. Already a winner in Super Comp, Super Gas, and Top Alcohol Dragster, and a competitive driver in Pro Mod and Top Fuel, Coughlin moved to Pro Stock early last season and drove to a final round in his rookie season before he lost to his uncle, Jeg Coughlin Jr. Troy Jr. powered past fellow young guns Aaron Stanfield and brothers Cristian and Fernando Cuadra Jr. to reach the final round in his JEGS/Elite Camaro.