Anderson Bounces Back

In the Pro Stock class, Anderson capped a frenzied weekend by winning the 35th edition of the race he said "has always had a special spot in my heart."

He did it by outrunning Jeg Coughlin Jr. in the final round, with a 6.742-second e.t. at 204.91 miles an hour in his Vegas General Construction Pontiac Grand Am. Coughlin drove his Chevy Cavalier to a 6.790 at 204.08.

Anderson improved the track record time he set in qualifying No. 1 to 6.738 seconds in his first-round victory over Steve Schmidt. He beat nemesis and former boss Warren Johnson and Rickie Smith to win for the fifth time in the last six races, dating back to the Dallas event last September. He pocketed $25,000.

He said that during qualifying "we panicked and had to regroup Saturday afternoon. I made mistakes. I'm not a machine, but I wish I could be." He called his stumble at Phoenix, where closest competitor Kurt Johnson was the winner, "a chink in the armor." Johnson is 70 points behind in second place.

Harley's Rule!

In the bike class, Hines said it didn't matter that he won with a 7.076- second e.t. at 189.83 miles an hour to Tonglet's 7.161/182.96. "We decided to put both bikes in the winners circle," Hines said. "He was just as happy for me." Besides, he added, "G.T. put up a good fight. He left on me and I had to run him down."

Hines was in high school when Harley-Davidson laid its foundation for a drag-racing program, and he said he "had no inclination to ride a Pro Stock Bike" at the time. After what the No. 1 qualifier declared was a "monumental" personal feat worth $10,000 and an historic one for his manufacturer, he said his association with the program "is the best thing that's happened to me."

Andrew Hines said he wasn't sure what Harley Davidson's goals were when it established its program last year, "but I know what mine are: I'm out here to win races and win championships. We won't be satisfied until we win a race. That'll be something monumental for Harley Davidson."