Anderson returns to driver’s seat at Houston this week

Greg Anderson (left) shares in the celebration with Jimmy Alund at the Four-Wides.  (Chris Haverly photo)

It’s a good thing Jimmy Alund won at Charlotte, because he won’t be getting another chance. Although he was scheduled to be out for six events, Greg Anderson will return one race earlier and will be back behind the wheel of the Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro for this weekend’s O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals at Houston's Royal Purple Raceway.

For Anderson, missing the first five events of the 2014 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series was a necessary evil as he recovered from heart surgery to repair a bicuspid aortic valve. On Monday a panel of doctors officially cleared his safe return to driving.

"It was very difficult to sit out those first five races," admitted Anderson. "We racers tend to think that everything in life is all about drag racing. Nothing is more important. We live it, breathe it, eat it, sleep it. And sometimes we think we're invincible – but I found out firsthand that we're not.

"In the beginning, I thought the surgery and recovery would be a simple deal, a piece of cake, that I would bounce right back. Turns out it was a huge deal and a new chapter for me. They fixed me up, but there was still a challenge ahead and a lot of pain to go through. You realize you aren't invincible when you go through something like that. You have to learn to be patient, take your time, go slow and follow the doctor's orders, and that's a whole new game for a guy like me. Somehow, I learned how to be patient, healed up in the proper amount of time, and now it's time to go racing again. I couldn't be more excited to get back behind the wheel of my Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro." [4/23/2014]

‘Jailbreak’ Nitro Funny Car headed to Boise’s Ignitor this weekend

The car will be on display at Peterson Chevrolet on Thursday, April 24, from Noon to 4 p.m. (MDT) at 12300 W. Fairview Ave. Boise, Idaho 83713.

The “Jailbreak” Nitro Funny Car is ready to head to Boise, Idaho, for the 44th Annual Ignitor at Firebird Raceway. This weekend marks the second race of the season for Thompson Bless Racing based in Visalia, Calif.  

Even though driver Brad Thompson had a serious crash in his Top Fuel Dragster in Boise six years ago, it's still one of his favorite tracks. He admits having a lump in his throat his first time back to Firebird in 2010. When Crew Chief Brett Johansen agreed to put him in the right lane, the lane he had crashed from two years prior, it allowed him to get closure with the whole accident. Since then he has been back several times.  

"Firebird is a great place to race, and I can't wait to get there and stand on the loud pedal again!" said Thompson. [4/23/2014]