The final round was a rematch of last week in Englishtown, and the outcome was the same. Anderson and Allen Johnson came to the starting line to run for the money, and it was Anderson with the win light at the top end, 6.512 at a track-record setting 214.72 mph. Johnson clocked a 6.530, 213.50.  (Richard Muir photo)

With the win, Anderson claimed the 100th win for a Pro Stock Chevrolet Camaro. The first win was scored by Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins in 1970, the first year of NHRA Pro Stock. Jenkins won the first two events of the season in a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro.

"That's really something, and we're honored to have that. This year feels like one of the most special of my career," said Anderson, who missed part of last season due to heart surgery. "I've had a good career and a lot of good fortune along the way with a lot of people who are responsible for the wins that I have. But personally, this just feels so good after the drought I've had the last few years. I couldn't win a race, but now I have a second lease on life, and I realize how special it is to be racing at this level. I realize how important it is to make the most of this opportunity."

Seen together in qualifying, in the first round of eliminations, Larry Morgan lost to Allen Johnson while Drew Skillman got past Shane Gray. Skillman then lost to PS winner Greg Anderson. (Ron Lewis photo)

Winner of the inaugural NHRA New England Nationals in the Pro Stock class two years ago, Allen Johnson came close to being the first repeat victor at New England Dragway. After a rough start to the season, hampered by issues brought on by a change in fuel and tires for the category, Johnson and his "Magneti Marelli Offered by Mopar" Dodge Dart finally seem to have made some good headway with a solid showing in the first two of three consecutive nationals events.

From his eighth place position on the ladder, Johnson defeated Larry Morgan, Chris McGaha and Erica Enders-Stevens to advance to a second consecutive final round appearance and a rematch of last week's showdown against Greg Anderson in Englishtown, New Jersey. While the Mopar driver had the better reaction time (0.024 seconds to 0.032), his 6.530-second elapsed time run at 213.50 mph wasn't quite enough to beat his opponent's 6.512-second pass with the top speed of the meet at 214.72 mph.

"The Mopar team has done such a great job to overcome challenges and frustration and just keep plugging away and it's finally starting to pay off," said Johnson, who made a significant jump from tenth in the points standings two weeks ago into the top-five for the first time this season. "We just kept digging with every run and we're getting closer. It's got us looking even more forward to the next race at home."

The results are especially welcome because Johnson and his Mopar crew prepare to head to their home track of Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tenn., this weekend. It's where he and his father Roy Johnson are still working towards their first trip to the Pro Stock winner's circle in front of family and friends on Father's Day.