Tuesday, October 14, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Anderson's Pro Stock victory gives Las Vegan championship

Owner Black picks up NHRA world title

By JEFF WOLF
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Ken Black has been smiling a lot, and it has nothing to do with the booming home construction industry.

Black owns Vegas General Construction, one of Nevada's largest framing operations, and he also owns a Pro Stock team in the NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series.

The team's driver, Greg Anderson, delivered the first NHRA world title to Las Vegas on Sunday when he clinched the Pro Stock championship by winning his first-round match and then added the event title at Ennis, Texas.

It was Anderson's 10th title of the year, one short of the record set in 1991 by Darrell Alderman. Anderson can match that mark in two weeks when he competes in the ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway's dragstrip.

Three events remained when the series arrived at the Texas Motorplex last week. Anderson needed to win only one of the season's 12 remaining rounds.

"It was very special, especially winning the race in Texas," Black said. "We knew we had the championship won when we left (the previous race). It was highly impractical to think anyone could catch us."

Black, who owns KB Racing with his son, Kenny, started in drag racing as co-owner of Las Vegan George Marnell's Pro Stock team. The Blacks set out on their own to start the 2002 season and finished third in points last year.

Larry Dixon clinched the Top Fuel championship Sunday for team owner Don Prudhomme.

The other two pro titles could be determined Oct. 24 to 26 when the NHRA tour competes in Las Vegas.

Tony Pedregon has a 94-point lead over Whit Bazemore in Funny Car, and Geno Scali is 151 points ahead of Shawn Gann in Pro Stock Bike. ...

Las Vegan Chris Naffziger won the Division 7 NHRA Race of Champions title Sunday at Southwestern International Raceway in Tucson, Ariz.

• NASCAR -- Joe Nemechek has been hired by MB2 Motorsports to drive its No. 01 Pontiac for the last four races of the Winston Cup season and throughout 2004.

The team's regular driver, Jerry Nadeau, continues to recover from a head injury suffered in a May 2 accident.

• OPEN WHEEL -- Kenny Brack underwent surgery late Sunday on his broken thigh and broken ankles after his horrific crash in the Indy Racing League season finale earlier in the day at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

Brack, who is in serious but stable condition, faces more surgery for a broken lower back and a broken sternum.

• WATER SPORTS -- Steven Dauliach, Dustin Farthing and Masao Fiujisama each won Pro category gold medals Sunday on the final day of the International Jet Sports Boating Association World Finals in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

Las Vegan Rob Flores won silver medals in Pro Ski and Pro Runabout 1200. He also won the title in Pro-Am Ski SS.