MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Cody Anderson is a candidate for the NHRA Rookie of the Year award despite having never driven a race car of any type before this season.
The son of six-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson stepped into a KB Titan Racing Pro Stock and has qualified for every race this season.
It’s been a learning experience for the younger Anderson.
“I set a lot of goals for myself this year, and I’ve achieved many of them – and that’s been extremely rewarding,” Anderson said. “They started as small goals, like qualifying for the race, getting past round one, cutting a good light, shifting well – but they’ve gotten bigger as the year has gone on. Just learning from my mistakes has been a big thing for me, and when you can find a way to be better than you were the race before, that’s a good feeling.”
Anderson said learning to drive a Pro Stock has been a challenge.
“Just driving these Pro Stock cars well. They’re very finicky, they’re tough to drive, and it’s hard to lay down a really good lap,” Anderson said. “When you do, it’s awesome, but that has been the most challenging part. You can’t be perfect every time – but you need to be in order to compete with a lot of these guys out here.”
Anderson hopes to continue to follow in his dad’s footsteps.
“Hopefully, I get to keep running these things. They’re a blast to drive, and I’m enjoying it, but it’s not promised,” Anderson said. “I’m just trying to enjoy every second I can of this season, and I’m trying not to get my hopes up too far out. I’m just grateful for all of this, and I’d like to have a long future behind the wheel of one of these things.
“We’ve had a great rookie year, and hopefully we’ve impressed the right people to be able to keep doing this. Right now, we’re just looking forward to a good finish to the season.”
