DAYTONA BEACH, FL :: Anthony Anders opened his 2013 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season on a race-winning hot streak.

Anders, 42, of Easley, S.C., posted six consecutive NASCAR Late Model wins spanning three tracks in March. An April 12 win at Greenville Pickens Speedway in Greenville, S.C., upped his 2013 win total to seven. That compares to his six feature wins in all of 2012.

Last year, Anders made a series leading 49 starts. He won his second consecutive NASCAR state championship and his first Myrtle Beach NASCAR Late Model track championship. His shortfall in number of wins resulted in a 17th place national point finish. By comparison, 2012 national champion Lee Pulliam had 22 feature wins in 36 starts.

“The bottom line is you have to win races,” he said in analyzing his performance last year. Now he’s backing up those words with winning results.

“In all the racing you do it takes a lot of patience,” Anders said. “You’ve got to set a pace, know where your car might be off, manage your tires, and know the styles of the drivers around you. I raced more than anyone last year. In every one of them I learned something for the next race. This year, I think it’s all coming together.”

His six consecutive wins in March included three at Greenville-Pickens, two at Kingsport (Tenn.) Speedway and a big win at Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Speedway.

Anders won the 250-lap NASCAR Late Model portion of the Myrtle Beach 400 on March 22. The race was postponed by weather last fall. Anders started 26th in the 31-car field and worked his way to the front. He was running third when the two leaders tangled on the final lap. He steered clear of the incident and took home the winner’s check of $10,000.

Anders said he’s backed by one of the best crews in Late Model racing. They are joined by a key individual this year that helped step-up the entire effort.

“Lee McAlister has been around for a long time and helped a lot of people,” Anders said of his new technical advisor. “He won over 450 dirt Late Model races. He knows a lot about mechanical engineering. He knows what a car needs to make it handle better and pick up speed, and he’s very good about making that happen.”

Anders believes McAlister’s knowledge helped him to a fourth-place finished fourth in February’s UNOH Battle At The Beach at Daytona International Speedway. He started fourth, fell back in the field due to a skirmish, and was able to climb back up to the front.

“The Battle was an awesome experience, and everyone appreciates NASCAR and Daytona International Speedway for putting it on,” Anders said. “I hope it continues.”

In addition to McAlister, Anders’ longtime team members include Derek Lathum, Robert Haseleu, Brandon Lee Fox and Greg Guarry.

Anders owns five Late Models based on Ortec chassis. Phil Harper maintains the Ford crate engines, Chris Sadler builds a Dodge engine and Kowalsky engines power the Chevrolet. Anders also owns and operates Anders, Inc., a construction company specializing in roads and bridges, and Busy Beaver Tree Service. Outback Steakhouse is a primary team sponsor.

Now in its 32nd season, the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series is NASCAR’s national championship program for weekly short track auto racing. More than 50 tracks throughout the United States and Canada participate.

A NASCAR Division I driver’s best 18 results through the Sept. 15 closing date count toward their state and national point totals and the champions are decided on overall point total. Once a driver reaches 18 starts, their point total increases incrementally as they replace some poorer runs with better results.

Under the point structure for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, a race winner receives two points for every car in the event up to 20 cars. Second place receives two fewer points and so on through the field. Race winners receive an additional five points. For example, if 20 cars are in the field, the winner receives 45 points, second place 38 and third 36. If there are 15 cars, the winner receives 35 points, second 28 and third, 26.

Track operators also designate support classes as NASCAR Divisions II-V and drivers in those divisions compete for points in the NASCAR Finalist program. The program brings added recognition to support division drivers. Points are kept separately for asphalt and dirt tracks.

Pavement Late Model driver Lee Pulliam, 24, of Semora, N.C., won the 2012 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national championship.

More information on the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series is available at http://hometracks.nascar.com.