EASLEY, SC :: Before the 2014 season began, Anthony Anders was known as a former track champion at Greenville-Pickens Speedway and Myrtle Beach Speedway. Now, Anders is a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (NWAAS) National Champion.
When the 2014 regular season ends on Sunday and the points are certified by NASCAR in Daytona Beach, it will be Anders who is honored in Charlotte at the NWAAS banquet in December. Anders’ race for the championship was as impressive as it was controversial. Anders collected 30 wins on the season at three different racetracks. 23 of those wins came at his hometown track, Greenville-Pickens Speedway, where he has raced for 18 years.
“I have to give a lot of credit to Hawk McCall Motorsports,” Anders said. “When we went to Daytona, Ben Rhodes finished second in that race, there I am with our program that we run over the years, I’ve won 15 races every year and you’ve got to win races and have car count there. When Hawk McCall bought this team a few miles from my house, Randy Hawkins and Lee McCall put this program together, Tony won in their cars, Kyle Larson won in their cars, Ben Rhodes came in to my hometown and cleaned my house. Me and Randy are close friends and we got to talking and brought the program together. I said we could win a national championship and, we won it. They gave me their equipment and their knowledge and we won 30 races. I appreciate them for bringing me this equipment.”
Along with winning the national title, Anders picked up his second consecutive Greenville-Pickens Speedway track championship and his fourth consecutive NWAAS South Carolina State Championship. However, it was the national title Anders wanted, felt he deserved and strived for. The main thing standing in his way was not just Lee Pulliam, but the car counts that often accompany Pulliam when and where he races.
“For the last three years, I’ve raced Myrtle Beach, Greenville, Hickory, Anderson and Kingsport,” Anders explained. “I won seven races at different tracks. To win a national championship, that’s been my goal for three years. I remember being at the banquet. It’s like a dream come true. I went to South Boston and didn’t do worth a crap but I saw what was going on and what was taking place. Down here in the south, with Anderson going NASCAR, it’s been over the years thinking of this national deal, I remember thinking how these boys put this together. I won a bunch of races over the years. In 2011, I won 14 races at GPS and nobody spoke a word of me. I wasn’t even in the top 50. So we had to figure out what was going on and that’s what we did.”
That’s when Anders formulated his controversial championship plan – loading the field with what “start-and-park” racecars to ensure a full 18 car field to get maximum points for each win and be able to take advantage to get the bonus points for starting 10th or worse if necessary. While Anders was criticized harshly by fellow championship rivals Lee Pulliam and Keith Rocco as well as by fans on social media, it was not a new practice. In fact, start-and-park cars helped put Lee Pulliam over the top in both of his NWAAS National Championship seasons.
Both Pulliam and Rocco have expressed frustration with Anders’ exploitation of the current championship format in various media interviews and on social media. The outspoken nature of both drivers combined with their frustration could make the NWAAS Banquet awkwardly entertaining in December.
“I’m excited, I can’t wait to get to get to the banquet,” Anders commented while laughing. “I can’t wait to hear what Pulliam has to say about me. Rocco’s a hell of a guy and he’s a funny guy. They do some talking and I’ll talk some as well.”
Anders finished out the regular season with three consecutive wins – one at Myrtle Beach Speedway and two at Greenville-Pickens Speedway. On his way to Myrtle Beach on September 13th, the tire on Anders’ hauler actually went flat. He didn’t get to the track until minutes before the race. He didn’t get to practice or qualify and had to start at the rear. It was in the second of two Late Model features that he raced to the front to score the victory. On Saturday night, September 20th, Anders picked up the win after a thrilling battle with three-time Greenville-Pickens Speedway track champion Randy Porter.
Winning the national title meant a lot to Anders. For him, it’s one more dream come true.
“It’s just hilarious,” Anders remarked. “I’ve dreamed about winning. I remember when I was about 20, I sat up in turn four at Greenville. I dreamed that I wanted to be on that scoreboard. I dreamed about a Charger championship. I dreamed about moving up. I dreamed about winning a LMSC championship. Then it became four straight track championships and a national championship.”
Looking Ahead
With his NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Championship season complete, Anders now turns his attention to Martinsville – a track very similar in characteristics to Greenville. Anders will be racing for Hawk McCall Motorsports in a car that was run by 2014 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Champion Ben Rhodes in previous years.
“I wouldn’t miss Martinsville for nothing in the world,” Anders stated. “Greenville and Martinsville have similarities. Every time I’ve run a long race in a Hawk-McCall car, it’s been a good long pace race car. At Hickory, one of those races, we finished second. We ran a 100 lapper at Anderson and started 17th and finished second. The equipment that they give me for long races is good and stable. I’m excited; I think we’ll have a good racecar. Ben Rhodes has been in position to win races. The equipment is there. I can’t wait to get there Wednesday.”
After Martinsville, Anders plans to retire from racing full-time and turn his attention to helping his son, Brandon Fox, race.
“I’m ready to retire,” Anders said. “My boy will take over my car this year. My plan is to run any race that’s 100-150 laps. Brandon’s going to race at Greenville.”
