Summit Racing

Line Powers to No. 1 Qualifying Position in Atlanta

Line Powers to No. 1 Qualifying Position in Atlanta

Event:  32nd annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals

Location: Atlanta Dragway, Commerce, Georgia

Day/Date: Saturday, May 5, 2012

Jason Line and the Summit Racing team continued their run of strong qualifying performances on Saturday, capturing the No. 1 qualifying position for Sunday’s final eliminations of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta, Ga.  After slotting himself atop the field with his 6.612-second, 208.68 mph pass on Friday evening, Line was never headed for the remainder of qualifying, improving to a 6.607-second time and 209.04 mph top speed on Saturday morning before closing with a 6.629-second, 208.39 mph run on the 133 degree Atlanta Dragway track in the fourth and final session.

This is the 28th No. 1 qualifying performance of Line’s career, fourth of the season and first at Atlanta Dragway.  As he prepared for his first round encounter with No. 16 qualifier and fellow Minnesota native Warren Johnson, he was quick to acknowledge the efforts of those who had contributed to his running so well in the adverse conditions as well as needling one of the sport’s announcers.  Finally, he looked to turn his success in qualifying into round wins on Sunday, allowing him to successfully defend his title from this race a year ago.

“The racetrack was certainly hotter today, but the NHRA did a nice job of prepping it because it was phenomenal considering the conditions,” said Line.  “Realizing we’ll be running in something similar tomorrow, we went out in the last session looking to make a nice, safe run and came up with that 6.62, so we feel really good going into race day.

“My Summit Racing crew has done a great job so far this weekend, just as they have all year – who knows, maybe Mike Dunn will finally give us the Full Throttle Hard Working Crew award!   Now it’s up to me to hold up my end of the deal and maintain the intensity that it takes to be the best in this class.  I feel good about things this weekend, so hopefully this will be a good turnaround for us – it certainly couldn’t come at a better time or place.”