Summit Racing–Line Set on Making the Most of First Round Meeting with Teammate

Line Set on Making the Most of First Round Meeting with Teammate
 
Event:  44th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals
Location: Old Bridge Township Raceway Park
Day/Date: Saturday, June 1, 2013
 
Qualifying for the Toyota NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park has concluded, and Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line has found himself in the unfavorable position of squaring off with his KB Racing teammate Greg Anderson for the second time this season. Although Line had hoped to meet face-to-face with his friendly foe in a much later round, the bright side is that the early meeting guarantees a Summit Racing Camaro will advance to the second round and have a fair shake at going after the event title.
 
Line, who will start from the No. 4 position with a best time of 6.581 at 210.60 mph, had a strong car during qualifying. The Mooresville, N.C.-based driver opened eliminations with a 6.608 at just over 210 mph that immediately identified Line as a top half contender despite thick air and extraordinary heat that plagued the day and would carry on through qualifying.
 
In the second session, Line picked up the pace and was 4th quickest of the group with a swift 6.581, 210.60. Although Line’s numbers in the third qualifier did not exceed his best time of the weekend, his car’s performance showed that the experienced Summit Racing group had a handle on the conditions and the right combination for his blue Chevrolet Summit Racing Camaro as they made the second-quickest pass of the session – a 6.596 at a consistent 210.60 mph that scored two valuable bonus qualifying points. Line rounded out qualifying with a sixth-best 6.627, 209.82.
 
“We made at least one decent run out there this weekend in the Summit Racing Camaro,” said Line. “But there is certainly more left, no question. I’m looking forward to eliminations, but I would be a lot more excited if I didn’t have to meet my teammate in the first round.”
 
Raceday in Englishtown will mark only the fourth time in a decade that Summit Racing teammates Line and Anderson have met in the first round of eliminations. The infrequency of the unfortunate occurrence makes it no less unsettling for the duo that have collectively amassed 104 national event wins and six NHRA Pro Stock world championships.
 
“This is definitely not the way we want the ladder to look on Sunday,” said Line, who won the event in Houston just last month. “But it is what it is. We weren’t able to prevent it, so now we just have to deal with it and make the most of the situation. One way or another, a Team Summit car is going to advance, and it doesn’t matter which one of us it is. It will be up to that driver to take Summit Racing all the way to the winner’s circle. And that’s what we plan to do.”