Line Ends Western Swing with Guaranteed Shot at Championship
KENT, Wash., August 4, 2013 – Jason Line pocketed a round win for the Summit Racing Pro Stock team in Seattle this weekend at the NHRA Northwest Nationals, and it was the icing on the cake after qualifying for NHRA’s Mello Yello Drag Racing Series 2013 Countdown to the Championship on Saturday. For Line, one half of the powerful KB Racing duo that includes Summit Racing teammate Greg Anderson, clinching a berth in the Countdown will allow the 30-time NHRA Pro Stock victor the opportunity to race for a third season title.
Clinching a berth in the Countdown playoffs somewhat soothes the fact that Line is departing early from Seattle – the Mooresville, N.C.-based driver was first to the finish in the opening round to dispose of longtime campaigner Larry Morgan, 6.609 to 6.637, but lost a very close race with Mike Edwards in the quarterfinals. The margin of victory in Edwards’ favor was just .005-second as Line was turned away with a 6.612 to his opponent’s 6.590.
“That was a good race,” said Line. “But it’s also a tough loss, to come so close to beating the No. 1 qualifier and the guy leading the points. We always want a win for the Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaros, but that guy over there really raises the bar, and maybe you want that win a little bit more in a round like that.”
Line, currently holding down the No. 6 position in the standings following this weekend’s event at Pacific Raceways, will have two more races to gather points and work his way up the chain in the Pro Stock points before the Countdown to the Championship kicks off at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte. Line will next race at Brainerd International Raceway, a racetrack that the Minnesota-born second-generation driver considers home.
“We definitely look forward to that race every year,” said Line. “It’s great because we get to see the whole family and race with all the old friends I grew up racing with. I wish we could have left Seattle with the trophy for Summit Racing, but Brainerd will be here in just a couple of weeks and we’ll be going after the win there, that’s for sure. For now, we are going to pack up, head back to the KB Racing shop in Mooresville, and get right back to work. We’ll be looking for more horsepower before the next race.”