Line Educated and Optimistic Heading into Seattle Raceday
KENT, Wash., August 2, 2014 – Jason Line and the blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro were a powerful pair during qualifying at the 27th annual NHRA Northwest Nationals, and their combined performance at Pacific Raceways has so far been impressive. Line earned bonus qualifying points en route to a start from the No. 3 position. On Sunday, the driver who has already scored two wins in the 2014 season will begin his pursuit of another, starting with a first-round meeting with Pacific Northwest local racer Mark Wolfe.
The first day of the event was a warm affair, but Line and his KB Racing team found the tune-up for the conditions and capitalized on the oxygen provided by the surrounding forest of trees. His 6.549 at 211 mph in the first session was followed with a 6.550, 211.36, and both times were quickest of their respective rounds. Line was No. 3 at the end of the first day at Pacific Raceways.
Day two brought about a pair of qualifying sessions scheduled for much earlier, but conditions weren’t much better. With a strong grasp of the racetrack and the Countdown to the Championship inching ever closer, Line, No. 3 in the standings, took advantage of the opportunity.
“We were able to utilize these two runs today to test some things we had been needing to test, and I feel like tomorrow we’ll be better,” said Line. “We weren’t terrible today, but we certainly weren’t doing what we normally do. But we learned what we needed to learn, and I think we’ll be in better shape having tried out a few things today.”
In the first session on Saturday, Line clocked a 6.565 at 211.20 that was fourth quickest of the session, and in the later round and his final qualifying effort, Line wheeled his Chevrolet to a 6.564, 210.97 that was again fourth quickest. Starting third is a favorable position for Line, who won from the No. 3 spot at the season opener in Pomona this year. The Denver No. 1 qualifier and Sonoma event winner hopes to finish off the Western Swing strong before heading back to the KB Racing shop in Mooresville, N.C.
“Both of the Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaros are improving each step of the way, and my teammate Greg Anderson has a car that is really looking better than it has in a long time,” said Line. “Mine seems to have slipped a notch in qualifying this weekend, but that testing will pay off and all in all the car is really good. Tomorrow is a new day.”