Summit Racing–Line Powers to Victory in all-Summit Racing Seattle Final

Line Powers to Victory in all-Summit Racing Seattle Final

KENT, Wash., August 3, 2014 – The Summit Racing Pro Stock team had an extraordinary outing this weekend at the 27th annual NHRA Northwest Nationals, and it came to a dramatic and exciting final round for the charging group as teammates Jason Line and Greg Anderson raced for the trophy. Line was victorious, and his teammate made huge strides of his own as he broke into the top 10 in NHRA’s Mello Yello Drag Racing Series standings for the first time this season.

Starting from the No. 3 position, Line flew to a 6.555-second pass at 211.16 mph in his first round defeat of Northwest part-timer Mark Wolfe and went on to knock out V. Gaines in the quarterfinals, 6.579, 210.73 to 6.593, 210.77. The Seattle sun was blazing on the racetrack, but Line’s swift Chevrolet was out of the gate quickly in the semifinals, taking a .032-second advantage over Shane Gray and turning it into a win at the top end, 6.606, 210.24 to 6.625, 210.05.

On the other side of the ladder, Anderson was taking down his opponents methodically, marching past Deric Kramer before demolishing a troubled Jeg Coughlin and then getting ahead of points leader Allen Johnson, who also had trouble on the racetrack.

The scene was set for the first all-Summit Racing final round since the 2012 race in Englishtown, where Anderson got the nod and the 100th win for KB Racing. It would be the 70th final round for Line and the 116th for Anderson, and it would also mark the 22nd time that the two had raced in the final.

After a brief staging dual, Line pulled his car into the final beam and Anderson quickly followed suit. The tree came down and Line took a .005-second advantage with a .028 reaction time to Anderson’s .033, and the tiny edge turned out to make a whale of a difference at the top end. Line got the win light on a holeshot, 6.611 at 210.67 to Anderson’s quicker 6.608, 210.54. The margin of victory was just .002-second.

“Today was a very good day for KB Racing and for Team Summit,” said Line. “We got both of the Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaros to the final and what more could you ask for? Greg got into the top 10, and he is not going to look back. He has a good car, and the truth is that he drove better than anybody else today. He’s going to be tough from here on out, trust me.

“I know Greg is disappointed, and I can understand that. We’ve both certainly been on that side of it before, but he is going to win. And when he starts winning, he is going to be tough to stop. The Summit Racing team has some good things coming in the future, and I’m very optimistic. I want to thank Summit Racing and Ken Black for the opportunities that they continue to give us to come out here and win these races.”

The win was the 34th of Line’s Pro Stock career and his third of the season. It was particularly sweet as it came on the heels of a victory earned just last week in Sonoma. Line is No. 3 in the Pro Stock standings and just 37 points outside of first place. Only five marks separate Line and 2nd place Johnson.

The next event on the schedule is the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn. Line grew up in Wright, not far from Brainerd International Raceway, and his home track would be the ideal setting to accomplish something new.

“I’ve never won three in a row, but there is a first time for everything,” said Line.