Line Takes Points Lead; Brainerd Eliminations to Conclude in Indy
Brainerd, Minn., August 17, 2014 – Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro pilot Jason Line had a very fast car on Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway and it paid off as he returned to the points lead for the first time since winning the season opener. He was on a tremendous ride in Minnesota as he barreled through eliminations at the racetrack’s 33rd annual NHRA Nationals with what was clearly the most powerful car on the property.
Unfortunately, Mother Nature had her way with the day, and the second half of eliminations had to be delayed for completion until the next race on the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour, NHRA’s Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, Aug. 27-Sept. 1.
Line, who qualified with a 6.622 at 208.49 to start from the No. 2 position, blazed past Mark Hogan in the first round of eliminations to win the round with a tremendous 6.573-second blast at 209.69 mph that was well ahead of the pack and good for low e.t. and top speed of the meet honors.
With lane choice, Line advanced to a second-round meeting with Shane Gray, and he continued his dominating performance with a 6.580 at 209.30 that was the quickest and fastest of the round. With friends and family cheering on the Wright, Minnesota-born and raised Line, he and the KB Racing team headed back to the pit area to prepare for the semifinals, but persistent rain pushed the proposed conclusion of eliminations later and later into the evening. Unfortunately, it became too dark and damp to realistically complete eliminations, and NHRA officials – after consulting with the teams – made the decision to complete the semifinals and final round in Indianapolis.
Line has won a remarkable 34 national events in 70 final rounds as a Pro Stock driver, but he has, surprisingly, never won at Brainerd International Raceway, his home track. Heading into the event on a wave of momentum and with two consecutive victories recently collected, Line said that this weekend in Brainerd could be the best shot he’s had at obtaining victory there. He is not, however, terribly disheartened at the change of location for the last two rounds of an event that he holds in high regard.
“Would I have preferred to do it here? You bet,” said Line. “But things don’t always go the way you want them to. We had a super fast car today, and I think we would have been tough to beat – there is no question; the car was really fast. But we have some new things we’re working on in the shop. For the most part, the Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaros are going to be ‘as-is’ when we get to Indianapolis. Hopefully, the momentum will continue.”