Summit Racing–More points for Line with Carolina Nats finish, fired up for FallNationals raceday

More points for Line with Carolina Nats finish, fired up for FallNationals raceday

Dallas, Texas, September 20, 2014 – Jason Line and Texas Motorplex continued a warm friendship today as Line advanced to the final round at the delayed NHRA Carolina Nationals to give his points lead a bit of a cushion heading into the second race of NHRA’s six-event Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Line, of Mooresville, N.C., didn’t score the Carolina Nationals title, but he is plenty fired up for a second day of eliminations at the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals on Sunday.

Line qualified in the No. 6 spot for the event that was originally slated to take place in Charlotte. Before the event was put on hold due to conditions in the area, Line made the quickest Charlotte pass of the weekend with a remarkable 6.533, 210.93 to knock out Chris McGaha’s 6.856.

Racing was halted soon after their match, and Line picked up right where he left off with a 6.601, 210.50 in his defeat of Dave Connolly’s 6.679, 209.04 at Texas Motorplex. Next on the list was a semifinals meeting with KB Racing-powered Vincent Nobile, and Line was first to launch by .008 in his blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro and kept the lead for a 6.599, 209.95 to 6.606, 210.34 win.

Line drew young Jonathan Gray, a rookie competitor, as an opponent in the 72nd final round of his career and seventh of the 2014 season. It would also mark the fourth consecutive Carolina Nationals final for the two-time NHRA Pro Stock champion; he won the event in 2012 and was runner-up in 2011 and 2013.

Gunning for the 36th Pro Stock trophy of his career, Line was just .017-behind at the start and was charging but unable to make up enough ground. His opponent’s 6.589, 209.10 got the win light over his own 6.605, 209.62. The difference on the racetrack was approximately 10 feet.

“It was a good day for us, but we wanted to go just one step further with our Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro; certainly the desire to win is there,” said Line, who concluded the day 59 marks ahead of the No. 2 driver. “We want to make the most of the opportunity we have right now, that’s for sure, but we can’t complain about this. We went to the final round, and we’ve got another race we get to run tomorrow. We keep the points lead tonight, and boy, I’ve had a lot worse days. I would like to say congratulations to Jonathan. It was nice to see him win his first race, because that’s a hard thing to do. Congratulations to him and to his team.”

Line was the No. 4 qualifier overall in qualifying for the FallNationals, a race that he returns to as the defending event champion. He will race Chris McGaha in the first round on Sunday. Line has two wins in three final rounds at the NHRA FallNationals; he was victorious in 2011 and 2013.

“Me and Texas – we like each other,” said Line. “I like our chances tomorrow.”