Line Ends Qualifying on High Note, Enters Reading Raceday with Momentum
Reading, Pa., October 4, 2014 – Jason Line saved the best for last during qualifying for the 30th annual NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway. The driver of the blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro blasted down the quarter-mile dragstrip in his last qualifying run to clock a furiously swift 6.500-second pass at 213.23 mph. It was the third-quickest of the session and good for a valuable bonus qualifying point. Line, the incoming points leader, qualified in the No. 3 position and will race John Gaydosh in the first round of eliminations.
Qualifying opened on Friday with a 6.566 at 211.06 mph followed by an improved 6.554, 210.87, and Line finished the first day of qualifying in the No. 6 position and eager to get back to it on the second day of the event.
Saturday morning dawned with rain clouds overhead and a wet racing surface, but the rain soon cleared out and NHRA’s Safety Safari worked to dry the track. To ensure that there was a proper amount of rubber on the surface, qualifying order was changed to allow the nitro and alcohol cars to run down the racetrack first. The third session of qualifying for Pro Stock was much delayed, but well worth the wait. The air was cool and the times were quick, and Line picked up the pace with a 6.531 at 212.29 mph that moved him up one spot.
More advancement was to be had in the fourth and final session as the Mooresville, N.C.-based driver clocked the fast and smooth 6.500 pass.
“It was a good run,” said Line. “It was a good, safe run, and she hauls the mail down the back half, we just have to get a little bit better up front. All in all, it wasn’t a bad day, and we moved up in qualifying which is good. The important thing on Sunday is to have a good starting spot. You can win from No. 3, and that’s certainly what we’re hoping for with our Summit Racing Camaro.”
There are only three Sundays remaining before the Countdown to the Championship is decided, and raceday in Reading could easily prove to be pivotal. Line has hold of the points lead by two rounds, and with the weather forecast to be cooler, there is a very real possibility that the naturally aspirated factory hot rods will run quick.
“There may be 20 more points out there [if a national record is set],” said Line. “With that kind of weather, as long as the sun is shining, we’ll be fine. If there is no sun and it’s really cool, it will be difficult on the racetrack, but hopefully the sun will be shining. I suspect the championship points are going to shake up a little bit tomorrow. It should be a really interesting day of racing.”