Line improving as NHRA Gatornationals comes to crescendo in Gainesville
GAINESVILLE, Fla., March 14, 2015 – The field is set for the third race of 24 in NHRA’s 2015 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, and Summit Racing driver Jason Line has earned a start from the No. 2 position and a first-round match with a driver he has yet to race in his Pro Stock career. Line, of Mooresville, N.C., started strong and went on to make up even more ground on the second day of the 46th annual Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals setting up a first-round match with rookie competitor Alan Prusiensky.
On the first day of qualifying, Line raced to a 6.532-second pass at 212.83 mph in the first session, and he returned later that day with a 6.533 paired with a horsepower laden 213.13 that would stand as top speed of the meet heading into Sunday in Gainesville. Ending Day One in the No. 5 position, Line had his sights set high.
In the first round of qualifying on Saturday, he clocked a 6.522, 212.69 that was the second quickest of the session and came with a pair of bonus qualifying points and a move up to the No. 2 spot.
“I did expect that we would improve coming into today,” said Line. “I expected to go a little bit faster each run. We have a good car with this blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro. We can absolutely win the race tomorrow, and I’m very happy. We know there is more left in there, we didn’t get all of it yet, and everybody is working together really well on this KB Racing team. We did a good job today but just came up a little bit short.”
The track proved to be a challenge for many of the Pro Stock competitors, and in the fourth and final qualifying session, Line did not make a clean pass down the racetrack. He slowed to a 14.832, 57.48 yet still ended the day No. 2.
“It was a little tricky out there today, and I can’t really answer why that is,” said Line. “Obviously, we had our struggles today, and I’m not 100% sure why – but that’s the cool thing about NHRA drag racing, it’s not always written in stone. You just don’t know until you come out here and do it. We did a good job in qualifying – just not good enough to get that K&N No. 1 qualifier bonus. But it has still been a good weekend so far.”
Prusiensky, who made his debut at the event, is slated to race Line in the first round of eliminations at the Gatornationals.
“We’re certainly glad to have Alan out here. I haven’t known him for very long, but I’m looking forward to racing him tomorrow,” said Line.