Line Set for Sunday after Much Improved Qualifying at Route 66 Nationals

CHICAGO, Ill., July 11, 2015 – The final qualifying results at the 18th annual Route 66 NHRA Nationals were a pleasing turn for Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line. The driver of the blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro recovered nicely from less-than satisfying qualifying results in recent memory. Line, who qualified 9th and 12th, respectively, at the most recent two events, put all the right pieces into place and moved into the No. 5 qualifying position. Line will race Rodger Brogdon in the first round on Sunday.

The first qualifying session on Friday evening saw Line traveling down the quarter-mile to a 6.571-second pass at 210.18 mph that settled him into the No. 8 position initially. Ready for more, the three-time 2015 low qualifier moved up three spots with a much improved 6.546, 210.57.

Day two of the event brought air thick with moisture and a series of rain showers that prolonged qualifying well into the evening. When the third qualifying session finally came to pass, Line clocked a 6.579, 209.23. More rain and a rising dew point necessitated the cancelation of the final round, and Line landed No. 5.

“We definitely went in the right direction this weekend with my Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro,” said Line, a three-time Chicago winner. “We’re still a little off from where we need to be, but that gives the KB Racing team a good opportunity to do something. We’ll have a good car on Sunday, for sure.”

Missing the last qualifying run was certainly a bit of a let down for Line, but he knows he isn’t alone.

“I’m always disappointed when we miss a run,” said Line, whose first round match with Brogdon will be the first time that the two have met since the semifinals in Atlanta, where Line got the nod and went on to win the race. “Missing a run isn’t just disappointing for me, but certainly for the NHRA fans. Nobody wants to come and watch it rain, but we want to say thanks to all of the folks who came to the track today and stayed with it. We almost got that last run, but unfortunately you cannot control Mother Nature. Tomorrow should be a better day all around, and I look forward to it.”