WHICH TEAM SUMMIT RACING DRIVER WILL WALK AWAY
WITH THE NHRA PRO STOCK CHAMPIONSHIP?
Mooresville, NC (November 8, 2016) – The 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series began at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in February and will end the season at the same track with the NHRA Auto Club Finals this weekend. A Team Summit Racing driver will go home with the Pro Stock Championship—but will it be Jason Line or Greg Anderson?
The pair is separated by just 19 points with Line holding the top spot and Anderson in second place. Shane Gray is currently is third, 94 points behind Line and 75 behind Anderson. There is a slim chance for Gray to move into second place, and an even slimmer chance to win it all. To make that happen, both Line and Anderson will have to fail to qualify.
A four-time Pro Stock world champion, Anderson notched seven victories this season and 13 final round appearances. Anderson also has five Auto Club NHRA Finals victories.
“It’s been a lot of sweat and a lot of nervous nights and a lot of nervous days, and we certainly made our mistakes through the Countdown,” Anderson said. “If Jason and I can qualify on opposite sides of the ladder, make our way through the rounds on Sunday, and match up in the final round for all the marbles, that would be a dream come true.”
Line is a two-time Pro Stock world champion. He’s notched eight victories this season and 13 final round appearances. Line has maintained the points lead for most of the year.
“However it all ends, 2016 was a great year for KB Racing,” Line said. “I’m going to go out to Pomona and do the best I can do and hopefully that is enough. As time goes on, winning a Championship gets more special. I think I appreciate it now more than I would have 10 years ago. To be able to say you were the best is a cool thing.”
The 2016 Pro Stock Championship is also the first since the switch to EFI for the NHRA teams.
“With the major rule change thrown at us, we responded better than most cars and I’m very proud of that. We’ve had some tough competitors and to say we are Number 1 is rare and special,” said Line.
So how are the teammates who work and drive together handling the tight battle for the championship?
“We’re probably getting along a whole lot better than we will come this Sunday,” joked Anderson. “When we put the helmet on and stage, you don’t want to beat anybody more than you want to beat your teammate.”
“Honestly it is fun. We’ve had the two best cars out there most of the year and so it is only fitting it comes down to Greg and myself for the Championship; that’s the way it should be,” said Line.
Nitro Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson is hoping to end 2016 on a strong note and even move up a couple more positions before the final run down the track in Pomona.
“I’ve been happy with how the car has been running and I think we have a good chance to go rounds on Sunday,” Wilkerson said. “I’ve never won at Pomona and I would really like to check this one off my list. That would be a great way to end the season.”