No. 4 in standings, Line going after more at New England Dragway
 
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (June 18, 2014) – Jason Line has wheeled his bright blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro to victory once in two final rounds already this season, and sitting in the No. 4 spot in the tight Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock standings is sure nice, but Line is in no way satisfied. This weekend’s 2nd annual Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals is on his radar as an event where he can make gains and keep climbing closer to the top as NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship nears.
 
Last season, at the inaugural event at New England Dragway, Line qualified in the No. 5 position and beat Larry Morgan in round one before getting into some trouble in the quarterfinals. This year, Line intends on lengthening his track time on Sunday, and with weather conditions projected to be pleasant and crowds predicted to be surging, the vibe surrounding the event is electric.
 
“One of the reasons we’re really looking forward to going back is because there was such a great crowd there at New England Dragway last year,” said Line. “It’s only our second time going back, but we already know that it’s a great place and a fun venue. It’s still new, and that makes it a challenge because we don’t have years of experience there – but no one else does, either, so it’s more of a level playing field. We maybe could have done better there last year, but we’re certainly planning on having a better outing this time around. It should be a lot of fun.”
 
Line has claimed 32 national event titles since making his NHRA Pro Stock debut in 2004, and he has sailed to victory in the category at 16 NHRA sanctioned facilities. Epping is one of only five racetracks on the current tour where Line has yet to claim a win in the professional category – the others are Denver’s Bandimere Speedway, Brainerd International Raceway, Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, and Gateway Motorsports Park in St. Louis.
 
“Our Summit Racing guys have really worked hard this year. We have had some great moments out there, and this weekend we are going to be looking for more of those,” said Line. “It’s a big opportunity to get to a racetrack where only one other guy has his name in the record books with a win. We want to have a New England Dragway win on our scorecard, too, and we want to accomplish that for the KB Racing team, whether it’s my Summit Racing Camaro or my teammate Greg Anderson’s getting that last win light on Sunday.”
 

Anderson plans to seize the opportunity to go fast at New England Nationals
 
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (June 18, 2014) – This weekend’s second annual Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals is set to be another exciting event on the 2014 NHRA tour, and Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson sees plenty of opportunity in returning to the newest thumbtack on the Mello Yello Series map. The sea-level location at New England Dragway could very well provide prime conditions for fast racing, and that is just what the doctor ordered for Anderson and his tireless crew.
 
“It was such a neat deal last year to get to race our Summit Racing Chevy Camaros at New England Dragway for the first time,” said Anderson. “We had a blast up there, and the crowd was humongous – of course that always gets you excited. The racetrack is still new to us, so we’re all looking forward to getting up there again. To tell you the truth, I can’t wait to go back. Those sea-level conditions are what we Pro Stock racers particularly love. If everything goes as planned, you could see some great racing up there.”
 
Last season in Epping, Anderson qualified in the No. 6 position and won his first-round match with Steve Kent before being stopped by eventual finalist Mike Edwards in the quarterfinals. For Anderson, a return to Epping means another opportunity to gain the points he needs to push his way into the top 10 in NHRA’s Mello Yello Series Pro Stock points. Anderson is currently No. 13 in the standings and just five rounds away from that No. 10 spot.
 
The driver of the white Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro came into the season at a disadvantage after missing the first five races of the year, but he quickly made up ground and gave himself a fighting chance by visiting two final rounds in the first four races. Anderson’s performance in Englishtown earlier this month was his best so far this season; his second final round appearance of the year complemented a top-half qualifying effort. The KB Racing team is headed towards Epping with heated intentions of getting their driver up where he needs to be.
 
“Any weekend could be the weekend that we really and truly see a tremendous turn towards excellence for this team,” said Anderson. “We have a great program, and we are constantly working to make it better – we just have to tap into what we know is there. That’s always the trick. We have to crack the case and figure it out, and then we’ll be fast again. As a team, we’re seeing that we can be fast; we just have to keep digging. Hopefully, this weekend in Epping will be the weekend it all comes together. Once we really tap into it, there shouldn’t be any stopping us.”
 

Anderson puts Bristol red light behind him to focus on game plan for days ahead
 
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 15, 2014) – On raceday at Bristol Dragway’s 14th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Greg Anderson did something he typically does not do; he saw the red-light as he left the starting line in the second round. The mishap, however, is one that Anderson will have no trouble putting behind him as he shifts focus to working out the details to a brighter future for the Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro.
 
Anderson qualified in the No. 11 position in Bristol after four runs of working to learn the characteristics of the racetrack that was a bit of a handful at times as the hot and greasy racing surface set forth a challenge for tuners and drivers.
 
In the first round of eliminations, Anderson powered his Summit Racing Camaro off the starting line way ahead of opponent Rodger Brogdon, clocking a .034-second reaction time to a .095. The advantage allowed him to race ahead for a holeshot win, 6.712 to 6.702, and the victory came with a ticket to the quarterfinals and a meeting with Erica Enders-Stevens. When Anderson left the starting line in their meeting, the red-light tripped in his lane, officially recording a .005-second foul. Enders-Stevens got the automatic win and posted a 6.697 to 6.732.
 
The foul-out was by no means a regular occurrence for Anderson, whose most recent red light was in 2013 at the Sonoma race in California.
 
“I’m still surprised by it,” admitted Anderson. “I don’t know what happened there. I swear I saw the light, I don’t know if I just got staged a little bit deeper than usual or what happened, but the clock says it was a red light, so that’s what it was.”
 
Anderson remains No. 13 in NHRA’s Mello Yello Series Pro Stock points. He is only five rounds outside of the top 10, and later this week the tour will venture to Epping, N.H., for the NHRA New England Nationals, allowing Anderson the opportunity to get right back to work on gaining points.
 
Although there were struggles for the team in Bristol, Anderson turned his focus toward the positive elements experienced throughout the weekend.
 
“We were disappointed with what happened on the racetrack because we really wanted more for the team and our Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro, but there were also a lot of really great moments for us out here,” said Anderson. “We’re here to race and we’re here to win, but this weekend we had our team owner, Ken Black, here and being that it’s Father’s Day and he is like a second father to all of us, that was very cool. Pretty much everyone on the team had their families here, so it made for a very special weekend.
 
“I wish we could have had a better day on the track, but we are going to make a game plan for the next couple of days before Epping. We need to find the performance with our car that we know should be there, so that’s what we’ll do.”
 

Line enjoys Father’s Day in Bristol both on and off the racetrack
 
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 15, 2014) – Father’s Day weekend at Bristol Dragway didn’t quite pan out as Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line had hoped, but the 14th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals certainly showed Line and his competition that Team Summit is inching closer to a return to the winner’s circle.
 
Line, the No. 4 qualifier, made one of the quickest and fastest passes of the opening round in his defeat of V. Gaines, clocking a winning 6.673 at 207.53 mph to 6.709, 206.99. The win light came with a second round meeting with Dave Connolly, a driver commonly known for quick reaction times. For Line, this proved to be no issue and he launched in a swift .020-second. Meanwhile his opponent ran into wicked tire shake on the track and couldn’t complete the run, allowing Line to surge ahead steadily for a 6.707, 206.95 win.
 
The day came to an end in the semifinals for Line when he launched just .012-second behind rookie competitor Jonathan Gray and couldn’t make up the difference. The victory went to Gray, 6.730, 206.23 to 6.726, 206.39.
 
“We definitely had a better weekend for sure with our Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro,” said Line. “We weren’t great out there, but we were respectable and even though we struggled in the semis on a greasy racetrack and lost the handle on it, I’m really happy we made it to the semis. It’s a lot better than what we’ve done the last two races, and I definitely think we made forward progress.”

Sunday in Bristol was also Father’s Day, and although Line’s own dad Lawrence was not in attendance, it was still a very special day as the second generation drag racer’s children, Jack and Emma were there to cheer him on, as was team owner Ken Black.

“It was great having my kids and Ken here,” said Line. “It was just a lot of fun for all of us, and it was very special. This morning we got to do the track walk with Ken, and that was cool. It’s also always fun to walk with the fans and see their expressions when they step out onto the track and realize how sticky it is. That was a lot of fun, and I’m glad that my teammate Greg Anderson and I got to do that today.”

With his performance in Bristol, Line remains in the No. 4 position in NHRA’s Mello Yello Series Pro Stock standings, and with another race very near on the horizon – the 2nd annual NHRA New England Nationals – he will soon have the opportunity for advancement.

“We’re looking forward to next week, that’s for sure,” said Line. “It’s just another chance for us to get a Summit Racing Camaro to the winner’s circle.”

Anderson looks forward to a new day, another chance to shine on Bristol raceday
 
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 14, 2014) – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson is ready to head into battle with the white Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro, and the two-time Bristol Dragway winner is eager to put a third win at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals on his resume. Starting from the No. 11 position, Anderson will get his chance on Sunday, beginning with a first-round meeting with Rodger Brogdon.
 
Anderson most recently raced Brogdon in the semifinals at the last event on the circuit, the NHRA Summernationals in Englishtown. The four-time Pro Stock world champion got the nod over Brogdon and advanced to his second final round in just four races.
 
“Yes, we’ve been able to get to the final round twice in a very short time, and that’s been great – but we need to finish the deal. I’ve had very good luck on Father’s Day in the past, and Bristol has been good to us, so tomorrow could be a very good day,” said Anderson.
 
The Summit Racing team had four opportunities to get a good read on the racetrack at Bristol Dragway, and they took full advantage. In the first session, Anderson clocked a 6.693-second pass at 207.18 mph. His strong run was one of only four to make the quarter-mile trip in excess of 207 mph.
 
The second round of qualifying was a fortunate one for the entire Pro Stock crowd as they were able to skirt the storms and get in a full session of qualifying while the Funny Cars and Top Fuel dragsters were not as fortunate. Anderson recorded a 6.710 at 206.54 and came back on Saturday afternoon to record his best pass of the weekend in terms of elapsed time, a 6.678 at 206.64. The final session provided a 6.680 at another 207mph speed.
 
“We’ll have our work cut out for us tomorrow,” said Anderson. “We’d like to be in the top half of the field, and we know the Summit Racing team is capable of it, but the cards fell the way that they did and we can’t change that right now. So we are going to battle, and we’re going to be ready. Tomorrow we’ll be looking for four win lights. That’s the only way to get it done.”
 

Line gaining in his Summit Racing Camaro with raceday in Bristol on the horizon
 
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 14, 2014) – Pro Stock driver Jason Line had a steadily rising car with his Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro during qualifying at the 14th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, and the continuously improving performance ultimately placed Line in the No. 4 position heading into raceday at Bristol Dragway. Line will race V. Gaines in the first round of eliminations on Sunday.
 
The weekend began with Line clocking a 6.686-second blast at 207.21 mph to secure a position in the top half of the field and in the No. 7 spot. The later Friday night sessions provided air that wasn’t quite as productive for the naturally aspirated engines that power the Pro Stock cars, yet Line improved to a 6.677 at 207.18 that held him seventh.
 
Feeling as though the first two runs were a bit on the safe side, Line and the Summit Racing crew branched out into more assertive territory and made a nice move into the No. 5 spot in the opening session on Saturday afternoon with a 6.652 at 208.07 mph – one of only two runs to eclipse 208 in the session.
 
Still hungry and realizing there was more for the taking, the team came back in the final session with a stout 6.636 at a speed of 208.55 mph – quite a pass for the conditions and one of only four of the round to exceed the 208 mark.
 
“That last run there was a pretty good run,” Line said with a smile. “There was more left, and we maybe even could have seen a 6.62 – but we gave up a lot between the 60-foot timer and the 330, but we’re getting better and better overall. These are baby steps, you know, but we’re getting there. To be honest, I feel like this is the best car I have had all year. It will be up to me to let the clutch out tomorrow, because I know I have the car to beat someone. That’s a really good feeling.”
 
The fact that Sunday is Father’s Day is not lost on the second-generation drag racer, whose dad, Lawrence Line, was a big influence in the course of his life.
 
“Tomorrow will certainly be a time to reflect on both appreciating my father and on being a father myself, and it’s exciting to have my kids here on Father’s Day. At the end of the day, I win no matter what happens – but you can bet I want to put this Summit Racing Camaro in the winner’s circle.”

Line safely in top half, planning more aggressive approach on day two in Bristol
 
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 13, 2014) – Jason Line made it cleanly down the track in both of the first two rounds of qualifying at the 14th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, and now that he and his Summit Racing team have a good read on the racing surface, they plan to step up their approach in the final two sessions before the field is set.
 
Line, of Mooresville, N.C., clocked a sturdy 6.686 at 207.21 mph in the first session and landed in the No. 7 position, and as the temperature dropped, the possibility of quickening the pace developed. Unfortunately, air conditions were taking a turn for the worse as a storm moved into the surrounding area. Even still, the Summit Racing team showed what they were made of and tuned Line to an improved 6.677 at 207.18 mph that kept him seventh heading into day two in Thunder Valley.
 
“I think we’re still lacking a little bit in terms of elapsed time, but the speed we showed was good,” said Line, who made the third fastest run in the first session in his blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro where only five of the naturally aspirated hot rods were able to exceed 207 mph. In the second session, Line was the second fastest and had one of only two cars able to get the job done and break 207.
 
“There is certainly more left, we just have to be a little more aggressive with our Summit Racing Camaro,” said Line. “That e.t. will come. Right now, the car is reasonably happy and that’s great. We just have to get after it a little bit more.”
 
Many times so far this season, qualifying on the first day of an event has been cut short and the Pro Stock competitors have been unable to get both of their allowed runs, but on this Friday night at Bristol Dragway, they were the only pro category to finish both rounds. Due to lightening and rain, the second session of Funny Car was cut short and the complete second round of Top Fuel was canceled.
 
“It was kind of nice,” admitted Line. “It seems like we often get shorted lately due to weather, so it was great to get both runs in. The NHRA Safety Safari did a great job preparing the track, and tomorrow I’m sure there will be more out there. We’ll be ready.”
 

Line looking to win it for dad on Father’s Day in Bristol
 
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (June 11, 2014) – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line didn’t stumble into this furiously addictive business of drag racing by accident. No, it was through the influence of his father, Minnesota drag racer Lawrence Line, and what better way to thank Dear Ol’ Dad than by going to battle for the trophy on Father’s Day at this weekend’s 14th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.
 
Line recalls that his father was an avid drag racer, but much of the racing actually occurred before Lawrence and wife Maxine’s children were born, and it tapered off when the kids were very young.
 
“After he had us, he couldn’t really afford to race anymore – so he quit,” said Line. “He still kept his cars, though, and always being around cars like that was a big influence for us.”
 
Line’s older brother Lance was perhaps the leader in a return to racing for the performance-hungry family.
 
“My brother and I both had an interest in cars, and once Lance got his driver’s license, he wanted to go to the racetrack and race. We had looked at all the pictures, and we had some memories of going to the track when we were kids,” said Line. “It was sort of a natural thing for us. We had the interest, and our parents were very supportive of it.”
 
They were so supportive in fact that Lawrence lined up racing parts for Lance’s car and allowed the boys to venture to the racetrack with friends – and without parental supervision.
 
“Yeah, I’m not so sure that they actually loved us,” joked Line. “I still can’t believe they let us go, but I’m glad they did. I’d say it turned out pretty well. I have my parents to thank for where I am today.”
 
Line was just 13 when he first accompanied his big brother to the racetrack, and an early career at Minnesota’s famed Brainerd Int’l Raceway paved the way for a lifetime of success in a racecar. Now a two-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion, Line looks forward to this weekend’s event at Bristol Dragway and the opportunity to return to his winning ways on a very special Sunday.
 
The first three times that KB Racing driver Line contested Pro Stock on Father’s Day, he won the event – 2004, 2005 and 2006 in Englishtown.
 
“It’s been a long drought since then,” he said. “But to get back to winning on Father’s Day would be cool. It would be special to put my Summit Racing Chevy Camaro in the winner’s circle for my dad, and it would also be special for me because I’m a dad, too. I have very high hopes going into this weekend, and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect that this team can accomplish our goals.”
 

Anderson returns to where it all began at Thunder Valley Nationals
 
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (June 11, 2014) – Greg Anderson will take command of the white Summit Racing Pro Stock Chevrolet Camaro at Bristol Dragway this weekend for the 14th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals with a very clear and distinct goal. It is the same goal that Anderson has in mind every weekend, but the gorgeous facility cut into Tennessee’s Smokey Mountains is the perfect stage for achieving Anderson’s most pressing task: to win his first race of the season. If he should do so, it would happen on a very special day of the year as Sunday is Father’s Day.
 
“This is where it all started for me; it’s where I got my very first win,” said Anderson, who raced to his first NHRA Pro Stock victory in Thunder Valley in 2001. “Bristol Dragway is very special to me for that reason, and racing on Father’s Day is also something I particularly enjoy because I’ve had some success with that. There is a little bit of magic surrounding that very special day, and hopefully, this weekend we can tap into that again.”
 
Anderson won twice consecutively on Father’s Day, once in 2002 and then again in 2003, at an NHRA national event that was then held in Columbus, Ohio, and sweetening the sentiment is the fact that his dad, Ray Anderson, celebrates a birthday on June 15th. Often, the Anderson family patriarch’s birthday has actually fallen on the holiday.
 
“I’ve been able to win races on Father’s Day with my dad present, and although he won’t be there this weekend, it certainly doesn’t take anything away from how special it is to accomplish a win on that particular day,” said Anderson. “This year, our team owner Ken Black and his family will be with us in Bristol – and it’s no secret that Ken is like a second father to all of us. We love him and we hope to get that trophy for him and as a birthday and Father’s Day present for my dad, too.”
 
Anderson and the KB Racing team took a small breather between a set of three-in-a-row events and the four consecutive race weekends on the immediate schedule, but they also logged hours in the race shop and testing at a Mooresville, N.C.-area facility, as per the norm.
 
“We definitely recharged our batteries, but we worked hard, too,” said Anderson, currently No. 13 in the Pro Stock standings and driven furiously to break into the top 10 in time to make NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship playoffs. “We jammed a lot into the week off that we’ve had since the last race because this is a very important four-race stretch. I need to make some serious hay and get myself into a great position, and that cannot wait until the last four or five races before the Countdown. It has to happen now, and I have every faith that this team can do that.”
 
Anderson has powered his way to the final round in two of the last four events, and despite coming into the season at a statistical disadvantage – he missed the first five races of the year as he recovered from surgery – he is still in the game with a very real shot of battling for the championship this fall.
 
There is, perhaps, no one hungrier and more motivated than Anderson to win. With four world championships and 74 national event trophies engraved with his name, the Minnesota-native and lifelong drag racer can easily recall what it feels like to celebrate victory. His current reputation as a driver most likely to leave the starting line first and hit every shift point along the way to the finish line stripe strengthens this one single fact: No one takes Greg Anderson lightly. But for Anderson, that is simply not enough.
 
“I want to win. I need to win. And I need it to happen this weekend,” said Anderson.
 

Anderson and Team Summit outsmart the racetrack to reach final round in Englishtown
 
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J., June 1, 2014 – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson’s friendship with Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown was renewed this weekend at the 45th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals, and for the seventh time in his career, Anderson wheeled his way to the final round at the esteemed event. Qualifying in the top half of the field and collecting round wins on raceday inched Anderson even closer to a much-desired position in NHRA’s Pro Stock top 10.
 
Starting from the No. No. 8 position, Anderson piloted one of just five cars to make it down the racetrack with a respectable time on a very tricky racing surface. While pedalfests abounded in round one, Anderson got loose early but regained control to clock a 6.554 at 213.43 mph and advance on rookie competitor Jonathan Gray. In the second round, the 74-time national event winner came to the starting line for a meeting with Chris McGaha, the No. 16 qualifier who had just pulled off an upset over low qualifier Allen Johnson.
 
What was to ensue in their head-to-head match was a real thriller as both Anderson and McGaha left the starting line and quickly lost traction. Each driver worked the throttle, pedaling as they tried to get the tires to stick back to the racetrack, and ultimately it was Anderson who was able to get to the finish line first. His 7.906 topped McGaha’s 8.272 for the win.
 
The semifinals started on a strange note as Rodger Brogdon’s car failed to maintain power as he attempted to pull to the starting line. Anderson, who had already pulled forward to the waterbox and was preparing to make his burnout, was alerted to the situation and so pulled back to wait for his opponent. When NHRA officials signaled Anderson to move forward, he did so and completed the burnout, and Brogdon quickly found power and made a short burnout of his own.
 
Although he came to the round without lane choice, Anderson wheeled his Summit Racing Camaro off the starting line ahead of Brogdon and turned on the win light with a 6.535 at 214.25 mph that easily surpassed his opponent’s troubled 15.406. The victory sent Anderson ahead to his second final round of the season and the 115th of his career at a racetrack where he had already claimed five wins, including the historic 100th win for KB Racing and the first of the new generation Pro Stock Camaros in 2012.
 
In this year’s final, Anderson launched with an incredible .010-second reaction time to nab a .006 edge on Jeg Coughlin. He was charging towards the coveted victory in those early moments of the run, but he very quickly was slowed by the same issue that most other drivers had experienced at some point throughout the day as the tires of his Camaro broke loose and the engine shut off.
 
“It was a weird day, with a lot of pedaling for the Pro Stock cars,” said Anderson. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a day like this. The power level went up, the air was great, and the starting line got warm and everyone had a hard time managing it. Thankfully, the Summit Racing team had a lot of luck and good fortune, and we made the proper adjustments before the semifinal round but went over the top again in the finals. It was a complete tuners battle today.
 
“We are hitting ourselves for not backing it down a little bit more for the final, but the good news is that we made it to the final at all. I’m a little disappointed because you always want that win, and I really want it because it’s been a long time for me – over two years now. We had a good day, just not a great day.”
 
According to NHRA and National Dragster stats keeper Brad Littlefield, Anderson is now just two round-wins shy of tying Pro Stock icon Bob Glidden’s remarkable 597. Pro Stock legend – and Anderson’s former boss Warren Johnson holds the all-time record at 873.
 
“It’s great to see that type of thing, and that’s a real neat deal – but the truth is that we are more focused right now on the performance of our cars and getting them where we want them to be. Until we get that, we won’t be satisfied, but by achieving the results we are so focused on, we are also going to be able to achieve milestones. I can promise you that we are all looking forward to that.”

Anderson and Team Summit outsmart the racetrack to reach final round in Englishtown
 
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J., June 1, 2014 – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson’s friendship with Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown was renewed this weekend at the 45th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals, and for the seventh time in his career, Anderson wheeled his way to the final round at the esteemed event. Qualifying in the top half of the field and collecting round wins on raceday inched Anderson even closer to a much-desired position in NHRA’s Pro Stock top 10.
 
Starting from the No. No. 8 position, Anderson piloted one of just five cars to make it down the racetrack with a respectable time on a very tricky racing surface. While pedalfests abounded in round one, Anderson got loose early but regained control to clock a 6.554 at 213.43 mph and advance on rookie competitor Jonathan Gray. In the second round, the 74-time national event winner came to the starting line for a meeting with Chris McGaha, the No. 16 qualifier who had just pulled off an upset over low qualifier Allen Johnson.
 
What was to ensue in their head-to-head match was a real thriller as both Anderson and McGaha left the starting line and quickly lost traction. Each driver worked the throttle, pedaling as they tried to get the tires to stick back to the racetrack, and ultimately it was Anderson who was able to get to the finish line first. His 7.906 topped McGaha’s 8.272 for the win.
 
The semifinals started on a strange note as Rodger Brogdon’s car failed to maintain power as he attempted to pull to the starting line. Anderson, who had already pulled forward to the waterbox and was preparing to make his burnout, was alerted to the situation and so pulled back to wait for his opponent. When NHRA officials signaled Anderson to move forward, he did so and completed the burnout, and Brogdon quickly found power and made a short burnout of his own.
 
Although he came to the round without lane choice, Anderson wheeled his Summit Racing Camaro off the starting line ahead of Brogdon and turned on the win light with a 6.535 at 214.25 mph that easily surpassed his opponent’s troubled 15.406. The victory sent Anderson ahead to his second final round of the season and the 115th of his career at a racetrack where he had already claimed five wins, including the historic 100th win for KB Racing and the first of the new generation Pro Stock Camaros in 2012.
 
In this year’s final, Anderson launched with an incredible .010-second reaction time to nab a .006 edge on Jeg Coughlin. He was charging towards the coveted victory in those early moments of the run, but he very quickly was slowed by the same issue that most other drivers had experienced at some point throughout the day as the tires of his Camaro broke loose and the engine shut off.
 
“It was a weird day, with a lot of pedaling for the Pro Stock cars,” said Anderson. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a day like this. The power level went up, the air was great, and the starting line got warm and everyone had a hard time managing it. Thankfully, the Summit Racing team had a lot of luck and good fortune, and we made the proper adjustments before the semifinal round but went over the top again in the finals. It was a complete tuners battle today.
 
“We are hitting ourselves for not backing it down a little bit more for the final, but the good news is that we made it to the final at all. I’m a little disappointed because you always want that win, and I really want it because it’s been a long time for me – over two years now. We had a good day, just not a great day.”
 
According to NHRA and National Dragster stats keeper Brad Littlefield, Anderson is now just two round-wins shy of tying Pro Stock icon Bob Glidden’s remarkable 597. Pro Stock legend – and Anderson’s former boss Warren Johnson holds the all-time record at 873.
 
“It’s great to see that type of thing, and that’s a real neat deal – but the truth is that we are more focused right now on the performance of our cars and getting them where we want them to be. Until we get that, we won’t be satisfied, but by achieving the results we are so focused on, we are also going to be able to achieve milestones. I can promise you that we are all looking forward to that.”

Line and Team Summit have powerful showing in Englishtown
 
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (Jun 1, 2014) – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line had three wins at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park entering this weekend’s 45th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals, and although he was unable to add a fourth Etown Wally trophy to his collection, the 32-time national event victor did appreciate the smaller victories over the course of the weekend that he is confident will bring the KB Racing crew back to the winner’s circle in the near future.
 
Line started the weekend by resetting the track record for speed in his fast Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro on Friday evening. His 213.40 mph blast was the fastest run that the racing surface at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park had ever hosted for a Pro Stock car to that point, and although the record was eclipsed on Saturday, Line still proved he had a car that could contend for the title as he raced to a qualifying best time of 6.488-second at 214.52 mph. Notably, in the second qualifying round Line reset his personal best record for speed to 214.83.
 
Starting from the No. 4 position, Line drew John Gaydosh as a first-round opponent. Gaydosh had a slight advantage as the two left the starting line, but soon enough the Summit Racing Camaro surged ahead for a decisive 6.500, 214.45 mph win. Line’s official numbers were the second quickest and fastest of all the Pro Stock cars in the round, and his speed was one of just seven that exceed 214 mph during eliminations; teammate Greg Anderson also enjoyed a 214 mph run in the semifinals.
 
The second round was where Line’s quest for the title came to an end as he was out of the gate first but got loose on the racetrack and slowed to a 6.599 at 213.60 mph while Rodger Brogdon edged ahead for a 6.558, 214.04 win.
 
“It’s extremely disappointing for the Summit Racing team to leave without a trophy today, but we are very pleased that my teammate over there got to the final round,” said Line, referencing Anderson’s second final round of the season in just his fourth race of the year.
 
“Every loss hurts, and some more than others, but the good news is that Greg made up points and is on his way to the top 10. That’s a big goal for us right now, and the way to get him there is to make sure he’s going rounds. Of course, I wanted to win today. But that wasn’t in the cards. We’ve got some time before the next race, and I can assure you that the Summit Racing team will be looking for a change by the time we get to Bristol.”
 

Line No. 4 qualifier at conclusion of very fast day in Englishtown
 
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (May 31, 2014) – Pro Stock driver Jason Line powered his blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro to one of the fastest runs in Pro Stock history at historic Old Bridge Township Raceway Park on Saturday at the 45th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals. The quick and fast day of qualifying was one for the record books as seven of the top 10 fastest speeds in Pro Stock history were recorded.
 
Line raced to a quick and fast 6.516-second pass at 213.40 mph on Friday, the first day of qualifying, to claim a new track record for speed in Englishtown, and his Summit Racing Camaro was even quicker on the second day of the event. In the early session and in pleasing conditions, Line clocked a 6.491 at an eye-catching 214.83 mph that eclipsed his own previous personal best in terms of speed. However, that still wasn’t enough. The two-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion blasted to a remarkable 6.488 at 214.52 in the final round of qualifying.
 
“The Summit Racing Camaros are really improving,” said Line. “We went quicker each run with both my car and the Summit Camaro driven by my teammate, Greg Anderson, and I think we can go fast again tomorrow. That last run today was really good for a lot of drivers because we had a tail wind and the conditions were good, and hopefully tomorrow we will be the car that’s able to make four more good runs.”
 
Line, who has qualified in the top half at each event this season, will start from the No. 4 position. He enters raceday scheduled for a first round meeting with part-time runner John Gaydosh, who is starting 13th. It will be the first time Line and Gaydosh have raced this season.
 
If Line is able to defeat his first-round challenger and also move past the second round, he could meet up with Anderson in the semifinals, thereby assuring a Summit Racing Camaro reaches the final round in Englishtown. Eight times before a Summit Racing car has won the event at the venue known as Raceway Park.
 
“This has been a good track for us,” said Line, who has claimed three of the eight titles for the KB Racing team in Englishtown. “We have a good shot for tomorrow. We’re certainly in a good place.”

Anderson resets career best speed to start from top half in Englishtown
 
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J., May 31, 2014 – Old Bridge Township Raceway Park has historically been a favored venue for Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson, and this weekend’s 45th annual Toyota Racing NHRA Summernationals is no exception. On Saturday in Englishtown, the 74-time NHRA national event victor and four time Pro Stock world champion returned to form and qualified in the top half of the field for the first time this year.
 
Anderson, who missed the first five races of the 2014 season of NHRA’s Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, struggled in qualifying for the first three events, but here in Englishtown he found the groove and qualified in the No. 8 position.
 
On the first day of the event and in a session where many drivers experienced tire shake just off the starting line, Anderson went right down the racetrack to clock to a 6.561 at 212.76 mph. The second day brought even better results as he wheeled the white Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro to a 6.505, 213.94 followed by a best time of 6.503 at a big speed of 214.31 mph that reset his career best.
 
“We made two consistent runs today, and they were both very smooth,” said Anderson, who will race rookie Jonathan Gray in the first round of eliminations on Sunday. “I think we could have been quicker; we were just a little too conservative, a little too safe, so we’re going to kick it a bit harder tomorrow. This car is acting like it wants to be more aggressive, and we like that. The other good news is that we are on the safe side right now, and we know it will do what it did today every time. Hopefully, the racetrack will be as good tomorrow as it was today. We will go after it harder tomorrow, though. That’s the plan.”
 
The strong desire to be ever quicker and faster is ingrained in Anderson, and on Saturday in Englishtown that hunger was somewhat rewarded by the career best speed recorded in the final session.
 
“It’s definitely fast out there, and that’s part of the reason why we love coming to Englishtown,” said Anderson. “It has often fallen in our hands here. These conditions that we had today were what we hope for every time we come to the races. This racetrack has been such a great place for this Summit Racing team, and the conditions today were so good. If I’m ever going to have a great chance to win, it will be here tomorrow.”
 
 

Line claims track record for speed on first day of Englishtown qualifying
 
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (May 30, 2014) – The first day of qualifying for the 45th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park was a short affair for the Pro Stock crowd, but it came with exceptional results for the Summit Racing team. Jason Line, driving the blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro, clocked a furiously swift 6.516-second pass at 213.40 mph to claim a new track record for speed in Englishtown.
 
A problem with the racing surface down-track in the right lane prevented the Pro Stock cars from participating in the first qualifying session, and with just one run in which to collect data, crew chiefs came to the session knowing they couldn’t throw everything they had at it and shoot for the moon, despite conditions with the potential to allow record setting runs.
 
Forced to make a somewhat conservative run without previous data to work off of, Line’s team knew they really had their hands full – but in true Summit Racing fashion, they pulled off the incredible by sending both of their cars cleanly and quickly down the right lane and claiming the track record with Line’s Camaro.
 
“I don’t know if that run was spectacular, but for that lane it apparently was,” said Line, who was piloting one of just three cars able to go from A to B under power on that particular side of the racetrack. His teammate Greg Anderson wheeled the white Summit Racing Camaro to a 6.561 at 212.76 to move into the No. 7 position. “There were some good calls being made on that run for our cars, and the Summit Racing team did a great job today. Hopefully, there will be more of that tomorrow.”
 
Line, currently No. 3 in the qualifying order, arrived in Englishtown in possession of the track record for elapsed time. His 213.40 track record is perhaps a bit of a consolation for losing grasp of the e.t. record.
 
“It’s a good thing to have the speed record,” agreed Line. “We broke a record that’s been in place for quite awhile. It’s definitely not a great trade off, but I would say we are happy about it. All in all, I’m pretty satisfied with the Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro. There is more left; there is always more left. But it’s a good place to start.”
 

Anderson in the top half on day one in Englishtown
 
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J., May 30, 2014 – Greg Anderson was in total control as he wheeled his Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro down the racetrack on the first day of qualifying at the 45th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown. Although many drivers experienced harsh tire shake just off the starting line, Anderson handled the right lane like a pro in his Rob Downing-tuned Camaro and raced to a 6.561 at 212.76 mph that shot him up to the top half of the field.
 
Unlike what has occurred during qualifying at recent events, weather was not a deciding factor when qualifying was abbreviated to just one run for the day for the Pro Stock competitors; instead, it was trouble down track with the right lane. The first session of Pro Stock was canceled and NHRA’s Safety Safari worked to repair the problem, and after much effort and a good layer of rubber laid down by the nitro cars, the factory hot rods were able to finally make a pass.
 
As the evening pressed on the air was cool and dry, allowing the naturally aspirated engines to thrive as the sun dipped. Anderson and teammate Jason line were two of three cars that were able to get down the right lane, and Line reset the track record for speed with a 213.40 mph blast. For Anderson, the No. 7 position is an improvement heading into the second day of the event – in each of the three events in which he has raced this season since returning to the series following heart surgery, Anderson has – surprisingly – started from the bottom of the field.
 
“This is the deepest starting position I’ve had in a while,” said Anderson. “It was a good start today, and we definitely got some data to work with, which doesn’t always happen when you’re the second pair out there. It sure looks like we’re doing something right with our Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaros here. We didn’t set the world on fire, but we know we can run a whole lot faster, and we have the data while a lot of other cars don’t. We should get two clean runs tomorrow and hopefully be able to move up in the pack. I don’t have to be first or second pair out for the first time since I’ve been back driving, and I’m deep in the pack this time so I have no excuses. I should be able to run fast and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
 
Losing the first run on Friday wasn’t ideal, but Anderson did not have concern that the loss of the run would be a major issue when the final qualifying order was set.
 
“Well, we like to go down the racetrack as much as we can – we’d go down the racetrack 100 times in a weekend if we could – but one is better than none,” said Anderson. “It was a good day today, and we made fairly good use of the one run we had. We really did all we could do, and we look forward to tomorrow and climbing up the ladder.”
 

Line on his game as NHRA tour returns to Summit-friendly Raceway Park
 
Mooresville, N.C., May 28, 2014 – The Summit Racing team has been exceptional at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, and that fact has Pro Stock driver Jason Line fired up for this weekend’s 45th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals. Line, of Mooresville, N.C., and teammate Greg Anderson will pilot their Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaros at an event where they have had much success in the past, including a remarkable eight wins collectively in 10 finals. From 2004, Line’s debut season as a Pro Stock driver, to 2006, he was unstoppable and collected three consecutive victories.
 
“Raceway Park is certainly a racetrack where the Summit Racing team has a lot of history,” said Line, who currently holds the track record for elapsed time in Englishtown at 6.508-second, recorded there in 2011. “When you have a track where you’ve had that much success, you always enjoy returning. The enthusiasm of the Pro Stock fans in New Jersey is pretty incredible as well. It always makes for a very fun weekend.”
 
With temperatures expected to be cool, this weekend’s event also has the opportunity for the factory hot rods to go quick and fast down the quarter-mile dragstrip, a circumstance particularly appealing to expert dyno operator Line, whose heart and soul is in extracting every ounce of power possible from the available 500 cubic inches of a Pro Stock engine.
 
“It can be extremely fast there, but no matter what, that racetrack is one where you really have to be on your game,” said Line, currently No. 3 in NHRA’s Pro Stock standings. “We’re ready.”
 
Now entering the ninth race of 24 in the 2014 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season, Line and his KB Racing team have had a full experience this season as they won the season-opener in Pomona from the No. 3 position and then reached another final round at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas. Line has been a top-half qualifier all year.
 
“We are definitely seeing progress, although sometimes it feels a little like one step forward, two steps back,” said Line. “The key is getting all the pieces together at once, and then it will fall into place. Fortunately, we had a good start to the year and we’ve been able to stay up there in the points with my Summit Racing Camaro. We have some work to do with my teammate Greg Anderson’s car, but we’re working on it and feel like we’re on the right track. This weekend in Englishtown is one that we’ve all been looking forward to.”
 

Anderson plans to make more special memories at Raceway Park
 
Mooresville, N.C., May 28, 2014 – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson holds a distinct honor at Old Bridge Township Park in Englishtown. As the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing tour kicks off this weekend’s 45th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals, Anderson will stand as the Pro Stock driver to have earned the most wins at the venerable facility. His five victories at Raceway Park are the most of any in the factory hot rod category, and it’s an honor that Anderson hopes to keep to himself for as long as possible.
 
The battle is one that may appear great to an outsider as Anderson got a late start this season following heart surgery and is working his way back into having a happy racecar. However, Team Summit has long held an advantage in Englishtown, and this weekend could very well be the time for a turnaround for a driver who possess 74 national event wins and four NHRA Pro Stock championships.
 
“We love that race, that’s for sure,” said Anderson, who has been to six final rounds at Raceway Park and has claimed four low qualifier awards there. “The last time I won was there, and that was two years ago. It’s time for me to get back to the winner’s circle, and I just think this would be the perfect place to do that.”
 
Anderson’s most recent win in Englishtown was an exceptional victory as it occurred at the very race where he slid into the driver’s seat of his first brand new Chevrolet Camaro. The car was brand new, but Anderson had no trouble adapting and had the honor of claiming the first win in a new generation Pro Stock Camaro in 2012. The win was made even more special as it also marked the 100th win for team owner Ken Black and KB Racing, and it occurred in an all-Summit Racing final round with teammate Jason Line in the opposite lane.
 
“That was a very special win – it was magical,” said Anderson, who is 15th in the standings and looking to break into the top 10 in the Pro Stock points. “When I finally get back to winning again, it will be just as magical, and I don’t see why that can’t or shouldn’t happen here this weekend. This is my new racing career; this is my fresh start. I can’t think of a better place to make another special memory. It’s time to get it done.”
 

Mechanical malfunction slows Line on raceday in Topeka
 
TOPEKA, Kan., May 25, 2014 – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line picked up a round win on Sunday at Heartland Park Topeka’s NHRA Kansas Nationals, but a very strange mechanical malfunction slowed his progress in round two and he was sent home much earlier than anticipated. For Line, the shocking outcome on raceday only created a deeper motivation, and he will be burning the midnight oil in the dyno room at the KB Racing shop in Mooresville, N.C. this week.
 
Line qualified in the No. 8 position and came up against No. 9 qualifier Jonathan Gray in the first round of eliminations on Sunday. The forecast was grim for the day, but rain stayed away while thick air and warmer temperatures descended upon Heartland Park. Line kept his cool, though, and his 6.691 at 206.13 mph was enough to get the job done over Gray’s 6.736, 206.80.
 
For the second round, Line was tuned up and ready to make a charge for the win light with young Vincent Nobile in the opposite lane. Nobile, who gets his power from the KB Racing shop, launched with ease and headed down track while Line was stunningly left at the starting line with an unsettling surprise.
 
“I hit the gas and the car didn’t do anything; the engine died,” said Line, who was paused at the starting line for 1.885-second as the engine gave a cough. “I just went to put it on the two-step and the car misfired. That’s a new one. But it’s just one of those things. It was a fluke, something you don’t normally see and definitely something I’ve never done before.”
 
Line’s Summit Racing Camaro clocked a 6.674 at 207.56 mph when it finally was able to leave the starting line, but it was too late – Nobile had already turned on the win light with a 6.660, 207.27.
 
“Sometimes, things just don’t go your way,” said Line. “Things haven’t gone our way here in Topeka before, but we’re leaving here and going to Englishtown next week, a place where the Summit Racing team has had quite a bit of good fortune. We have a great team and great people behind us. We’ll get it turned back around.”
 

Line sees the power of Summit Racing Camaro, seeking first Topeka win on Sunday
 
TOPEKA, Kan., May 24, 2014 – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line has yet to win at Heartland Park Topeka, but this weekend could very well be a different story. Line is qualified in the top half of the field and will have lane choice in the first round of eliminations to begin his bid for the trophy at the NHRA Kansas Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka.
 
In the first session, Mooresville, N.C.-based Line blasted down the racetrack with a 6.622-second run at 208.81 mph. Although he was quick to extract and examine the imperfections of the pass, it was fourth quickest of the round and looked to be a good starting point that Line was hopeful to quickly build upon. Mother Nature, however, had other ideas. Weather that had been pressing finally moved in full force and the first day of qualifying was cut short by one round. Day two dawned rainy and with more storms in the forecast, but miraculously the rain cleared and the Pro Stockers got another two chances to find their final positions on the ladder.
 
“The first round wasn’t too bad, but it wasn’t perfect,” said Line. “Then the second run we had something go wrong and the run was really a throw-away. I only had one run – the last one – to make a good run. I thought it would be better, but it was a little light on the clutch. It wasn’t terrible, this just isn’t where we think we should be.”
 
Line’s 6.643, 206.01 in the second session was followed by a 6.631, 208.10 and he landed in the No. 8 position. Although still in the top half of the field and heading into raceday with lane choice over rookie competitor Jonathan Gray – a driver he has yet to race on Sunday – Line is in a position he hasn’t been relegated to since the third race of the season. He has qualified 7th or better in each race since the Gainesville Gatornationals.
 
Line, of course, is optimistic.
 
“I think if we do everything right, I think we have a chance of winning the race tomorrow with our Summit Racing Camaro,” said Line. “We struggled a little bit, but it’s an opportunity to learn something.”
 
Vincent Nobile, whose power is generated in-house at the KB Racing shop in Mooresville, is the No. 1 qualifier in Topeka. It is Nobile’s second low qualifier award with KB power.
 
“We are quite sure he’s cheating, but we haven’t figured out how yet,” joked Line. “We are monitoring the situation because something fishy is going on over there. But in all seriousness, Vincent made three really nice runs, and I’m excited for him. He is very happy, and it’s also a very good thing for KB Racing because it shows the power we have and what we are capable of. It’s definitely a good thing. Tomorrow we could have a very good day, and I think there is a very good possibility that we will see my Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro and the Summit car driven by my teammate Greg Anderson going rounds. It should be a very good day.”