Anderson getting reacquainted with the white Summit Racing car in Topeka
 
TOPEKA, Kan., May 24, 2014 – Greg Anderson had a surprise for fans and competitors in Topeka. A last-minute decision by the seasoned team put Anderson behind the wheel of the white Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro and sent the red Camaro back to the garage. Although they didn’t shoot right up to the top of the pack, Anderson and the KB Racing crew made strides towards becoming reacquainted with the white car and qualified in the No. 10 position. Anderson will race V. Gaines in the first round of eliminations.
 
“We were having a little trouble with the red car, and our teammate Vincent Nobile had some good runs on this particular car in the first four races of the season,” said Anderson, referring to the Summit Camaro that Nobile raced to the No. 1 qualifying position at the season opener and took to three consecutive semifinals. “We really liked the runs it was making when Vincent was driving it, and we had the plan to bring it back out after it was updated to a 2014 model. It took a few races to get that done, and it just happened to be that it was ready before this race. Now we have three cars that are the same and we just need to keep nitpicking at this one. We’ll get it going.”
 
Qualifying was shortened to three rounds as wet weather washed away the second session on the first day. Anderson was on the board on Friday night with a 6.651-second pass at 208.42 mph but was unsatisfied with the No. 12 spot. On Saturday morning, he made his best pass of the weekend so far, a 6.630, 207.69, that bumped him up a few positions on the ladder. Ultimately, following a 6.632, 208.01 in the final session, Anderson’s position was set at 10th.
 
“I need to be faster, but thankfully the car isn’t doing anything dumb – it’s just not lighting up the scoreboard like we think it should,” said Anderson, who will race Gaines for the first time on Sunday since defeating him in the first round of the NHRA Finals last fall. “The car is close, and it’s making good runs and certainly not acting like the red car was, but it isn’t where it needs to be just yet. We just need to squeak the last few couple hundredths out of it.
 
“We’re just going to make small changes because it’s close, but we are going to work on getting those few extra hundreds – and then I think we will have a chance to win. The good news is that it seems consistent and doesn’t seem far off. Hopefully we can make the right moves in the right direction and not knock it out of its happy place. It seems very happy, so we are just going to get it running a little faster.”
 

Norrköping, Sweden, May 23, 2014 – Eight-time FIA Pro Stock champion Jimmy Alund is thrilled to announce a multi-race sponsorship with Summit Racing Equipment. Alund will fly the Summit Racing colors in 2014 as he chases a historic ninth FIA Pro Stock championship.

This comes after Jimmy returning to Sweden after substituting for Greg Anderson in his Summit Racing Camaro for the first five races of the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Ålund gathered not only qualifying and round points but capped of his 2
014 season in the USA with a win at the 5th annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway. Ålund being the first European driver to win a Wally in an NHRA professional class.
 
“I am stunned, these positive hits from Summit Racing keep coming”, says Jimmy about the news, “when the Summit pro stock racing team asked me to drive one of their cars it took me by complete surprise and last week Jim Greenleaf, Summit Racing’s Motorsports and Events Manager called and politely asked if I would accept an associate sponsorship for 2014”.
 
Jimmy continues, “The 2014 season has been a dream so far and to get to drive for such a legendary team sponsored by the finest business in the industry is a great honor. Add to that a sponsorship from Summit Racing for the European racing season… I’m at a loss for words.”
 
“Jimmy Alund filled in for Team Summit’s Greg Anderson while the four-time NHRA Pro Stock champion recovered from heart surgery at the start of the 2014 season. Greg’s are big shoes to fill; and fill them Jimmy did, taking his first NHRA win in Charlotte, NC at the NHRA 4 Wide Nationals in April. Summit Racing is very excited to extend the relationship as Jimmy competes in the 2014 FIA Drag Race Series in Europe” said Jim Greenleaf, Summit Racing’s Motorsports and Event Manager. Greenleaf added “We’ve learned that the eight-time FIA Pro Stock Champion is very interested in American muscle cars. It’s a great fit!”

Line No. 4 at Conclusion of Rainy First Day in Topeka
 
TOPEKA, Kan., May 23, 2014 – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line isn’t letting a little rainy weather get under his skin, particularly when his KB Racing team is making a show of power at Heartland Park Topeka’s NHRA Kansas Nationals. Line and his blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro are sitting in the No. 4 spot after the single qualifying session Mello Yello Drag Racing Series competitors were able to participate in before the rain moved in and canceled the remainder of the day’s activities.
 
“It’s not a whole lot of fun when you have weather come in like this,” said Line, who raced to a quick 6.622 at 208.81 mph in the late afternoon session. “But we made a decent run and are pretty pleased. Thankfully, we’ve got another day of qualifying tomorrow with two more rounds before the field is set, so we have the opportunity to get my teammate Greg Anderson’s car up there a little higher with us.”
 
Anderson, who returned to driving the white Summit Racing Camaro at this event, clocked a 6.651 at 208.42 mph as the team worked to become reacquainted with the Camaro that KB Racing-powered Vincent Nobile drove for the first handful of races this season but with a Mountain View Racing wrap. Anderson is currently No. 12 in the lineup.
 
Nobile, now in a car owned by the Mitsos family, his team owners, and powered by engines built in the race shop at KB Racing, drove his way to the No. 1 position with a 6.601 at 208.71.
 
“That was a great run for Vincent, and it’s very encouraging to have him at the top of the pack,” said Line. “It’s a good example of the power that we have. But we’re all racers out here, and we all want to be No. 1. I’m happy for Vincent, but I’m hoping to have my Summit Racing Camaro up there in his place tomorrow.”
 

Line to Put an End to Winless Streak at Heartland Park Topeka
 
Mooresville, N.C., May 21, 2014 – It was 1990 when Jason Line first rolled through the gates at the now famed Heartland Park Topeka, the year that the expansive facility held its first NHRA sanctioned event. Then a dedicated sportsman racer who was competing in his Stocker that weekend, the Minnesota-native undoubtedly had visions of competing in the Pro Stock ranks and standing in the winner’s circle at the end of Sunday eliminations. Line has accumulated a remarkable 32 national event wins as a pro since that time, but the dream is still alive for him in Topeka. Determined as ever to make it happen, Line greets the challenge of this weekend’s NHRA Kansas Nationals with great enthusiasm.
 
“I just see this as an opportunity,” said Line. “I can win there – I won a division race in my Stock Eliminator car there pretty early on, so I know it can be done. It’s just been a pretty good challenge for me in the Pro Stock car, but my luck could change this weekend. We’ve had a good car with my Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro, and that really showed in Atlanta last week. It is very possible that we could see the inside of the winner’s circle this weekend.”
 
Currently No. 2 in the Mellow Yellow Drag Racing Series Pro Stock standings, Line clearly approaches the eighth stop on the 2014 NHRA tour with optimism about the program’s progress. Relentless testing and evolving developments in the KB Racing shop have been proving effective on race day. With the first of three consecutive race weekends completed last Monday in Atlanta, a busy month of competition is what drives Line to become more focused on the task at hand: hoisting a Wally on the winner’s stage.
 
Undaunted by a lack of a final round win at the historic quarter mile and the fact that weather conditions could present any number of tricky situations at any time of the weekend, Line and his Summit Racing crew forge ahead with a common goal in mind. It is to continue to improve and to get a win at one of only five tracks on the entire schedule where he has not yet claimed victory. Line’s teammate Greg Anderson has four wins, and his success serves as an inspiration and proof positive that the team has the tools and the talent to get the job done.
 
“I’ve been in the dyno room since we got back from Atlanta, and hopefully that will be a contributing factor,” said Line. “We fell off for a little bit, but after last weekend, I feel like I can say that we’re back to where we were before, and even that we have improved. The whole field is improving so it’s an evolving process in a very tough class, but I think we’re on the right track. I think it’s time for me to overcome the challenge I’ve had at Heartland Park.”

Anderson Looking for Continued Stellar Reaction Times and More in Topeka
 
Mooresville, N.C., May 21, 2014 – Just a few days ago, Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson and the KB Racing team weathered Sunday storms and came back on a rare Monday raceday to take the Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro to a runner up finish at their title-sponsored Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals in Atlanta. Riding a string of almost clairvoyant reaction times, the rejuvenated wheelman is looking forward to getting right back in the hunt for a Countdown to the Championship berth and the chance at a fifth Pro Stock title, and he will have the chance to do that at this weekend’s NHRA Kansas Nationals.
 
With abbreviated time in between races this month, the KB crew left their Mooresville race headquarters well prepared for a three race in a row hitch. Heartland Park Topeka is a racetrack where the group has gleaned much success in the past, and Anderson hopes to add to the bounty of Wallys he has procured there in previous performances. He earned four wins between 2003 and 2007, a magnificent feat that puts Anderson in elite company; only former boss Warren Johnson, with five Topeka trophies, has had more success in a Pro Stock car in Topeka.
 
“We’ve certainly had some success there, and we like going back to racetracks like that,” said Anderson, who will compete in his third race of the season following a delayed start. “Hopefully that will work in our favor this weekend because getting to the final and then not being able to finish the deal last week was a real heartbreaker for the Summit Racing team. We want to get the job done. Topeka is a little bit of a different race track in terms of weather and altitude, but it looks like the forecast isn’t for extremely hot temperatures like they have been a few times there in the past, and that’s good for us. I think that plays into our hands. There were a lot of positives for us last weekend, and hopefully we can do a better job on Sunday out there in Topeka.”
 
Heartland Park Topeka opened its doors in 1989 and it quickly became a venue for barrier-breaking performances in the world of racing. This multi-use motorsports haven has thrilled fans of speed and horsepower of all kinds for 25 years, and the Crown Jewel of the property is the famed 1320-foot dragstrip, where in 1993 Funny Cars first eclipsed the 300 mph mark and cracked the 4-second zone. Weather conditions can be a blessing or a curse for competitors and history has proven that anything can happen in America’s breadbasket.
 
With just two appearances on the 2014 Mellow Yellow Drag Racing Series tour so far this year, Anderson has already picked up where he left off last season with some of the best average reaction times in the class. Extensive testing has gotten Anderson just as much seat time as if he had run the previous five races that he was forced to sit out as he returned to health and strength. Gathering crucial data is of course the main goal, but testing also enhances driving skill and keeps the Pro Stock pilot sharp on the tree – essential components in a class measured in thousandths of a second every pass.
 
“We have done quite a bit of testing, it’s true,” said Anderson. “I know that it has helped my driving to get back on track quickly, and more than likely what we’ve learned will be utilized in Topeka. It’s been a busy last few weeks, but we’re looking forward to getting there and keeping the momentum going. We need to get that win.”
 

Determined Anderson Powers to Final Round at Summit Racing Southern Nationals
 
Mooresville, N.C., May 19, 2014 – The determination of Pro Stock competitor Greg Anderson was on full display this weekend at the 34th Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals. After missing the first five races of the season as he recovered from heart surgery, Anderson knows he has quite a few points to make up if he is to earn a position in NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship. With that in mind, Anderson left nothing to chance during eliminations at Atlanta Dragway.
 
The weather was unkind to NHRA competitors and particularly to the racing surface at Atlanta Dragway as the event pressed on. Many delays due to rain and dew pushed the event to a Monday finish, but 74-time national event winner Anderson kept cool. A best time of 6.541 at 212.66 put Anderson in the No. 10 qualifying position heading into raceday and set him up for a first-round race with young Vincent Nobile. The unfortunate pairing placed Anderson across from a teammate as Nobile runs his Chevrolet Camaro with power generated in the KB Racing shop.
 
Regardless of who was in the other lane, though, Anderson was determined to get the win. A .014-second reaction time and a run that tied for second-quickest of the opening act would likely have been enough, but Nobile inadvertently left the starting line .005-second too quick and illuminated the red light, handing Anderson an automatic win.
 
The second round in Atlanta pitted Anderson against his former boss, veteran drag racer Warren Johnson. Again, the motivated Anderson made the better move at the starting line, and his swift .012-second reaction time set the tone for the victory. Anderson’s 6.561, 211.89 pass was more than enough to oust Johnson and his 6.771, 179.92.
 
With the final round so close he could almost touch it, Anderson was fired up for the semifinals and cut a .007-second light to Shane Gray to secure a holeshot win, 6.568 at 211.83 to 6.553, 212.79. The ticket to the final was the first for Anderson since the Chicago race in 2013, when he was runner-up.
 
With rival competitor Jeg Coughlin in the opposite lane for the 17th time in his career, Anderson was at peak mental performance. He left the starting line with his best reaction time of the weekend, a psychic .003-second launch, but it was just a tiny bit short. Coughlin was .010 at the tree and clocked a 6.558, 211.63 to win over Anderson’s 6.588, 212.13.
 
“I want to apologize to Summit Racing Equipment that we didn’t quite make it happen, but there were a ton of positives today,” admitted Anderson, who participated in the 114th final round of his career this weekend. “I had a good day behind the wheel of my Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro. I’m disappointed because I wanted that win, needed that win, but I’m happy because my health is fine and I can still drive these things. That’s good news. I know that I can win again; it’s just a matter of time.
 
“We’re going to go home and work on the dyno tomorrow. We’re close, but we’re not there yet with our Camaros. But now I’ve answered the question. Can I still do this? Yes. I can start my racing career over. It’s a new chapter for me. A new lease on life.”
 

Line the fastest driver at Atlanta Dragway’s Summit Southern Nationals
 
ATLANTA, Ga., May 19, 2014 – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line had hoped for a trophy at the conclusion of the 34th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, but setting the track speed record during qualifying and consistently exerting muscle on raceday as one of the fastest cars on the property is perhaps a bit of a consolation. Just as impressive is the fact that Line is currently sitting in the No. 2 position in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series standings.
 
Line’s qualifying efforts were excellent. Despite many weather delays and the potential for distraction, Line recorded a best time of 6.514 and a top speed of 213.00 mph that became the official track record for speed at Atlanta Dragway. He also earned a start from the No. 4 position, his best start since the race in Phoenix when he was the No. 3 qualifier.
 
Rain and a wet racetrack delayed eliminations until Monday, but Line had no problem waking up for work. In the first round he paired an alert .008-second reaction time with a third-best 6.549 at 211.76 to send Larry Morgan home early. In round two, Line used the third-best pass of the round to put a troubled Rodger Brogdon on the trailer, and that win set Line up for a semifinals match with Jeg Coughlin. The duo left nearly in unison, but Line ultimately missed the win by just a touch. His opponent won with a 6.548, 211.33 to a 6.554, 212.16.
 
“It was a little bit of a whirlwind this weekend,” admitted crew chief Rob Downing. “Jason’s car ran pretty good, and we tried a few different things with his Summit Racing Camaro that really seemed to work. It was very encouraging.”
 
Line agreed.
 
“We made some improvements this weekend,” he said. “We definitely went the right way with my Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro, and even though we didn’t do as well as we wanted to in the semifinals, the team as a whole did a really good job. I wish we could have done better for Summit Racing, and hopefully we’ll make them happy in Topeka next weekend. Maybe we were just getting warmed up.”
 

Determined Anderson Powers to Final Round at Summit Racing Southern Nationals
 
Mooresville, N.C., May 19, 2014 – The determination of Pro Stock competitor Greg Anderson was on full display this weekend at the 34th Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals. After missing the first five races of the season as he recovered from heart surgery, Anderson knows he has quite a few points to make up if he is to earn a position in NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship. With that in mind, Anderson left nothing to chance during eliminations at Atlanta Dragway.
 
The weather was unkind to NHRA competitors and particularly to the racing surface at Atlanta Dragway as the event pressed on. Many delays due to rain and dew pushed the event to a Monday finish, but 74-time national event winner Anderson kept cool. A best time of 6.541 at 212.66 put Anderson in the No. 10 qualifying position heading into raceday and set him up for a first-round race with young Vincent Nobile. The unfortunate pairing placed Anderson across from a teammate as Nobile runs his Chevrolet Camaro with power generated in the KB Racing shop.
 
Regardless of who was in the other lane, though, Anderson was determined to get the win. A .014-second reaction time and a run that tied for second-quickest of the opening act would likely have been enough, but Nobile inadvertently left the starting line .005-second too quick and illuminated the red light, handing Anderson an automatic win.
 
The second round in Atlanta pitted Anderson against his former boss, veteran drag racer Warren Johnson. Again, the motivated Anderson made the better move at the starting line, and his swift .012-second reaction time set the tone for the victory. Anderson’s 6.561, 211.89 pass was more than enough to oust Johnson and his 6.771, 179.92.
 
With the final round so close he could almost touch it, Anderson was fired up for the semifinals and cut a .007-second light to Shane Gray to secure a holeshot win, 6.568 at 211.83 to 6.553, 212.79. The ticket to the final was the first for Anderson since the Chicago race in 2013, when he was runner-up.
 
With rival competitor Jeg Coughlin in the opposite lane for the 17th time in his career, Anderson was at peak mental performance. He left the starting line with his best reaction time of the weekend, a psychic .003-second launch, but it was just a tiny bit short. Coughlin was .010 at the tree and clocked a 6.558, 211.63 to win over Anderson’s 6.588, 212.13.
 
“I want to apologize to Summit Racing Equipment that we didn’t quite make it happen, but there were a ton of positives today,” admitted Anderson, who participated in the 114th final round of his career this weekend. “I had a good day behind the wheel of my Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro. I’m disappointed because I wanted that win, needed that win, but I’m happy because my health is fine and I can still drive these things. That’s good news. I know that I can win again; it’s just a matter of time.
 
“We’re going to go home and work on the dyno tomorrow. We’re close, but we’re not there yet with our Camaros. But now I’ve answered the question. Can I still do this? Yes. I can start my racing career over. It’s a new chapter for me. A new lease on life.”
 

Anderson banks on hitting it right on raceday at Summit’s NHRA Southern Nationals
 
Mooresville, N.C., May 17, 2014 – According to Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson, the key to success on raceday at the 34th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals will be what he terms, “hitting it right.” For Anderson, that is something that hasn’t yet happened to the full extent for him this weekend at Atlanta Dragway. On Sunday, the No. 10 qualifier will be looking to change that, beginning with a first-round meeting with fellow KB Racing-powered Vincent Nobile.
 
Anderson, in only his second race of the season following a successful recovery from heart surgery performed early this year, was out of the gate with a respectable 6.591-second run at 209.95 mph, but he suffered tremendous tire shake in the second session just as he launched from the starting line and chattered to a disheartening 19.667 at 39.29. More trouble at the starting line was in order for the third qualifying session that took place on Saturday afternoon, and a 6.641, 211.73 appeared on the scoreboard. The final session, however, brought the KB Racing team a sigh of relief as Anderson sailed to a much-improved 6.541 at a thunderous 212.66 mph.
 
“That was a lot better,” said Anderson. “We still have a long way to go, and we have struggled mightily with the starting line here. We just can’t seem to get it hooked up, but that last run was definitely a move in the right direction. We’re making progress, but it all comes down to tomorrow. The good news is that there is a lot left in our Summit Racing Camaro.
 
“Unfortunately, we’re matched with our teammate in the first round. One of us is going home first round – but that also means that one of us is moving on, and I want it to be me. I need it to be me, so I’m going to do all that I can and I’m going to hope and pray that I can do my job and the racecar can be as good as we know it can be to give us a chance to win.”
 
Anderson, with four wins in eight final rounds, has historically had exceptional good fortunate at Atlanta Dragway and looks to eliminations for this season’s rendition of the Summit Racing-sponsored event to bring more of the same.
 
“This weekend has been a bit of a surprise because we’ve always raced well here. But Jason [Line, Summit Racing teammate] ran big speed with a 213 that was the track record, and I’m not far behind,” said Anderson. “We can see that the engines really want to run. We just have to put everything together, and I know that this team is capable of that on raceday, especially here. We’ll make big changes tonight, and if we hit it right, our Summit Racing Camaro is going to be fast tomorrow.”
 

Line claims track record, will start fourth at Summit Racing Southern Nationals
 
ATLANTA, Ga., May 17, 2014 – The Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway have so far been a time for Jason Line to shine, and the Pro Stock driver who wheels the bright blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro will be in the hunt for a little more sunshine during final eliminations for the event. Line, of Mooresville, N.C., blasted to a 6.517 at 213 mph to reset the Atlanta Dragway track record for speed and earn a start from the No. 4 position. He will race Larry Morgan in the first round of eliminations on Sunday.
 
In a weekend that has so far been a start-stop-start-stop affair between weather and racing delays, Line kept his composure and managed to display a very solid program. The first day of qualifying finished late into the evening with Line fourth-best based on a time of 6.540-second at 211.59 mph.
 
On Saturday afternoon, NHRA’s National Dragster magazine labeled Line as “quietly lurking in the background,” referring to his 6.514 at 212.69 in the Rob Downing-tuned Team Summit Camaro that was recorded in the third qualifying round. It was the third-quickest pass of the session and paired with the fastest speed, and his repeat 6.51 and new track record in the final qualifying round amplified his threatening nature at his sponsor’s title event.
 
“There are a lot of fast cars out here, and to be able to run that well is certainly a positive thing,” said Line. “We’re always looking for that big speed with our Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaros, and to see that today was very, very encouraging. Hopefully we can capitalize on that tomorrow.”
 
Morgan, Line’s first-round opponent, is a driver whom he has not squared off with on raceday since the Seattle event last summer. Line was the victor in their meeting last year.
 
“Larry is a character and I love the guy,” said Line. “He’s a goofball and just a super good guy. You can’t ever take him for granted, that’s for sure. Larry can be very fast, and you never know what he’s going to do out there. Heck, he might stage the car with the back wheels – you just never know. But it’ll be fun either way.”
 
The one thing that could be a true curveball is the weather forecast, which looks somewhat wet and dreary. Line, however, is thinking positive.
 
“I’m actually going to go against what all the negative nellies out there are saying – I don’t think the weather will be a big problem for us,” said Line. “I think we’re going to race. The bad news for us may be that the track record we set today won’t last. It is suppose to be pretty cool out there.
 
“We’ll just have to make sure we have a really good tune-up and we’ll be fine. We love this weekend every year – it’s a Summit race, for one, and there are a lot of great fans here in Atlanta. We always like coming here, and right now, I have the fastest hot rod out there. I feel good about tomorrow.”
 

Line Wheels Summit Racing Camaro to No. 4 Spot on Day One in Atlanta
 
ATLANTA, Ga., May 16, 2014 – The first day of qualify for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway is in the books, and Pro Stock driver Jason Line is already representing his sponsor well at their title event. Line powered the Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro to a best time of 6.540-second at 211.59 mph and is well-positioned as the provisional No. 4 qualifier.
 
Qualifying was slated to begin late in the afternoon, and although clear skies were momentarily swallowed by giant rain clouds and a brief shower doused Atlanta Dragway, the unpleasant weather swiftly left the area and the sun was shining in time for the first session.
 
Line and his brilliant blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro covered the quarter-mile in 6.560-second at 210.87 mph to temporarily occupy the No. 7 position in the qualifying order, and the KB Racing team headed back to the pit area and began preparing for a stronger charge in the second session. A lengthy delay during qualifying for the nitro cars allowed a bit of extra time for the group to fine-tune their efforts, and it certainly showed in the second session.
 
Line’s move from seventh to fourth was impressive as it happened in a round where many of the Pro Stock cars had trouble as conditions changed and the round pushed later into the evening.
 
“The racetrack was very tricky that last session,” said Line. “Very tricky. We were glad to get down the track and improve, and I can tell you that there is a lot of room for improvement with both of our Summit Racing Camaros. I think my partner Greg Anderson and I will have more to show the folks out here at Atlanta Dragway. We’re looking forward to those two sessions tomorrow, that’s for sure.”
 
Qualifying for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway will continue with two more sessions scheduled for Saturday.
 

Line and Summit Racing Team Prepare for Success in Atlanta and Beyond
 
Mooresville, N.C., May 14, 2014 – Jason Line is proud to represent Summit Racing this weekend at his sponsor’s title event, the 34th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, and the 32-time Pro Stock winner is eager to see the results of many long hours of preparation logged by the KB Racing team.  A two-time finalist already this year and owner of the Winternationals trophy earned at the first race of the season, Line is good and ready to get back to winner’s circle.
 
“The outcome in Houston certainly wasn’t what we had hoped for,” said Line, who qualified in the top half of the field and finished in the quarterfinals. “We have high standards here at KB Racing and expect more, so the team has spent a lot of time testing our Summit Racing Camaros these last couple of weeks. That should show in Atlanta.”
 
According to Line’s Summit Racing teammate Greg Anderson, a remarkable 80 runs over eight days of testing at a local drag strip gave the team the opportunity to really fine-tune their program heading into a race that is highlighted brightly on the calendar each year for the focused group.
 
The heavy block of test days also provided Team Summit with a strong foundation from which to launch into a string of 10 races in 12 weeks. The event in Atlanta starts a block of three, followed by a weekend off, a block of four, a weekend off, and then the three-in-a-row Western Swing.
 
“There has been a lot of preparation happening in our camp, that’s for sure,” said Line. “We want to make things better because if you don’t go into this stretch running well, it’s going to make for a very long 10 races. This is a situation where preparation is hugely important.
 
“Testing so much with an emphasis on improvement is actually fun for guys like us who live and breathe racing, but it’s also necessary. It’s a tough class, and to contend for wins you have to work really, really hard. There are no gimmees. You have to earn them.
 
“One really cool thing about this weekend is that Greg and I both get to attend the dinner at Coca-Cola headquarters in Atlanta on Thursday night,” said Line, referring to the annual NHRA Mello Yello Partnership dinner that has an exclusive guest list that includes past NHRA world champions. “It’s something we look forward to all year, and our wives will be there with us. It’s a lot of fun, and I have to thank the folks at Mello Yello and The Coca-Cola Company for putting this on. I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again – it’s an honor to be invited because it reminds you that at one time, you were pretty good at this deal. It reminds you of your capabilities. If winning a championship was possible before, it’s certainly possible again.”
 

Anderson Believes Hard Work will Pay Off at Summit Racing’s Southern Nationals
 
Mooresville, N.C., May 14, 2014 – Greg Anderson and his Summit Racing Pro Stock team are loaded up and ready to make the trek from their race shop in Mooresville, N.C., down to Atlanta Dragway for this weekend’s 34th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals. The drive will only take a handful of hours, and the short journey will be more than just a ride down the highway – it will be a time for the hard working team to finally take a moment to rest before a very important weekend kicks into high gear.
 
Since returning from the most recent race on the 2014 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour, the KB Racing group has worked diligently to improve their program as they prepared for the anticipated event that bears the name of the sponsor they proudly represent.
 
“We’ve tested eight days since we got home from Houston two weeks ago,” said Anderson, who missed the first five races of the season as he recovered from heart surgery. “Between two cars, we’ve made 80 runs in eight days. That’s a heck of a lot of testing, but we knew how important it was to go out there and do this.
 
“This is a main event for Summit Racing, and we want to represent them well. We seem to have been able to rise to the occasion many times at this racetrack, and we believe we’ll be able to do the same this year.”
 
In the past, the team’s performance at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals has been spectacular. Between Anderson and teammate Jason Line, they have 12 final round appearances in Atlanta, and a Summit Racing car has won the event five times. Four of those wins were by Anderson, and three times the duo has raced in an all Summit Racing-final.
 
“We definitely dwell heavily on this race and come well prepared. We need to go there and run fast, and we need to find a way to win this race because after missing those first few races, I have some ground to make up if I’m going to make the playoffs,” said Anderson, referring to NHRA’s 10-race Countdown to the Championship that launches at the conclusion of a summer heavy with drag racing.

“I’m in dire straights, so to speak, and I don’t have time to take six or seven races to get up to speed. To be honest, with how many runs we’ve put on these cars these last couple of weeks, I’m there – I’m ready,” Anderson continued. “There are no issues, no worries, nothing is holding me back. As long as I have a car that can contend for race wins, we can get this done. That’s exactly what we’ve been working on.”
 
Prior to the race weekend, Anderson and Line will have the honor of attending a very special once-a-year celebration honoring those who have earned NHRA championships. Anderson, a four-time Pro Stock world champion, and Line, who earned two coveted Pro Stock titles driving for Summit Racing, are on the guest list for the annual NHRA Mello Yello Partnership Dinner at Atlanta’s World of Coca-Cola.

“It’s always a neat, neat deal that we are invited to this dinner,” said Anderson. “The good folks at Coca-Cola make you feel so special, like you’re part of their family. You realize you’re in an exclusive club. Not many people have won world championships, and I’m proud to be a member of that club. It’s a great way to start what will, hopefully, be a great weekend for the Summit Racing team.”
 

Anderson Pleased with Houston Return
 
HOUSTON, Tex., April 27, 2014 – The O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway marked the return to the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series for Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson, and the four-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion certainly had hoped to see a few win lights on Sunday, but he was ultimately pleased with the outcome of the event.
 
Anderson, of Mooresville, N.C., recorded a 6.636-second pass at 209.92 mph in his first 2014 run down the quarter-mile racetrack and followed up with a 6.607, 210.54 in hot and humid conditions. On Saturday, the second day of the event, Anderson produced a 6.601, 210.34 followed by a 6.628, 210.21. The 74-time national event winner continued a qualifying streak that now spans 258 races in which he attempted to secure a position in the field and succeeded. Anderson earned a start from the No. 11 position and a first-round meeting with Jeg Coughlin.
 
True to championship form, Anderson was wide awake at the starting line and clocked a very efficient .015-second reaction time. Unfortunately, his opponent knew he could leave nothing to chance and reacted with a .005 and raced to a winning 6.609 to top Anderson’s 6.670 at 209.36.
 
Although a win light was not to be had in his first race back on tour, Anderson was still buoyant at the conclusion of the event.
 
“I’m happy with the way things went, overall,” said Anderson, clearly fully recovered from heart surgery performed in February. “This weekend certainly answered a lot of questions and cleared up any reservations I had. There should be no issue going forward, and nobody is going to give me any more sympathy – especially any of these racers when I line up against them. It’s time to get back to hard-nose racing, and I’m ready.
 
“The next thing we have to do is get my racecar fast again. I have a lot of years left in me to do this, and I’m very, very happy about that. Now we need to concentrate on winning races and getting into that Countdown to the Championship. I’m very happy with the weekend.”
 
The next event for Anderson will be the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, May 16-18.
 

Line Leaves Houston No. 3 in NHRA’s Pro Stock Standings
 
HOUSTON, Texas, April 27, 2014 – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line had hoped to defend the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals title that he earned at Royal Purple Raceway last season, but the 32-time NHRA Pro Stock winner fell a bit short of fulfilling the goal. He did, however, gather enough points to maintain a position near the very top of the Pro Stock standings as NHRA’s 2014 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour departs Houston.
 
Line, who won the event in 2007 and in 2013, experienced challenges during qualifying that went beyond simply missing the setup in the hot and humid conditions in the area surrounding the racetrack. Mechanical issues resulted in a painfully slow 7.305 at 142.16 mph that placed him in unfamiliar territory – at the bottom of the pack. He came back for the second session and recovered nicely with a 6.605 at 210.70 mph, though, and in the first session on Saturday, Line improved to a 6.594 at 210.80 and moved into the top half of the field. He rounded out qualifying with a 6.636, 210.93.
 
In the first round, the Mooresville, N.C.-based Line took a sizable starting line advantage in his Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro and put it to good use, beating Chris McGaha on a holeshot, 6.626, 209.69 to 6.611, 210.60. The second round became Line’s final round of the day when No. 2 qualifier and eventual event winner Erica Enders-Stevens was first to the finish line, 6.577, 211.26 to 6.639, 209.75.
 
Despite leaving Houston far earlier than anticipated, Line is pleasingly situated No. 3 in the Pro Stock points.
 
“Today was certainly not the day that we hoped for, and it was a tough weekend,” said Line. “But I’d like to say that we learned some things with our Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaros. I’m certainly not happy with the way that we ran, but there were positives, too. It was a great race with a really good turnout, and there were so many fans here this weekend. From that perspective, it was really a lot of fun.
 
“It was great to have my teammate Greg Anderson back after missing the first five races of the season, and it was neat that Jimmy Alund, who did a really good job filling in for him while he was gone, was here, too. It was a good weekend in a lot of ways, and the Summit Racing team is definitely looking forward to racing in Atlanta at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals in a few weeks. We’ll be ready.”
 
Line wished to note that the race in Houston also marked the final event for an eight-year veteran of the KB Racing team. Engine Specialist Pat Topolinski will begin a fresh chapter as he transitions into a new career in Franklin, Tenn., the week following the race.
 
“I want to thank Pat for eight faithful years of service,” said Line. “I appreciate the fact that he dedicated so many years of his life to us, and I wish him luck in his adventures.”
 

Line to Start from Top Half in Houston Title Defense
 
HOUSTON, Texas, April 26, 2014 – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line launched into qualifying for the 27th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals with hearty intentions, and although he was initially slowed, Line proved resilient and bounced right back to make a raceday start at Royal Purple Raceway and earn the opportunity to defend the title he scored there one year ago.
 
In the first session of qualifying in the hot and humid Houston weather, Line faced an immediate challenge. Unexpected mechanical issues slowed his progress, and he clocked a disheartening 7.305 at 142.16 mph that placed him dead last in the lineup.
 
“Yeah, that issue put us behind right away,” said Line. “Whenever that happens, you have to start up front the next run and that means you have to be very conservative. We really struggled getting hold of the racetrack, but we certainly got better.”
 
The second session, however, showed marked results. Line raced his blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro down the track and clocked an improved 6.605 at 210.70 mph. In the first round on Saturday, Line improved to a 6.594 at 210.80 and moved into the top half of the field.
 
A 6.636, 210.93 to round out qualifying didn’t boost his position in the standings, but Line ultimately finished in the No. 7 position and will race Chris McGaha in the first round of eliminations on Sunday. It will be the first time that the two have met on raceday.
 
“We’ve got our work cut out for us, but fortunately we qualified in the top and will have lane choice,” said Line, who has been a top-half qualifier at each race so far this season. “This is the first time we’ve faced this kind of weather and these conditions all year, but our Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro is a car that we believe we can make better for tomorrow. It’s going to require a different setup than we had today, and that isn’t anything that the KB Racing team can’t handle.”
 

Anderson Making First Raceday Start of the Year in Houston
 
HOUSTON, Tex., April 26, 2014 – After four solid qualifying passes in his red Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro, Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson has completely regained confidence and is ready to make his first raceday start of the year at the 27th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals at Houston’s Royal Purple Raceway. Anderson qualified in the No. 11 position and will race Jeg Coughlin in the first round of eliminations.
 
The four-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion was stunningly absent from the first five events of the 2014 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series as he recovered from heart surgery to repair a bicuspid aortic valve. Anderson, medically cleared to return Monday of the event week, had no trouble getting right back into form.
 
In his first run down the quarter-mile racetrack at Royal Purple Raceway, Anderson clocked a 6.636-second pass at 209.92 mph, and in the second qualifying session he was 6.607, 210.54 at the top end.
 
In a show of consistency, the four-time NHRA world champion and 74-time national event winner produced a 6.601, 210.34 in Saturday afternoon’s first qualifying round, and for the closing session he made a 6.628, 210.21 journey down the track to finalize a start from the No. 11 position and a first-round meeting with Coughlin – a driver he last raced in St. Louis in 2013 – where he disposed of his opponent by recording a significantly superior reaction time at the starting line.
 
“I’m having fun being back behind the wheel and driving,” said Anderson. “The truth is, I have to come back and win races if I want to make the Countdown to the Championship. I wanted to just come back and have fun this weekend and prove that I can do it again, that I was physically okay, and I definitely proved that. Now it’s time to get more serious. I certainly like having a smile on my face all day long, so I’m going to continue that. We’ll try to get our car faster, and we really should have no excuses, but I’m not going to stress over it either way.
 
“I’m just happy to be back this weekend and that everything has gone smoothly. There have been zero hiccups as far as my health and ability to drive the racecar. I really couldn’t be happier about all of that. I get to race on Sunday, and that’s exciting. I don’t see any reason why I can’t go and compete at a high level tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it – and no matter what happens, I’m going to have fun.”
 

Anderson Feeling at Home in Summit Racing Camaro in Houston
 
Mooresville, N.C., April 25, 2014 – Greg Anderson has been anxiously awaiting this moment – the moment when he could return to the driver’s seat of his Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro – and today in Houston at the 27th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals, the 74-time national event winner and four-time Pro Stock world champ finally was able to seize the opportunity.
 
Anderson missed the first five events of the 2014 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series as he recovered from heart surgery to repair a bicuspid aortic valve and put forth extensive effort towards recovery to make his return one race earlier than anticipated. Cleared by his doctor earlier in the week, Anderson was suited up and ready for the first round of qualifying with the attention of nearly everyone on the grounds at Royal Purple Raceway focused on his first run.
 
“It felt perfect. I felt at home,” said Anderson, who had an excellent .025-second reaction time at the tree and was a cool 6.636, 209.92 mph in his first full quarter-mile pass. “There was not one inkling of pain, and I didn’t even have to think about it going down the racetrack. It was just like it’s always been. From the minute I started that car to the turn off at the finish line I never once thought, ‘does my heart hurt, is my heart racing, is there any pain, is there any issue?’ Not one time. Quite honestly, I didn’t even know I had heart surgery today. It was very smooth and way ahead of what I expected. The chest protector I built certainly helped, but there is no question that the surgeons did a good job.”
 
Anderson wore a unique chest protector that he requested to be built by Simpson. The concept of the piece is based on the smaller-sized, Top Dog chest protectors made by Simpson and worn by children who race go-karts. A mold was taken of Anderson’s chest and the carbon fiber protector was crafted.
 
“It’s bullet proof. It protects my chest, and I don’t feel a thing,” said Anderson, who is the only driver in any category to have the protective device at this time. “I can yank down on the seatbelts as hard as I want, and I don’t feel any pulling on my chest. It’s definitely a great product that Simpson now has, and I’m telling you, everybody who drives a car should have something like this.”
 
Anderson improved to a 6.607 at 210.54 mph in his second pass and finished the day in the No. 11 position. Although he didn’t jump right up to the top of the pack in his first day back in the seat of his red Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro, Anderson was exceptionally pleased with the ultimate outcome of the day.
 
“I’m very happy,” said Anderson. “I’ve been wearing a big smile all day long. The good news about that is I know better than anybody that the mind is more important than anything in this game. I think my mind is stronger now, I think I’m in a better place and a happier person than I’ve been at a racetrack in a long time. I hope that carries me a long way. I’ve said it before; the mind has to be 3/4 of what we do out here. Hopefully, that helps me win races and get in that Countdown to the Championship.
 
“Just to be back at the racetrack and back in that racecar, it felt great. I guarantee there were a whole lot of people outside of my car a whole lot more nervous than I was today. I was at ease 100%. There were no issues, no problems. I’m ready to get back to racing as hard as I can and winning races with a smile. I’m a pretty happy camper.”
 

Anderson Back in the Seat of Summit Racing Hot Rod in Houston
 
Mooresville, N.C., April 22, 2014 – NHRA Pro Stock world champion Greg Anderson has been as patient as possible, and this weekend he will finally be back where he belongs: behind the wheel of the Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro for the 27th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals at Houston’s Royal Purple Raceway.
 
For Anderson, missing the first five events of the 2014 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series was a necessary evil as he recovered from heart surgery to repair a bicuspid aortic valve. A man whose belly burns with such a fierce competitive fire could not easily swallow the bitter pill of watching from the sidelines, and although the original prescribed time off was to be six races, Anderson worked hard to return to form and will return one race earlier than expected.
 
A panel of doctors officially cleared his safe return to driving the 200-plus mph, 1,500 horsepower Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro the Monday before the coming weekend’s event.
 
“It was very difficult to sit out those first five races,” admitted Anderson. “We racers tend to think that everything in life is all about drag racing. Nothing is more important. We live it, breath it, eat it, sleep it. And sometimes we think we’re invincible – but I found out firsthand that we’re not.
 
“In the beginning, I thought the surgery and recovery would be a simple deal, a piece of cake, that I would bounce right back. Turns out it was a huge deal and a new chapter for me. They fixed me up, but there was still a challenge ahead and a lot of pain to go through. You realize you aren’t invincible when you go through something like that. You have to learn to be patient, take your time, go slow and follow the doctor’s orders, and that’s a whole new game for a guy like me. Somehow, I learned how to be patient, healed up in the proper amount of time, and now it’s time to go racing again. I couldn’t be more excited to get back behind the wheel of my Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro.”
 
Returning in Houston is favorable for Anderson in more ways than one. The four-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion earned two of his 74 national event wins at Royal Purple Raceway, and his teammate, KB Racing driver Jason Line, piloted his blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro to victory at the SpringNationals last year. To sweeten the package, Anderson will be driving the very same car that European Pro Stock champion Jimmy Alund, who kept the seat warm while he was away, wheeled to the winner’s circle just a week and a half ago at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte.
 
“I’m excited to get back in the same car that Jimmy won with in Charlotte,” said Anderson. “The guys have done such a fantastic job with this car, and I don’t just mean Jason Line, Rob Downing and the entire crew that works on it; Jimmy has done a fantastic job of driving the car and also of helping the guys find a happy spot for that racecar to run in,” said Anderson. “My hat’s off to the entire team and Jimmy Alund. That car is working very, very nicely, and I found that out firsthand yesterday when we made a few test runs. It’s like it’s on autopilot. It’s smooth as glass.
 
“To be honest with you, I can’t remember ever going to a race this happy, this positive and feeling this good. I guess it’s kind of a new lease on life for me; I rolled back my odometer so to speak. Now it’s time to get back to racing. That’s what we love, that’s where we feel at home.”
 

Line Returns to Defend Houston Title with Strengthened Forces
 
Mooresville, N.C., April 22, 2014 – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line already has his bags packed for the 27th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals, and it is no wonder that the 32-time national event winner is eager. He returns to Royal Purple Raceway this weekend as the defending event champ, and he will have his Summit Racing teammate Greg Anderson once again by his side.
 
Anderson missed the first five races of the 2014 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series as he recovered from heart surgery to repair a bicuspid aortic valve, and although slated to return at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta in mid-May, he worked hard and will return to the series one race earlier than anticipated. European Pro Stock champion driver Jimmy Alund did a fine job filling the seat while he was away and won the most recent race on the tour, the Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, but the win for Summit Racing only served to ignite a bigger fire under the already motivated team. They want more.
 
“I’m glad to have Greg back this weekend, and I think it’s great that he’s making his return in the car that won last week,” said Line, who scored the victory at the 2014 season opener in Pomona and finished in the final round in Las Vegas last month, narrowly missing a SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals win. “I really believe that both of the Summit Racing Camaros are going to be good enough to win this race in Houston. That’s a good feeling going there, and it will just be up to my teammate and me to follow through.”
 
Line’s win last season in Houston was particularly memorable as it occurred in front of a live television audience, a rarity due to the unpredictable timeframe for championship eliminations at a drag race. This year, ESPN2 will offer live coverage at three national events (Epping, Chicago and Denver). Although Houston will not be televised live, Line is certainly looking forward to a return and what he hopes will be a repeat performance.
 
“That track has been good to me, so I’m really looking forward to racing my Summit Racing Camaro there again,” said Line, who has two wins in four final rounds and has twice been the low qualifier at Royal Purple Raceway. “Last year’s win there really stood out for me because it was on live TV, and I don’t think I’ve ever gotten so many phone calls or text messages in my life. Even though it won’t be live this time around, I’m looking forward to the live shows that ESPN and NHRA are planning. We’ve got some great memories going back there, and we plan on making a few more this weekend, I can promise you that.”
 
Line went to the first final round of his Pro Stock career at the Houston racetrack, where he ultimately fell in the final round to Anderson. It was the first of five final-round meetings for the Summit Racing duo that season, including the event in Chicago two races later where Line would beat Anderson to earn the first Pro Stock victory of his career. Over the course of their time together as the 1-2 punch of KB Racing, Line and Anderson have raced one another in 21 all-Summit Racing final rounds and accumulated six combined world championships (two for Line, four for Anderson).
 
“The most exciting thing for the KB Racing team this weekend is that Greg will be back,” said Line. “He’s obviously amped to say the least. I’ve never met anyone who has a stronger desire to win, and I can assure you that after missing five races it’ll be stronger than ever. His enthusiasm is something that we’re all feeling right now.”