Alund Ready to Defend Chevrolet in Brand Rival Showdown in Phoenix
 
CHANDLER, Ariz., February 22, 2014 – Pro Stock driver Jimmy Alund is enjoying his time in the seat of the Summit Racing Pro Stock Chevrolet Camaro, and on Sunday at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, the native of Sweden will be having just a little more fun than normal as he comes face-to-face with a competitor driving a rival-brand factory hot rod.
 
Alund, the No. 11 qualifier, will race Allen Johnson, a former world champion in NHRA’s Pro Stock series and the driver of a Dodge Avenger.
 
“I’m used to meeting a Dodge over in Europe; there is a former Allen Johnson car there and I’ve beaten it lots of times, so I’m actually looking forward to it. We don’t like Dodges over here in this Chevrolet camp,” joked Alund.
 
Alund kicked off qualifying with a 6.599 at 210.54 mph on Friday in the Valley of the Sun, but the day’s later pass proved ineffective due to what Alund called “driver error.”
 
“The driver just didn’t do his job,” said Alund of the troubled 12.195-second pass. “But today was a good day. We’re really happy with our last run, and my driving today was good. The car was good. The first round today we were the first car down the track, so we had to be on the soft side. But this last run was real nice, and we have something good to work on for tomorrow.”
 
In the first Saturday session, Alund made his way smoothly down the quarter-mile racetrack to clock a 6.623 at 210.24 mph. The final session of qualifying ended on a definite high-note, however, for the multi-time European Pro Stock champion. His 6.591 at 210.87 mph was his best of the weekend so far.
 
“Racing here is getting more and more fun,” said Alund. “I’m just a very competitive guy, and I’m used to doing really well in Europe – so when I’m not doing good over here, I’m not very happy all the time. But I’m having the time of my life, and today was a good day. I feel confident for tomorrow. I’m looking forward to racing Allen Johnson, that’s for sure.”
 

Line Hoping No. 3 Spot Proves Lucky Once More on Raceday in Phoenix

CHANDLER, Ariz., February 22, 2014 – Just two weeks ago at the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season opener in Pomona, Pro Stock driver Jason Line earned a start from the No. 3 position and went on to win the 32nd race of his professional career in the Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro. This weekend, at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals near Phoenix, Line is again the No. 3 qualifier and is hoping to repeat the recent success he had with the number beside his name.
 
Line is quite familiar with the No. 3 these days. The number on his racecar is also 3 to reflect his points finish from last season, but here, at the second of 24 races on the schedule, Line is working to preserve his spot as the top driver in the series. Points leader Line, supported by his steadily surging KB Racing crew, picked up a total of six bonus points during qualifying, including three marks scored in the final session when he made the quickest run of the round, a 6.560 at 211.20 mph.
 
“It’s been a good weekend so far, but it’s a little early to be counting bonus points for us,” said Line, of Mooresville, N.C. “To be quite honest, I’m way more excited about the fact that I have a good racecar, and certainly a racecar that can win the race.”
 
Line launched into qualifying with his best run of the weekend so far, a 6.536 at 211.69 mph (good for one bonus point as the third-quickest of the round) and followed with a strong 6.544, 211.83 that raked in two extra marks as second-quickest of all.
 
Saturday morning began with a 6.582, 211.00 that was moderately disappointing, but closing out qualifying with his strong afternoon performance was certainly uplifting for Team Summit. On Sunday, Line will race Steve Kent in the first round of eliminations, a driver he last met – and beat – in the first round at the Topeka Kansas Nationals in 2012.
 
“The challenge tomorrow will be the same as it is every Sunday: to be mistake-free,” said Line. “To win right now, that’s what it takes. We can do it, though – we did it last race, and we can do it again. There is definitely more left for us out there, we didn’t get it all just yet, but we learned some things. All in all, I think we’re in a good spot.”
 

Line Quick but Still Wanting More After Day One In Phoenix

CHANDLER, Ariz., February 21, 2014 – The first day of qualifying at the CARQUEST NHRA Nationals at Wild Horse Motorsports Pass allowed Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line the opportunity to take his bright blue Chevrolet Camaro on a couple of quick and educational trips down the quarter-mile racetrack. Line, of Mooresville, N.C., ended the day holding in the provisional No. 3 position and just six-thousandths of a second outside of the top spot.
 
In the first session, Line wheeled his way to a strong 6.536 at 211.69 mph. The early numbers of the pass were particularly strong, with Line beating all of his competitors in time to the 60-foot marker, one of the most critical points on the racetrack for the powerful and precise Pro Stock cars. His speed was the quickest of them all as well, indicating an advantage that the heavy-hitting team hoped to keep and expand.
 
Although Line did not improve in position in the later session and the final round of the day, the Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro was again quite quick to the 60-foot timer and his 6.544-second time at the top end was one of the quickest of the session. The 211.83 mph speed that appeared on his scoreboard tied Allen Johnson for top speed of the day. Johnson was awarded top honors based on the fact that he recorded the speed before Line; however Line was moderately satisfied with his car’s performance and felt it provided a solid starting point for what he hopes will be another successful weekend.
 
“The second run wasn’t quite as good as the first, but all-in-all, it wasn’t a bad way to start the weekend with my Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro,” said Line, the most recent event winner on the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Series tour. “It would absolutely be possible to get that No. 1 spot tomorrow.
 
“We’ve got some work to do on the car that Jimmy [Alund, teammate] is driving, but we’ve got a great baseline on my car, and we’re pretty happy with it. We’ll see what tomorrow brings, but overall, a good day.”
 

Alund Preparing for Continued Achievements in Phoenix

Mooresville, N.C., February 19, 2014 – Sweden’s eight-time FIA European Pro Stock champion Jimmy Alund had a strong outing at the season-opener and is ready to slide back into the second blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro at this weekend’s CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals near Phoenix, the second of 24 events on the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour. Alund, keeping the seat warm for four-time NHRA Pro Stock champ Greg Anderson as he recovers from heart surgery, fit right in with the team – and the competition – and earned his first raceday start just two weeks ago in Pomona.
 
“From my end, I think everything went really smooth and good,” said Alund, who is quickly getting the feel of the car and qualified in the No. 10 position. “I’m really happy to be with the team, and it’s a big privilege to be there. We all work well together, and it feels like I blended right in.”
 
“I hope it’s not just me that thinks that,” he joked.
 
All joking aside, Alund is already proving himself as a wise choice to pilot Anderson’s quick Camaro while the boss is away. Alund made monster runs to secure his first Sunday start in his first race behind the wheel of the Summit Racing Camaro and clocked a best time of 6.546 at 211.86 mph. The field was exceptionally tight with just .08-second separating the No. 1 and No. 16 qualifiers, and Alund rose to the challenge.
 
As the tour heads to Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, the charging Pro Stock driver believes that the team should have somewhat of an advantage as they wisely tested on the newly refinished racing surface in Phoenix in the days leading up to the Winternationals. Further infusing confidence is the fact that Summit Racing teammate Jason Line won the event and was able to dedicate the victory to Anderson. Although disappointed and halted by an unsightly red-light in the first round in Pomona, Alund feels as though he is on the right track to illuminate a different light for the KB Racing crew – the win light.
 
“It definitely feels more comfortable that we have been there to Phoenix already and made several runs down the racetrack,” said Alund. “The comfort will be a lot bigger than it was at Pomona for me, so surely that is going to help.
 
“I’m looking forward to racing again. I actually felt very welcome to come race NHRA; everybody was very friendly, and it’s been a really good experience. I just wish I had done a little bit better job on Sunday in Pomona, but I learned something, and I think we can adjust the car and the driver now. I like racing in NHRA, that’s for sure, and I think it’s going to be even better the further we go. I was really happy on Sunday after Jason won the race – we won as a team. I’m really happy we were able to do that, and next time, maybe we can run the final together. We’ll see.”
 

Line Bringing the Heat to Phoenix
 
Mooresville, N.C., February 19, 2014 – NHRA Pro Stock driver Jason Line is eager to return to the seat of his blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro, particularly as the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series makes its second stop of 24 on the 2014 tour on the heels of a very successful outing for the KB Racing team. Just two short weeks ago, Line won the season-opener in Pomona, and he plans to ride a wave of momentum into the Valley of the Sun at this weekend’s CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at the newly rejuvenated Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park near Phoenix.
 
Line, who now possesses a remarkable 32 NHRA Pro Stock wins, has had previous success in Phoenix and was the winner of the event in 2012. He was also the No. 1 qualifier in 2007.
 
“It’s a great feeling for this Summit Racing team to head to Phoenix, because no matter what, we get there and we’re the guys who won the last race,” said Line. “That’s a nice thing to be able to say, and it makes everyone on this team feel pretty darn good. Now our job is to build on that and bring another one home for Summit Racing and our team owner Ken Black. Ken and his wife Judy were there with us when we won in Pomona, and that was really special. Every win is important, but that one was particularly special for several reasons.”
 
In addition to Black being on site to see his team earn their 104th national event title, Line was able to bring home the trophy for teammate Greg Anderson, who was in the hospital recovering from successful heart surgery and has since returned home. Anderson is schedule to return to racing his Summit Racing Pro Stock Chevrolet Camaro in Atlanta this May.
 
“The win at the Winternationals may have been the biggest one yet for me,” admitted Line. “It was very different to be there without my teammate, and I will say that I wasn’t 100% confident that we could win that weekend. But we did it – and I think that shows what a great team we have. It was a very good way to start the year, and we know our Summit Racing Camaros are capable of winning. It gave us all a boost of confidence, and I think we’re all excited.”
 
Line arrives in Phoenix in the points lead, a position he last held after winning in Dallas last year. A two-time NHRA world champion in the esteemed Pro Stock category, the Minnesota-born Mooresville, N.C.-based driver isn’t willing to lay out his vision for the season just yet.
 
“I’m realistic,” said Line. “But I will say that any time you go to a race after winning one, it’s just fun. You know what your team is capable of, and of course, that’s what you hope for – to be able to win. The field was very tight in Pomona, and that makes for great racing so I’m excited about this year. The crowd was really enthusiastic, too – and maybe they’re always that way, but it seemed to me that they are especially this year. When the crowd is into it that makes it even more fun for all of us. It’s going to be a good year.”

Alund Makes Raceday Debut in Summit Racing Camaro
 
POMONA, Calif., February 9, 2014 – Sweden’s Jimmy Alund is playing a significant role in the world of NHRA Pro Stock for the early part of the season as he pilots the Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro typically driven by Greg Anderson, who is out for the first three months as he recovers from surgery. Alund may be a somewhat unfamiliar face on the tour, but he came to the game with no intention of warming the bench and earned a chance to race for the title at the first race of the 2014 season of the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, the 54th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

“So far, it’s been fantastic,” said Alund. “It’s an honor to be with this team; it’s actually a lot of fun.”

Alund Getting Comfortable in Summit Racing Camaro in Pomona
 
POMONA, Calif., February 8, 2014 – Jimmy Alund knows he has some fairly large shoes to fill as the stand-in driver for Summit Racing’s four-time Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson, who is recovering successfully from surgery last week. However, the native of Sweden is more than willing to do everything within his power to rise to the challenge.

Alund, who runs KB Racing engines in the heart of his own Pro Stock car that he competes with on the FIA European tour, drove the second blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro to a best time of 6.546 at 211.86 mph in qualifying to start from the No. 10 spot at the Circle K NHRA Winternationals and will race Shane Gray in the first round of eliminations on Sunday.

“Yes, I have big shoes to fill,” said Alund. “Greg is one of the best drivers and tuners in Pro Stock, ever. I’m driving his car, I even have his racing suit on, so hopefully that will help me a little bit, too. I’m going to do my best, stay focused, and if I do that, we will put it to the test. So far, it’s been fantastic. It’s an honor to be together with all of these people, and I think we are making progress. It’s been fun.”

Alund says that driving the swift Summit Racing Camaro isn’t too terribly different than the KB Racing-powered Pro Stocker he drives in Europe.

“When it comes to getting down the track, a lot is the same,” said Alund, who opened qualifying with a 6.580-second pass at 210.31 mph and improved to a 6.574, 211.39. On the second day of the event, Alund raced to a 6.546, 211.86 and closed out the four rounds of qualifying with a 6.550, 211.76.

“It’s starting to get comfortable,” said Alund, who has made numerous passes in NHRA’s Mello Yello Drag Racing Series in past years. “I think we had seven runs in the test session [in Phoenix earlier this week] and we made four runs so far here. I think we’re starting to find a routine within the team and between me, the crew chief, and all the other guys. I think I’m going to fit in really good here.”

As for Sunday, Alund is prepared to go all the way – even if it means getting the best of Summit Racing teammate Jason Line if they should meet in the semifinals.

“You know, I had a long trip coming over here,” he said. “I want to try to win this thing.”

Line Wheels Summit Racing Camaro to the No. 3 Spot in Pomona
 
POMONA, Calif., February 8, 2014 – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line wasn’t thrilled with where he ended the first day of qualifying at the 54th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals, but day two of the event at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona yielded far better results and put a smile on Line’s face. After all was said and done, Line had powered his way up to the No. 3 position with a best time of 6.514-second at a booming 212.63 mph.

In addition to climbing five positions, Line picked up two bonus qualifying points for the pass that was second-quickest of the session.

Line’s first run of the weekend was 6.549 at 212.36 and was followed by a 6.571, 211.76. He came close to matching his strong third round numbers and finished qualifying with a 6.520 paired with another 212-mph blast.

“We’re in the top 3, so you can’t really be too mad about that,” said Line. “You always want to be the quickest car out there, but I think we’re in a pretty good position right now. We’re qualified on the same side of the ladder as our Summit Racing teammate Jimmy Alund, and that isn’t ideal – but the good news is that you know going into this that if you meet in the semifinals, one blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro will be making it to the final round.”

Line, the No. 3 qualifier, will square off with Matt Hartford in the first round of eliminations. Line and Hartford last raced in Topeka in 2013, and Hartford was the benefactor when Line ran into a bit of trouble on the starting line. While Line looks to the first round at the season-opener to even the score, he has an ulterior motive in his desire to succeed: with his KB Racing team leader and fellow Summit Racing driver Greg Anderson in the hospital recovering from heart surgery, he hopes to bring home the Wally and put a smile on his teammate’s face.

“Obviously, Greg would want me to win tomorrow,” said Line. “He’s a very competitive person, and this team means a lot to him. There are a lot of reasons we want to win this weekend, but that’s a pretty big one.

“I don’t know what tomorrow brings, but I know that we have two very good cars. We have a great team, and we’ve gained some confidence over these four rounds of qualifying. Tomorrow we will each be giving 100% and hopefully everything turns out the best it possibly can for Team Summit.”

Line No. 8 for Now, Sees Positive on Day One of Pomona Qualifying 
 
POMONA, Calif., February 7, 2014 – The first day of qualifying for the 54th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals concluded with Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line sitting in the top half of the field and eager to return on Saturday and raise the bar. Line sits No. 8 in the line-up and Jimmy Alund, in the second blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro, is in the No. 12 spot.

Although rain plagued the area surrounding Auto Club Raceway on Thursday, the day before the event, it had moved out by morning and the first day of the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series was completed without a hitch.

In the first session of qualifying, Line raced to a 6.549-second blast at 212.36 mph – a speed that was one of only four in the session to break the 212 mph mark. Alund clocked a 6.580 in the opening round. Later in the afternoon, Line recorded a 6.571 at 211.76 and Alund improved to a 6.574 at 211.39.

“All in all, today was a good day for the KB Racing team,” said Line, a two-time Winternationals winner. “We have some things to work out, but there is certainly a lot left, and we got a good baseline today. I don’t think we’re going to see the Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaros in these positions by the time tomorrow is over.”

This weekend’s race marks the first time in Line’s career that he has competed without Summit Racing teammate Greg Anderson, who is out for the first three months of the season while he recovers from surgery to repair a bicuspid aortic heart valve (two valve openings instead of three). Anderson underwent surgery the day before the Winternationals and is recovering well.

“A lot of the focus in our KB Racing camp today has been on Greg’s progress,” said Line. “We’ve talked about that as much as we’ve talked about anything else – he is our leader, our boss, and our friend, and we’ve all had him in our thoughts. Right now, his health is pretty darn important to all of us. Thankfully, he’s doing well and we are that much closer to having him back out here with us.”

Line Embraces Fresh Challenge as Season Begins in Pomona
 

Mooresville, N.C., February 5, 2014 – Jason Line and the Summit Racing team have faced and overcome many challenges during their tenure together, with a collective 105 national event wins and six NHRA Pro Stock world championships stand as testament. The group will have another opportunity to display their determined and resilient nature when they enter the 2014 season of NHRA’s Mello Yello Drag Racing Series under circumstances that have never before been a factor. For the first time in his illustrious career, Line will compete at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona at the Circle K NHRA Winternationals, the first of 24 events on the tour, without teammate Greg Anderson.

Instead, eight-time FIA Pro Stock champion Jimmy Alund will be piloting Anderson’s Summit Racing Equipment/KB Racing Chevrolet Camaro for the first six events while the decorated driver is out of the seat for the first six races for scheduled surgery to repair a bicuspid aortic heart valve.
 
“It will certainly be strange – I’ve never been to a Pro Stock race without Greg Anderson,” admitted Line. “This is something that is a priority, though. Of course, Greg didn’t want to miss any races, but the rest of us were thinking, ‘Buddy, you take care of yourself. Do what you have to do.’ It’s going to be very strange, for sure, but the Summit Racing team has been faced with plenty of challenges in the past, and this is simply another that we will have the opportunity to overcome. We look forward to Greg’s return in a couple months, and we hope we make him proud while he’s away from the racetrack.”
 
Alund, one of the most successful Pro Stock drivers in Europe, is very familiar with the KB Racing team and their equipment. In 2013, the Swedish racer won five of six events of the FIA European Championship season, was No. 1 qualifier at each race, and reset both ends of the series Pro Stock record with a KB Racing engine under the hood of his 2012 J&J Performance Camaro.
 
“It’ll be fun to have Jimmy on board,” said Line. “He has some similar traits to Greg. He’s a real go-getter with a serious drive to win, and I think we’ll learn a few things from him.”
 
While Alund drives the already-familiar blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro, Line will also be in familiar territory as he slides in behind the wheel of what was formerly the silver Summit Racing Camaro. The car had been crashed at a test session last fall with Line behind the wheel but now returns to rotation repaired, ready, and with a fresh coat of brilliant blue paint to match the Chevrolet that Alund will command.
 
The Summit Racing team is rounding out the last few days of the off-season at the newly resurfaced Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park near Phoenix and putting in one final test session before making the short journey to Pomona to participate in a race that Line has won twice (2009 and 2011) and where he was No. 1 qualifier in 2012.
 
“We always like returning to Pomona, especially for this race,” said Line. “The first race of the season is a fresh page for everybody. We have some interesting challenges to deal with, but the Summit Racing team has put in a lot of hours and effort during the off-season. Hopefully, it shows.”

European Pro Stock Champion Jimmy Alund to Drive for
KB Racing on Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Tour
 
 
Eight-time FIA Pro Stock champion Jimmy Alund will be piloting a Summit Racing Equipment/KB Racing Camaro for the first six events of the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

Alund will be driving Greg Anderson’s Summit Racing Camaro beginning with the 54th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals, February 6-9 at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California. Anderson will be out of the driver’s seat for the first three months of the season due to scheduled surgery.
 
“It’s really not a big deal,” Anderson explained about his condition. “I was born with a bicuspid aortic heart valve (two valve openings instead of three). It’s something we’ve kept track of over the years, and my doctor has decided it’s time to make some repairs so I stay in good shape. I will miss the first few races of the season, but once the doctor says I’m good to go, I’m gonna be right back at it looking for another Pro Stock championship.”
 
Alund is one of the most successful Pro Stock drivers in Europe, winning championships each year from 2004 through 2009 as well as 2011 and 2013. In 2013, the Swedish racer qualified Number One at all six events of the FIA European Championships season, won five of those six events, and reset the Pro Stock ET and Top Speed records (6.534 seconds, 213.31 miles per hour).
 
Part of Alund’s winning formula was the KB Racing engine under the hood of his 2012 J&J Performance Camaro. It was that connection and Alund’s 2013 performance that got him the nod to drive the Summit Racing Camaro while Greg Anderson recuperates.
 
“I’m really honored to be a part of this organization,” Alund said about KB Racing. “I have some big shoes to fill—Greg is one of the best Pro Stock drivers in the world, bar none. I believe that I’m up to the challenge, though. I’m looking forward to helping KB Racing win another championship.”
 
“Just like Greg and Jason Line, I’m a hands-on guy—I work on my own race car alongside my team,” Alund continued. “I hope my experience will be valuable to the KB Racing team. It always helps to have a new set of eyes on the car.”
 
Alund has competed in NHRA Pro Stock Racing before, running several national events during the 2010 season. The experience gave him a taste of what American professional class drag racing is all about.
 
“In the U.S., you are running against the best of the best,” Alund explained. ”After all, this is the home of drag racing, so you expect that. We don’t race full-time in Europe like the pro teams do here, but racing is racing—we are just as competitive as the racers in America. This is a great opportunity for me to show that to American race fans.”
 
Alund will be testing in Phoenix, Arizona prior to the season-opening Circle K NHRA Winternationals. He and teammate Jason Line will begin the Winternationals with two qualifying sessions on Friday, February 7.

Anderson Pleased with Strong Raceday Run at NHRA Finals
 
Pomona, Calif., November 10, 2013 – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson was flying high after making an exceptionally strong run in the first round of eliminations at the 49th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. For Anderson, the possibility of winning the event was truly awakened in that moment, and although he was unable to achieve his goal, he puts the 2013 season of NHRA’s Mello Yello Drag Racing Series behind him with the knowledge that he and the Summit Racing team are armed for an even better future.
 
Anderson qualified in the No. 11 position and was energized heading into raceday at the final event of 24 on the tour. He clocked a stout .019-second reaction time in his first round meeting with V. Gaines here in Pomona and went straight down the track in his Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro to record a 6.537 at 212.09 mph that was the third-quickest pass of the round.
 
“That was probably the best run I’ve made all year,” said Anderson, who had a season of challenge that culminated in missing out on a win for the first time since the year 2000. “It felt great to get that e.t. slip after that first run; I just haven’t had any news like that all year. It was a great feeling, and even though our success didn’t continue today, it was still a major breakthrough for the Summit Racing team. We are finally getting some performance out of my Summit Racing Chevy. That makes us feel very, very good.”
 
In the second round, Anderson forfeited lane choice to eventual event winner Rickie Jones. Soon after leaving the starting line, Anderson’s Camaro began to shake the tires. His 10.800-second run was no match for his opponent’s 6.546, and his season came to an early end.
 
“It’s disappointing that my streak came to an end, and we really wanted that championship for Summit Racing and our team owner Ken Black, but my teammate [Jason Line] and I are excited,” said Anderson, who ended the season in the No. 8 spot. “The whole KB Racing team is, because we’re going into the off-season on a positive note. We have something under the hood, we know that, and we plan to keep building on that. We’ve got a lot of work to do this winter, a lot of things to change, but we will definitely be better next year. We’re anxious for the challenge.
 
“This Summit Racing team is very capable, but we just didn’t have a good enough product on the racetrack this year to win races and championships. We know we’ve got to be better, and we’re going to use these next two and a half months to do just that. We’ve learned a lot these last couple of months, and today we learned even more, so we’re on a full court press from here until February to raise the bar on the performance level of our cars. We’re looking forward to the challenge. The clock starts now.”
 

Line Finishes Third, Already Preparing for Stronger 2014
 

Pomona, Calif., November 10, 2013 – Jason Line entered the 49th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona with a chance at earning his third Pro Stock world championship, and although it was not to be, Line and the Summit Racing team leave the final race of the 2013 season of Mello Yello Drag Racing elevated and with a clear mission.

“This wasn’t the end result that the Summit Racing team had hoped for because we have such a strong history and we know what we’re capable of,” said Line, who was a two-time winner on the tour this year and ultimately finished in the No. 3 position in the standings. Line has been a championship contender and finished in the top 5 in each of the 10 seasons he has competed full time. The 2013 season marks the seventh time he has finished third or better.

Line was tied for second in the standings entering raceday in Pomona, and the season title was within reach – he only had to win the race and hope that his toughest competitor, then-points leader Jeg Coughlin, would bow out in the first round. If Coughlin were to win the first round, Line would still have a chance if his rival exited in round two and Line was able to win the race and set a world record. The order was clearly quite tall.

Unbothered by the possible scenarios, Line entered the first round with fierce determination. After leaving the starting line ahead of opponent Greg Stanfield, the Mooresville, N.C.-based driver raced to a 6.560 at 211.76 mph to win the round and earn lane choice over KB Racing teammate Buddy Perkinson in the second act.

In a shocking upset, Line lost traction soon after leaving the starting line and had to get on and off the throttle to regain control. Perkinson went on to get the win with a 6.567 at 211.96 mph to Line’s troubled 6.685, 211.43.

“That was a terrible run, but if I’m going to lose to somebody, I’d rather lose to a teammate,” said Line. “It was not the end result that I had hoped for today, and if we couldn’t be first [in the points], we would have at least liked to have been second. It was a disappointing end to a disappointing year, to be honest. But the one thing I can really tell you is that the Summit Racing team will have a better season in 2014. I know I learned a lot of things – I think we all did here in the KB Racing camp – and what happened this year is not going to happen again. You can’t always be the best, but you can certainly aspire to be.

“The work begins tonight. We have a lot of things in motion already, and we aren’t looking back – we’re looking forward.”
 

Anderson’s Plan Foiled, Yet Optimism Remains with Fields Set in Pomona
 
Pomona, Calif., November 9, 2013 – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson was off to a solid start at the final race of the season, the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, and with a good baseline, he formed a plan to help his Summit Racing teammate Jason Line in his quest for the 2013 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock world championship. Ultimately the plan fell through, but Anderson and the KB Racing team are ready to do their part on raceday to bring a win to the team, one way or another.
 
Anderson started the weekend on Thursday’s opening qualifying session with a 6.576 at 210.37 mph that would hold as his best number. Friday’s single session was good for a controlled 6.602 at a slowing 198.17 as Anderson began trying to position himself on the ladder opposite points leader Jeg Coughlin, who is heavy in the battle for the title with Line and Mike Edwards. Anderson clocked a 6.591 at 197.80 in the third session and ended with a 13.956, 61.94.
 
“I was basically just trying to get my car to run as well as I could yet not qualify in the top half of the show, and I was trying to qualify opposite Jeg Coughlin,” explained Anderson. “We have one shot at this thing, and somehow he has to lose first round and Jason has to go on to win the event. I would rather have it in our control; I’d rather race the man than count on someone else to beat him.”
 
The 74-time national event winner and four-time Pro Stock champion qualified in the No. 11 position while Coughlin landed in the No. 4 spot. Anderson will race V. Gaines in round one and watch as Coughlin races Vincent Nobile. Line is on the same side of the ladder as Anderson, and the two could meet in the semifinals. If they should meet, it will be an “every man for himself” situation as Line could be gunning for the championship but Anderson will be vying for his first event win of the season. This is the first time since 2000 that Anderson has not won an event heading into raceday at the final race of the season.
 
“I took a shot in qualifying, shutting the car off early to try to get matched up against [Coughlin] first round, but we still got all the data we needed to the 1,000-foot mark and could see how the car was running and how the changes we were making were working,” said Anderson. “We should have a good car tomorrow with my Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro, and there is still a race to be won. Qualifying is behind us, and it’s out of our hands now. Whatever happens, we know we did what we could, and we’ll just have to see how the cards fall.”

Line Just Misses the Top Spot, Focused on Winning in Pomona
 

Pomona, Calif., November 9, 2013 – Jason Line desperately wanted the honor of being the No. 1 qualifier at the last race of the 2013 season of NHRA’s Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, and the Summit Racing Pro Stock driver put forth tremendous effort but came up just a bit short. Line, still in the hunt for the championship, will start from the No. 2 position for the first time this year, and he will be challenged by No. 15 qualifier Greg Stanfield in the first round of eliminations at the 49th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

For Line, his final shot at winning the championship trophy this year will come down to how points leader Jeg Coughlin fares in the first round and, if Coughlin bows out early, if Line can win the race.

Mooresville, N.C.-based Line started the weekend by picking up a pair of bonus qualifying points in the opening round. He raced to a 6.554 at 210.93 mph that was second-quickest of all the Pro Stockers. In the single session allotted on Friday, Line clocked a 6.567 at 211.30 – a decent run, but the best was yet to come, and on Saturday afternoon the 31-time national event winner and two time Pro Stock world champion raced to a swift 6.543 at a booming 212.16 mph. Another two bonus points went in the bank, and Line moved up to the No. 2 position, where he would stay after closing out qualifying with a 6.558, 211.56.

“It’s great that our Summit Racing Camaro is making it down the track every run, and sure, it’s good to be so close to the No. 1 spot – but I really wanted to be the No. 1 qualifier here, and I really felt like we had a chance of doing that this weekend,” said Line, who has been fifth or better in the qualifying order at 10 events this year and qualified in the top half all but three times. “So yes, we’re disappointed to miss it, but at the same time, we have to look at the fact that the car is running pretty darn well for not being in what my crew chief Rob Downing calls ‘its happy spot.’ We do have a good car for tomorrow. We can still win. So that’s what we’re focusing on now.”

The first-round meeting with Stanfield will mark the first time the two have been paired up since the event in Phoenix in 2012, when Line beat his opponent in the semifinals and went on to win the event.

“Whatever is meant to be is what will happen, but my plan is to go up there and try to be .020 on the tree and beat everyone all day,” said Line. “That’s all you can do. We’ll just do the best we can.”

Line Looks Forward to Saturday in Pomona, Two Chances to Move Up

Pomona, Calif., November 8, 2013 – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line is eager to get down to business on Saturday, the final day of qualifying at the 49th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Line, who entered the event sitting second in the standings and with the championship a bright beacon in the distance, is still gunning for the title. He first plans to ascend from his current position of No. 3 in the line-up and secure his third No. 1 qualifying start of the season.

Because of the unique format, Friday was the second day of the event, the last of 24 in the 2013 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, and just one run was allotted for the day. Line pulled his bright white Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro to the starting line with intent but was soon disheartened as the tires began to shake and shave valuable hundredths of a second off of the e.t. that would flash on the scoreboard.

Line’s 6.567 at 211.30 mph did not improve upon the 6.554, 210.93 recorded on the first day of the event, but it did provide valuable information that could easily contribute to a winning combination on raceday. Overall, Line was looking forward to two more chances to improve on Saturday to position himself as high as possible heading into eliminations for the last time in 2013.

“The racetrack out there is getting better and better with every run, just like it usually does here in Pomona,” said Line. “And the conditions for tomorrow look like they’ll be even better than they were today. I’m not going to lie – we were disappointed today because we felt like we could have run a 6.54 or even a 6.53, but I think we have a great opportunity tomorrow to improve with our Summit Racing Camaros. I still think we can get that No. 1. I’m optimistic, and I’m definitely looking forward to tomorrow.”

Anderson a Top Half Player on First Day of NHRA Finals
 
Pomona, Calif., November 7, 2013 – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson enjoyed an encouraging start on the first day of the final race of the season, the 49th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals. Anderson, of Mooresville, N.C., clocked a 6.576 at 210.37 mph to position himself as the provisional No. 7 qualifier in the only session allotted for the day. Friday and Saturday will bring three more total sessions at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona and thusly three more chances for Anderson to improve.
 
“That was a very smooth run for my Summit Racing Camaro,” said Anderson, a top-half qualifier at 19 of the previous 23 events in 2013. “But really, it was probably a little too safe. The racetrack was better than we thought it was going to be, and we think we could have run faster. But the good news is that now we know what we’ve got out there, so we’ll see if we can step on it tomorrow. It was a good, safe start.”
 
Anderson is optimistic for the remainder of the weekend, particularly because the weather forecast is so pleasant. Today was to be the warmest day, and each day after should become cooler and more inviting for the naturally aspirated factor hot rods.
 
“The forecast shows that the temperature is going to go down every day,” said Anderson. “That will make the racetrack a little bit better, and it will make the motors run a little bit better, too. Our Summit Racing Chevy Camaros should continue to get faster each run. Our first pass was a good tune-up run, and we expect we’ll be able to run better tomorrow. It’s going to be fun. The qualifying ladder is definitely going to change some before the weekend is over. We plan to be one of those cars moving up.”
 

Line Staying Alive in Championship Chase After Day One in Pomona
 

Pomona, Calif., November 7, 2013 – The first of three days of qualifying for the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona concluded with Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line hanging tough in the championship chase. Line, who entered the event in the No. 2 spot in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock standings, earned two valuable bonus points with a run that was almost the best of the day to inch a little closer to what would be his third Pro Stock season title.

The first day of the season-closer turned into a warm affair, with the ambient temperature a pleasant 83 degrees and the sun soaked track surface heating to just over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Line was one of the last two cars to make a pass during the single session allotted on the first day of the event, and he clocked a swift 6.554 at 210.93 mph in his Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro that was just a thousandth of a second behind the No. 1 qualifier.

“It’s a pretty good place to start,” said Line, who has been the No. 1 qualifier twice this season. “But we should have been able to go 6.53 out there. I feel like we’ll be No. 1 before the weekend is out; I definitely feel like we will. The KB Racing team is working very hard to make sure that happens. Both of our Summit Racing Camaros are capable of it, but I have a very serious goal for it to be me.”

Line and the rest of the Pro Stock drivers will have three more shots this weekend to set themselves in the field at the 49th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals, beginning with a single run on Friday and concluding with two runs on Saturday. Eliminations for the final race of the 2013 season are set for 11am on Sunday.

Line Ready to Take a Shot at Third NHRA Title in Pomona
 

Mooresville, N.C., November 5, 2013 – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line is only 71 points back from first place, and as the season closer kicks off this weekend at the 49th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the two-time Pro Stock world champion is ready to turn up the wick and chase a third world title.

“All you can do is hope for the best,” said Line. “We’ve done our homework, and we have a great team and great support. Now it’s up to us to go and try to win the race, and we’re sure going to try to hold up our end of the deal. We’re heading to a place where the Summit Racing team has traditionally done really well, so that is certainly a comfort.”

Line was on course for a banner year as the Countdown to the Championship began in Charlotte just five races ago, and the Mooresville, N.C.-based driver qualified No. 1 at his home track and raced to the final round to move up from sixth to third in the Pro Stock standings at a critical juncture. At the very next race in Dallas, the second in the championship chase, Line won and took over sole possession of the points lead for the first time in 2013. But after that, a strange chaos set in.

Surprisingly, the points leader qualified in the bottom half of the field and bowed out in the first round in St. Louis, and he dropped back to third place. Then, the seasoned driver with 31 national event titles on his scorecard returned with a flash in Reading, qualifying on the pole and recording a semifinals finish. Determined to gain even more ground as the final two races of the season approached, Line and the KB Racing crew ventured out for a test session not too far from home in North Carolina, and that’s when things took a very abrupt and challenging turn.

The conditions were cool and the track required more finessing than normal on that Thursday at Rockingham Dragway, and although experienced in all sorts of conditions, Line made the smallest of errors and lost control of the silver Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro that had been so powerful in the latter portion of the season. Line crashed, and the car could not be repaired in time for the Las Vegas race. With limited options, Team Summit made the best of what they had. Line took over the white Camaro previously piloted by teammate Greg Anderson, while Anderson settled back into the red Summit Racing Camaro.

In Las Vegas, as predicted, Line showed grit and the level of determination widely associated with the Summit Racing group and a team who has dominated the ultra-competitive category in multiple seasons. He made exceptional runs during qualifying and settled into the No. 5 spot before socking away a round win on Sunday and moving up one position, to second, in the Mello Yello Pro Stock standings. Now, with the final race of the season staring him in the face, Line is prepared to fight for the crown that once seemed so easily within reach. Wisely, Line is mentally refueled after taking a short break from the normal routine.
 
“To be honest, I’ve lived like a normal person this past week,” said Line. “I spent a little time with my family and worked on some stuff that I wanted to work on just for a change of pace and to try to think about something else for a little bit. By our KB Racing standards, it’s been a somewhat frustrating year. Wrecking that car – for me, that was devastating, both financially and obviously in regard to the timing. It couldn’t have been worse; it took us all year to get a good racecar, and to get one that was happy, so to have one that was in contention for the championship and then destroy it was beyond frustrating.”
 
The weather in Pomona looks to be bright and cool, and for Line, this could play out to be ideal as he travels to a racetrack where he and Anderson have shared so much success before. Line has four No. 1 qualifier awards and been to four finals at the venerable facility. He has two Pomona wins, both at the season-opening Winternationals. The only driver who has been able to stop Line in the final round has been Anderson, and both times it was at the NHRA closer.
 
“Regardless of what happens with the championship, this weekend could very possibly be fast, and that’s a lot of fun for us,” said Line. “Pomona is one of my favorite places to go. You get there at the beginning of the year, and you’re excited. Then you end the year and if it’s been a long year – like this one – you’re really happy that it’s done. But it’s always a good time, and for me, it’s always a place that I enjoy racing.”

Anderson Vying for Event Win with a New Attitude at Season Closer
 
Mooresville, N.C., November 5, 2013 – Drag Racing is a self-induced, high-pressure situation, but Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson has been under tremendous pressure over the course of the 2013 season of NHRA’s Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. This weekend, though, the pressure is off at the 49th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
 
“You know, you always have hope, but this weekend I think we’re going into it with a little bit of a different mindset,” said Anderson. “At least I will be. The pressure will be off. It will be one of those races where you can just go and enjoy yourself, have fun, and not worry about the points. Those are pretty rare, and you’d certainly rather be in the hunt for the championship, but it looks like that’s what we’re going to have this weekend in Pomona. Maybe that low-pressure situation will work in our favor, and I’ll finally be able to put my Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro in the winner’s circle again.”
 
For Anderson, the 2013 season has been one riddled with a brand of challenge to which he is completely unfamiliar. For the first time in 13 years, the four-time Pro Stock world champion is heading into the last race on the tour without a win. He is currently No. 8 in the series standings.
 
The location of this final race of the 2013 Mello Yello Series is a bright beacon for Anderson, who has enjoyed much success at the hallowed facility in the heart of Southern California, where the idea of racing on the dragstrip instead of the street grew roots in the early days of the sport.
 
Of Anderson’s remarkable 74 national event wins with KB Racing, 10 were recorded in Pomona. A five-time winner in five NHRA Finals money rounds, the Mooresville, N.C.-based Pro Stock veteran also has five wins in six finals at the Winternationals, the traditional season-opener at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Notably, Anderson, who has held six national records for elapsed time over the course of his career as well as five national records for speed, recorded a then mind-blowing 6.528 jaunt down the quarter-mile at the 2009 Winternationals to become the new world record holder.
 
“If I’m going to find a way to keep my streak alive [of winning a race every year since 2001], this is as good of a chance as I could ask for,” said Anderson. “We love this racetrack. Just love it. We had a week off after the last race in Las Vegas, and we took that time to look back and study. We think we have a good game plan, and we expect the Summit Racing Camaros to run well.
 
“It looks like the weather will be relatively cool, and that’s been our cup of tea there the last several years. If the weather is cool there, the cars will be fast – and we love to run those big speeds. We’ve had a ton of success there in Pomona, both with Jason’s car and mine. It’s always exciting, it’s a feel-good track for us, and it’s just a great way to end the year.”