Event:  Sixth annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals

Location: Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, Norwalk, Ohio

Day/Date: Saturday, July 7, 2012

Jason Line and the Summit Racing team rode an emotional roller coaster on Saturday, posting the quickest times of the day in scoring a runner-up finish in the K&N Horsepower Challenge specialty race, which was held as part of the second day of qualifying for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio. Although the blistering heat and drenching humidity at Summit Motorsports Park prevented any changes among the top positions from Friday’s qualifying times, Line used the first two rounds of the annual all-star race to pace the Pro Stock field.

Coming in as the No. 1 qualifier, Line used a 6.705-second, 204.91 mph pass to eliminate Jeg Coughlin, who clocked a 6.746-second time, in the opening stanza.  He then squared off against his teammate Greg Anderson, who had won the event the past two years.  This time, however, Line combined a lightning-fast .008 reaction time and a 6.718-second, 206.10 mph run to gain the victory and advance to his third Horsepower Challenge final round.

Facing sophomore runner Vincent Nobile, Line tripped the finish line timers in 6.732 seconds with a top speed of 205.66 mph.  Unfortunately it was not enough to overcome his opponent’s starting line edge and 6.750-second, 205.94 mph run.  Taking full responsibility, Line turned his frustration into motivation for tomorrow’s final eliminations of the Full Throttle event, where he goes in as the No. 2 qualifier.

“As close as the competition is in Pro Stock, you have to be just about perfect to win, and today I came up twelve thousandths short,” said Line.  “My Summit Racing Camaro was good enough to win with, but I just didn’t do a good enough job.  Fortunately, we only have to wait until tomorrow to bounce back.  We may not be the fastest car here, but we are probably the second fastest, and certainly capable of leaving here with the trophy, which would be huge here in front of Ken and Judy (team owners Black) and everyone from Summit.

Event:  Sixth annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals

Location: Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, Norwalk, Ohio

Day/Date: Saturday, July 7, 2012

After taking advantage of Friday evening’s slightly cooler conditions to post a 6.698-second elapsed time and earn the third starting position for Sunday’s final eliminations of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk Ohio, Pro Stock standout Greg Anderson headed into Saturday’s action looking to successfully defend his title in the K&N Horsepower Challenge all-star race.

Despite having to deal with oppressive conditions for the second day in a row, the Summit Racing Camaro crew was on its game, with Anderson combining a five hundredths of a second starting line advantage and a solid 6.733-second, 204.54 mph pass to trailer Erica Enders in the opening round on a hole shot, as she recorded a quicker 6.724-second time in the losing effort.

However, standing between the four-time Challenge winner and his fifth consecutive HPC final round appearance was teammate Jason Line, who had earned the No. 1 starting position for the high-dollar shootout. Although Anderson was able to improve on his opening effort, covering the quarter-mile in 6.728-seconds with a top speed of 206.32 mph, it was not enough to run down Line, who used a 6.718-second, 206.10 mph pass to advance and put an end to Anderson’s run of success.

Even so, Anderson and his KB Racing crew’s weekend was far from over, as their focus returned to this year’s Full Throttle championship battle and winning their sponsor’s race at Summit Motorsports Park.

“Today wasn’t a bad day, but it certainly could have been better,” said Anderson.  “Unfortunately, I ended up No. 4 in the K&N Horsepower Challenge standings, so we had to run Jason in the semifinals.  If we had been on opposite sides of the ladder, I’m confident we would have faced each other in the final, guaranteeing us our third straight win, but we didn’t so we’re a little disappointed tonight.  However, it’s time for us to regroup and bounce back strong.

Event:  Sixth annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals

Location: Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, Norwalk, Ohio

Day/Date: Friday, July 6, 2012

Despite conditions that withered fans and race teams alike, Summit Racing Camaro driver Jason Line produced some heat of his own during the first day of qualifying for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, recording the second-quickest time in each of the two sessions.  After opening with a 6.707-second, 205.72 mph pass in the heat of the afternoon, he took advantage of the slightly cooler conditions on his second attempt, covering the quarter-mile in 6.697-seconds with a top speed of 205.94 mph to place second midway through the qualifying procedure.

With his position in Sunday’s final eliminations field fairly secure, Line turned his attention towards Saturday’s K&N Horsepower Challenge, a specialty race pitting some of the top drivers in the division in a three-round shootout with the winner pocketing $50,000.  Having earned the No. 1 qualifying position with 10 No. 1 qualifying performances and a 2.22 average starting position over the last year, he now looks to add a win in this prestigious event to his racing resume.

“It was a good first day for the Summit Racing Camaro,” said Line.  “We made two nice consistent runs, and believe we still have something left.  Given the conditions, which were hard on everyone, I’d have to say we’re fairly pleased with our performance, and I am very proud of the job this team continues to do.

Mooresville, N.C., July 4, 2012 – This weekend, Summit Racing star Jason Line will reach a significant milestone in his Pro Stock career.  When he rolls to the starting line on Sunday for the start of final eliminations at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, he will be making his 200th start in a “factory hot rod”.  

Since making his debut nine years ago in Columbus, Ohio, Line has been the picture of consistency, winning two Full Throttle Championships, 28 national event wins (second only to his teammate Greg Anderson among all Pro Stockers and including at least one in every year of competition) in 59 final round appearances and 29 No. 1 qualifying performances.  It is an impressive resume that he looks to embellish even further this weekend during his sponsor’s race.

“Two hundred starts is a lot, and more than I expected to make,” said Line.  “It’s way cool, and to have done it with the same team and for the most part the same sponsor is a very big deal.   Being part of the Summit and KB Racing family is certainly an honor and a privilege – everyone concerned have all been great to me, and the fact that they have allowed me to do this for so long is very special.

“In many ways, it’s appropriate that I will make my 200th start in Norwalk, in front of the people who have made it all possible.  It would be nice to reward them for their support with our second win of the season.”

In addition to the normal rigors of racing in a national event, Line and his KB Racing crew will also share the title sponsorship not only of the race but also the racetrack, with many Summit employees expected to be in attendance throughout the weekend.  Finally, the reigning Pro Stock champion will be the top qualifier in a select group of racers competing in Saturday’s K&N Horsepower Challenge, a three-round shootout where the winning driver will walk away with $50,000 while a lucky fan will drive away in a new truck.

“It says a lot about this Summit Racing team that for the second year in a row we are the No. 1 qualifier for the K&N Horsepower Challenge,” said Line.  “It shows we’ve had good cars, good equipment and a great crew which we can hopefully combine into a win in the Challenge.  I feel like I am over due to win it, and although I’ve thought that way in the past, maybe this year we can get it done in the Camaro.”

One factor adding to Line’s confidence heading into the weekend’s events is the rapid progress the team has made in adapting to their new race car.  In only its second race, Line’s stunning blue Chevrolet Camaro was among the quickest cars in the class in Chicago, besting entries teams have used since last year.  Despite this impressive showing, he is quick to point out how early they are in the learning process with the famed muscle car.

“We know this new Summit Racing Camaro is going to be a great car, but we still have a lot to learn about it,” said Line.  “Even so, it has already been very good.  It was a Top Three car in Chicago, and any time you have that you can win the race, which is amazing considering how few runs we have on it.  It’s a great feeling heading into Norwalk.”

Finally, Line will be able to reach his career milestone in the company of some very important people as both his family and his team owner will be in attendance at Summit Motorsports Park.

“It’s always good when my family comes with me to the races,” said Line.  “My kids are really looking forward to spending time at the waterpark, and I enjoy having them with me at the track, so it should be a fun weekend.

Event:  15th annual NHRA Route 66 Nationals

Location: Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, Illinois

Day/Date: Sunday, July 1, 2012

Greg Anderson and the Summit Racing team overcame a three-hour rain delay and horsepower-robbing hot and humid conditions on Sunday to score a runner-up finish at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Illinois.  Starting from the eighth position, Anderson used a combination of solid performance and strong driving to advance to his eighth final round of the 2012 season, where he would square off against Erica Enders in a rematch of last year’s Joliet final.

Just as he had in the previous rounds, Anderson left the line in unison with Enders, who was looking to become the first woman to win a Pro Stock national event.  Although he was able to make a competitive 6.641-second, 208.30 mph run, it was not enough to hold off his opponent, who used a 6.627-second, 207.40 mph pass to score the win.

“We rebounded well today and had a pretty good hot rod, but just couldn’t seem to get near the top cars,” said Anderson.  “To this Summit Racing team’s credit, we raced hard and tough, and probably made it further than we should have to be honest, because we just didn’t have the performance we needed to put us over the top.

“I had said a million times before that Erica was going to win a race, and that I just didn’t want it to be against me.  However, you certainly can’t take today’s performance away from her – she earned it.  She went out there and took it, with both she and her team doing a better job, and they won the race, and I congratulate them.  It’s one for the history books.”

Anderson’s road to the final showed the resilience and determination of both he and his KB Racing crew.  After opening with a relatively easy win against Ron Krisher, the four-time champion was paired against No. 1 qualifier Allen Johnson, who had been the dominant car throughout the weekend.  However, using a lightning-quick .016 reaction time and a 6.634-second, 208.46 mph pass, Anderson was able to upset his higher-ranked opponent on a hole shot, with Johnson posting a 6.612-second time and 209.04 mph speed in the losing effort.

Finally, Anderson’s 6.637-second, 207.91 mph run in the semifinals was enough to defeat rival Mike Edwards, sending him to the 111th final round of his career and the encounter with Enders.

“We obviously need a couple more races with these new Summit Racing Camaros to get them fully up to speed,” said Anderson.  “They drive really well, and race well – we just need a little more speed out of them, and we’ll keep pecking at them until we do.

Event:  15th annual NHRA Route 66 Nationals

Location: Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, Illinois

Day/Date: Saturday, June 30, 2012

Pro Stock standout Jason Line completed a strong qualifying effort on Saturday, powering his Summit Racing Camaro to the second starting position for Sunday’s final eliminations of the   NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Illinois.  Steadily improving with every run, Line scored eight bonus points by recording the second quickest elapsed time in each of the four sessions, highlighted by his 6.616-second, 207.82 mph pass on his final attempt.

This marks the ninth time in this season’s 11 races that the defending champion has qualified in either the first or second position and the second consecutive year he will start second at Route 66 Raceway.  Despite his solid showing, as he prepared for his first-round matchup against Larry Morgan, Line was already searching for ways to improve his performance.

“Naturally, we’re only completely satisfied when we’re No. 1, but I’m really proud of the progress this team has made with this Summit Racing Camaro,” said Line.  “With a total of only 19 runs on this new car, it has already started to show some of its true potential, and we keep gaining on it with every pass down the track.   As I keep saying, it’s going to be a great car.

Event:  15th annual NHRA Route 66 Nationals

Location: Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, Illinois

Day/Date: Saturday, June 30, 2012

Greg Anderson and the Summit Racing team entered the final day of qualifying for the NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Illinois looking to get a handle on their race car in the hot conditions at Route 66 Raceway.  After recording a 6.660-second time in the afternoon session, the current Full Throttle championship points leader completed his qualifying effort with his best run of the weekend, covering the quarter-mile in 6.638-seconds with a top speed of 207.98 mph to earn the eighth starting position for Sunday’s final eliminations.

Although disappointed to not have placed higher in the qualifying order, the defending Joliet champion was nevertheless encouraged by lessons learned about his new Camaro’s performance on his final attempt, which he saw as reason for cautious optimism heading into his first round encounter against veteran Ron Krisher.

“Our last run tonight was definitely directionally correct, no question about it,” said Anderson.  “Obviously we wish we would have made a bigger gain, but for the first time all weekend it was a sign we were headed in the right direction with this Summit Racing Camaro, which gives us a good feeling heading into race day.

Event:  15th annual NHRA Route 66 Nationals

Location: Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, Illinois

Day/Date: Saturday, June 30, 2012

Greg Anderson and the Summit Racing team entered the final day of qualifying for the NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Illinois looking to get a handle on their race car in the hot conditions at Route 66 Raceway.  After recording a 6.660-second time in the afternoon session, the current Full Throttle championship points leader completed his qualifying effort with his best run of the weekend, covering the quarter-mile in 6.638-seconds with a top speed of 207.98 mph to earn the eighth starting position for Sunday’s final eliminations.

Although disappointed to not have placed higher in the qualifying order, the defending Joliet champion was nevertheless encouraged by lessons learned about his new Camaro’s performance on his final attempt, which he saw as reason for cautious optimism heading into his first round encounter against veteran Ron Krisher.

“Our last run tonight was definitely directionally correct, no question about it,” said Anderson.  “Obviously we wish we would have made a bigger gain, but for the first time all weekend it was a sign we were headed in the right direction with this Summit Racing Camaro, which gives us a good feeling heading into race day.

Event:  15th annual NHRA Route 66 Nationals

Location: Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, Illinois

Day/Date: Friday, June 29, 2012

In only his second race with his new Summit Racing Camaro, reigning Pro Stock champion Jason Line returned to the impressive qualifying performance he has shown for most of the 2012, earning the provisional second starting spot during the opening day of qualifying for the NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Illinois.  In each of the two sessions at Route 66 Raceway, Line posted the second quickest time among the 23 cars attempting to qualify, with his 6.629-second, 207.34 mph pass in the afternoon remaining his run of record.

However, with two attempts remaining on Saturday, the three-time Route 66 winner looked to extract even more performance from his ride, with his sights firmly set on the No. 1 position.

Event:  15th annual NHRA Route 66 Nationals

Location: Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, Illinois

Day/Date: Friday, June 29, 2012

The first day of qualifying for the NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Illinois provided racers in the Full Throttle Drag Racing Series with challenging conditions, with both high heat and humidity robbing the naturally-aspirated Pro Stock engines of valuable horsepower, putting a premium on getting the proper tune-up to maximize their performance.   This proved to be an even greater task for Greg Anderson and the Summit Racing team who are still determining the performance envelope for their new Chevrolet Camaro.

Although they were able to make two representative runs, their 6.649-second, 207.15 mph best in the evening session found them ninth midway through the qualifying procedure, a standing Anderson looked to better during one of his final two attempts on Saturday.

“We were definitely off today, so we’ll make some changes for tomorrow,” said Anderson.  “We know this Summit Racing Camaro can run better than it did, and it’s naturally disappointing for us to come off the trailer like that, but we’re going to keep digging, trying different things.  We believe we learned something tonight with Jason’s car that we’ll apply to both Ronnie (Humphrey, who runs the Genuine Hotrod Hardware Pontiac through the KB Racing team) and my car tomorrow and we’ll see what happens.

Mooresville, N.C., June 27, 2012 – Racers draw inspiration from various sources throughout their careers.  In the early stages, they may want to emulate someone they have watched growing up, from a parent to a noted competitor of the time.  Once they start to achieve some success, their motivation will come from wanting to excel and being the best that they can be.  Other times, however, the drive to succeed will receive a welcome boost from the most unlikely area.

For example, at this weekend’s Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet, Ill., Summit Racing Pro Stock standout Jason Line will hope to duplicate the performance of his 13-year-old niece Hannah, who scored her first victory three days ago in a Junior Dragster, competing in the Junior Advanced division at Grove Creek Raceway in Grove City, MN.
“My niece won her first race in a Junior Dragster last weekend, and between her and my brother I’m not sure who was more excited,” recalled Line.  “I look forward to the day when I can see one of my own kids win a race, but Hannah’s winning was very cool. We’re all so proud of her, and it shows what drag racing is all about.

“We all started at a similar stage, whether it was bracket racing or some sportsman class, and we did it just to have fun.  When I talked to her all that mattered was that she won and felt really good about it, and it took me back to when I first started racing.  Now I just need to find a way to repeat her performance this weekend in my Summit Racing Camaro – maybe I should call her and ask how she did it.”

Naturally, as the reigning NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock champion, Line has had his share of successes at drag racing’s top level, including several times at Route 66 Raceway, site of this weekend’s race.  Located to the southwest of Chicago in the city of Joliet, Route 66 has been considered one of the top facilities on the circuit since making its debut in 1998.  With three wins and five final round appearances in his previous 11 trips to Will County, it is also a favorite of the North Carolina-based racer, who is ready to return to the Illinois quarter-mile winner’s circle.

“Route 66 Raceway has been awfully good to me,” said Line.  “No matter how my year is going, I always seem to be able to go to Joliet and have a good day.  It’s among the best non-Bruton Smith owned facilities on tour, and I like going to the area to have some good pizza and then see some of my friends from the sportsman classes – it’s just a great race to go to.

“I can’t say I’m looking forward to the high temperatures they are forecasting for this weekend, but you’re going to have that at this time of year no matter where you go, and the conditions will be the same for everyone.  It will be up to this Summit Racing team to make the best of it.”

This race will also mark Line’s second in his new Chevrolet Camaro.  After a solid semifinal finish in its inaugural outing, he looks to do even better in the Land of Lincoln.

Mooresville, N.C., June 27, 2012 – For most of his career, Greg Anderson was not really a fan of Route 66 Raceway, site of this weekend’s Route 66 NHRA Nationals.  His displeasure had nothing to do with the actual facility, which is considered one of the nicest on the Full Throttle Drag Racing circuit.  Instead, it was the fact that it was the only track on tour where the four-time champion had yet to reach the winner’s circle which fueled his concern.

However, that all changed one year ago, when the Summit Racing Camaro driver powered from the No.1 position and broke his Route 66 drought, defeating Erica Enders on a hole shot in the final.  Returning to Joliet this weekend for the first time as the defending event champion, he looks forward to staying on good terms with the Illinois quarter-mile.

“For so many years I went to Route 66 Raceway thinking there had to be something in the water that just wouldn’t allow me to win,” said Anderson.  “It’s a race track with a very good surface and typically good air, so the cars run fast, which normally plays into the Summit Racing team’s hand.  I liked the track and the city and ran well there, but just couldn’t seem to win a race.  It was almost as if we had a love/hate relationship.

“Fortunately, that all changed last year, and I was finally able to add it to the list of tracks where I had won, so I’m going back this weekend with a positive attitude, our heads held high as the defending champions.  Now that we’ve finally broken through, there’s no reason we can’t keep digging and make it multiple wins.”

Ironically, Anderson’s biggest challenge this weekend will most likely come from matching his race car to the conditions and the track.  This will be only the third race for the KB Racing team with their new Camaro, and although admitting they are still coming to terms with the exact boundaries of their new mount’s performance envelope, he believes the progress they have made in recent weeks will allow them to contend for the win in Joliet.

“Although we are still early in the learning process with our Summit Racing Camaro, we did have the chance to get back on the racetrack after the last race in Bristol, spending a day last week testing,” said Anderson.  “Every pass we make gives us more information about what this car needs to run, and we feel we have learned quite a few things about it.  I believe we are going to have a better product than we did at the last race, which to us means we’re going to have a chance to win the event.

Event:  15th annual Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals

Location: Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tennessee

Day/Date: Sunday, June 17, 2012

Having only made eight test runs with their new Chevrolet Camaro prior to coming to Bristol Dragway, Jason Line and the Summit Racing Pro Stock team knew they would face a steep learning curve during this weekend’s Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee.  As expected, the team responded to challenge, posting some of the quickest times throughout qualifying and securing the fourth starting position.

Line was equally solid on race day, using a 6.682-second, 205.69 mph pass to defeat Warren Johnson in the opening stanza. After eliminating V. Gaines in the second round, he then squared off against hometown favorite and No. 1 qualifier Allen Johnson in the semifinals.

Although Line was able to make his best run of eliminations at 6.677 seconds with a top speed of 206.54 mph, it was not enough to hold off his opponent’s 6.659-second charge, putting a premature end to his day. Even so, the reigning Full Throttle champion was pleased with how quickly his team was able to adapt to their new ride.

“I am very pleased with the progress we made this weekend with this new car,” said Line.  “I think this Summit Racing Camaro is a good piece and it’s only going to get better.  I could have done a better job of tuning and driving it, and we’re only completely satisfied when we win, but all in all, I’m really happy with our performance, especially considering how few runs we have on it.

Event:  15th annual Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals

Location: Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tennessee

Day/Date: Saturday, June 16, 2012

On the strength of a 6.680-second elapsed time and 206.04 mph top speed recorded on his second attempt on Friday evening, Summit Racing Camaro driver Greg Anderson earned the seventh starting position for Sunday’s final eliminations of the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee.

Racing in conditions completely unlike anything they had encountered in their short time with their current race car, the KB Racing crew was nevertheless able to post two consistent and competitive runs on Saturday, virtually matching their time from Friday with a 6.687-second, 206.32 mph pass in the early session.  However, facing another tough Pro Stock field, the four-time champion admitted further improvement would be necessary in order to pull off their third Bristol Dragway win.

“We certainly have our work cut out for us tomorrow,” said Anderson.  “For some reason, the conditions here in Bristol have us scratching our heads a little, which is not a comfortable feeling heading into race day.  We thought we had a direction to head in with our Summit Racing Camaro after yesterday’s runs, but it didn’t produce the type of results we were looking for, so we’ll have to come up with a different plan for tomorrow.

Location: Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tennessee

Day/Date: Saturday, June 16, 2012

Jason Line and the Summit Racing team continued to familiarize themselves with their new Chevrolet Camaro on Saturday as part of the second day of qualifying for the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee.  Despite their limited experience with their new mount, Line and the KB Racing crew made their final two timed passes at Bristol Dragway count, posting the second-quickest elapsed time in each session, highlighted by his 6.662-second, 206.95 mph pass on his third attempt, netting the fourth starting position for Sunday’s final eliminations.

As he prepared for his first-round match-up with fellow Minnesota native Warren Johnson, the 2006 Bristol winner found cause for cautious optimism on race day, giving full credit to his race team for adapting so quickly to the new chassis.

“I am super stoked that we were able to qualify fourth and get bonus points in two qualifying sessions with a race car that came here with a total of eight test runs,” said Line.  “This Summit Racing Camaro is going to be a bad ass hot rod, absolutely better than our old Pontiacs.  It’s just a matter of time.

Event:  15th annual Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals

Location: Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tennessee

Day/Date: Friday, June 15, 2012

Two weeks after winning in his Summit Racing Camaro’s debut, four-time Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson was back in action on Friday, opening his qualifying effort at the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee.  For the second consecutive race, the KB Racing team worked to find the proper set-up for their new Chevrolet under the unique conditions at Bristol Dragway, with their best effort of 6.680-seconds, 206.04 mph placing them seventh midway through the qualifying procedure.

Despite their atypical position in the standings, Anderson still found positives from their opening day performance, which he believes will bring an improvement throughout the remainder of the weekend.

“The conditions here at Bristol Dragway have thrown us a bit of a curve,” said Anderson.  “We did make some ground up between Q1 and Q2, and although it was obviously not enough, it did give us the right direction to take with this Summit Racing Camaro, so we’ll take a big step that way tomorrow and hope it gives us a big gain in performance.

“I can’t recall that we’ve ever been five hundredths behind the leader on a Friday night, so it shows how big of a swing we need to take tomorrow, but there was just something we missed in the track and atmospheric conditions that caught us a little off guard.  We’ll make some adjustments to get the car to ride over the bumps a little bit better, keeping the tire on the track so we can get the power to the ground.  I have all the confidence in the world that this KB Racing team will get it right tomorrow.  It may take until Q4, but we’ll get it, and we’ll be in good shape by Sunday.

Event:  15th annual Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals

Location: Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tennessee

Day/Date: Friday, June 15, 2012

Jason Line’s Summit Racing Camaro made its competitive debut on Friday, taking to the track for the first day of qualifying for the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee.  Despite only having made eight runs in testing prior to today’s action, the reigning Pro Stock champion made two competitive runs, with his 6.678-second, 206.04 mph best in the evening session placing him in the provisional fifth position.

However, with two attempts remaining on Saturday, Line set his sights on moving his Chevrolet higher in the starting order for Sunday’s final eliminations at Bristol Dragway.

“We are obviously early in the learning process with our Summit Racing Camaro,” said Line.  “For example, I am still getting comfortable in the car.  After only ten runs, it clearly isn’t at the level of our old car, but I don’t know anyone else who could have done a better job than our guys getting it to this point so quickly.

Mooresville, N.C., June 13, 2012 – As a second-generation racer, reigning NHRA Pro Stock champion Jason Line has spent his share of Father’s Days at tracks across the country.  Therefore, it should come as no surprise that this year’s edition will find him at Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tenn. for this weekend’s NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

However, with his father Lawrence watching from the family homestead in Wright, Minn. the Summit Racing driver will be marking the occasion with his family, including his wife Cindy, daughter Emma and son Jack, who has already shown an interest in following in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. With his personal cheering section in attendance, Line will have added motivation for scoring his second win of the 2012 Full Throttle Drag Racing season.

“My first few Father’s Days racing in Pro Stock I did really well, which is something I’d certainly like to get back to this weekend,” said Line.  “The most important thing, however, is that I will have my family in Bristol with me.  My kids, and in particular my son Jack, have gotten to the age where they really enjoy coming out to watch me race, making for a fun weekend no matter how we do on the racetrack.

“However, Jack is old enough now that he understands the concept of winning and losing, so he’s not too thrilled that I haven’t won since Phoenix.  Who knows, this could be the perfect weekend to rectify that situation.  After all, it would be nice if we could bring out my new Summit Racing Camaro in the same fashion that Greg (teammate Anderson) did in Englishtown (where he won in its competitive debut.)”

As noted, this weekend’s race will be Line’s first in his new Chevrolet Camaro.  In many ways it will be a new look for the 28-time Pro Stock national event winner with its stunning blue paint scheme replacing his familiar orange livery from the previous few seasons.  One item that he certainly hopes will remain constant during the changeover is the high level of performance the team has shown all season with one win in three final round appearances and a class-leading five No. 1 qualifying performances, placing him second in the championship standings heading into Bristol.

“It’s exciting to have a new car, especially one that has so much history in Pro Stock,” said Line.  “The Camaro is a really cool muscle car powered by an American V-8 making a lot of horsepower which is the way it should be. In fact, I wish I had one to drive on the street.

“Having said that, we’ll definitely have our work cut out for us this weekend learning what this particular car needs to run.  You realistically can’t expect it to be at the same level as our old Pontiac right out of the box, but if anybody can pull it off, it would be the guys on this Summit Racing team, who do a heck of a job every time out.  After a single day of testing we haven’t exactly bonded, but let’s say we’re coming to an understanding.  However, we can already tell it’s going to be a great car.”

Line will also take pleasure in celebrating the holiday at the Tennessee quarter-mile, where his fondness for the facility comes from more than his on-track success, a ledger he looks to add to this weekend.

“It’s always fun racing in Bristol,” said Line.  “It’s a tremendous facility with great drag racing history and the people working there are great folks, making it one my top ten places to go to throughout the year.  I also enjoy that it’s a few hours’ drive from my house in North Carolina, making it an easy trip for myself and my family.