Ninth in Brainerd, Line is Ready to Switch to Race Mode
Event: 31st annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals
Location: Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, Minn.
Day/Date: Saturday, August 18, 2012
After using his four qualifying attempts as erstwhile test sessions, Summit Racing Camaro racer Jason Line looked forward to switching back to race mode in time for Sunday’s final eliminations of the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn. During the first two days, he made four representative runs, highlighted by his 6.590-second, 209.07 mph best on Friday afternoon to earn the ninth starting position. With his spot in the field secure, the reigning NHRA Pro Stock champion turned his attention towards the pursuit of his first home state national event win.
Ironically, Line’s day will start against No. 8 starter Ronnie Humphrey, who runs the Genuine Hot Rod Hardware Pontiac out of the KB Racing stable, and is, in fact, the same car that carried Line to the title in 2011.
“Although we certainly would have liked to make more progress in qualifying, it could have been worse,” said Line. “Hopefully we will put something more conventional in this Summit Racing Camaro for tomorrow, allowing us to have a decent race day. We actually have a pretty decent car, and even though it might not be the best one on the grounds, we can go some rounds tomorrow, and it doesn’t mean we can’t win.
“We’ll just go out there and do the best we can and whatever happens, happens. As long as we learn something and keep moving forward, it’s all good. It is somewhat funny that we will be racing Ronnie in my old car in the first round. However, it really doesn’t matter who is in the other lane or what they are driving – it’s just someone we have to beat if we want to win the race.”