Line Starts Strong at zMAX, Sits Second on Friday
Event:  Fifth annual NHRA Nationals

Location: zMAX Dragway, Concord, N.C.

Day/Date: Friday, September 14, 2012

The first day of qualifying for the 5th annual NHRA Nationals in Concord, N.C. proved to be a very productive one for Jason Line and the Summit Racing team.  Having spent numerous days testing over the last few weeks, the team arrived at their home track confident that they had started to get a better handle on their race car.  However, they also knew that the true proof of their labor would come when they ran against their competition at a national event.

Fortunately, any doubts were quickly allayed, as Line blasted out of the box in the first session at zMAX Dragway with a 6.570-second, 211.63 mph pass, best in the Pro Stock category.  He then came back with an even better run in the afternoon session at 6.554-seconds, 211.13 mph to slot second with two attempts remaining on Saturday.  Naturally disappointed at not remaining atop the leaderboard, the two-time champion believed the battle was still not over.

“It’s a good way to start our weekend,” said Line. “The last few months have not been kind to us, and we haven’t gotten many of the bonus qualifying points.  I earned five of the little points today, which I haven’t done in quite some time, and just as important, those were five points someone else didn’t get.

“It’s a good starting spot, and I feel like we have a little bit better handle on a baseline, which is something we’ve struggled with for a while, which is quite encouraging.  Do I feel like we can go faster? I certainly think so, but I’m sure our competitors will say that as well.  I think we have a shot at the pole in the morning, but as tight as the competition is right now, four other cars do as well.  We certainly have our work cut out for us, and it will come down to whoever makes the best run.  It’s going to be a dogfight.”