Line Ready to Rise to the Challenge on Raceday at Bristol Dragway
Event: 13th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals
Location: Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tenn.
Day/Date: Saturday, June 15, 2013
Pro Stock driver Jason Line has seen bright moments this weekend in his Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro and is looking forward to raceday at the 13th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. Line, the No. 5 qualifier, will take on Vincent Nobile in the first round of eliminations.
The Mooresville, N.C., resident put a 6.700 on the scoreboard in the first session and then bounded from ninth to third in the qualifying order with a 6.661 at 206.73 mph in the second session. The powerful run was the third quickest of the session and allowed Line to bank one of the coveted bonus qualifying points.
Day two at Bristol Dragway brought about warmer conditions that required teams to delve deeper into their data banks, and Team Summit rose to the occasion to hang onto a top-half position on a hot and greasy track. Line slowed somewhat in the heat of the day and recorded a 6.720 at 206.95, but his Summit Racing Camaro came back around in the final session with a respectable 6.693, 206.39.
Line, the 2006 winner in Bristol, will square off with young Nobile in the first round of eliminations. The two most recently met during eliminations in the first round in Atlanta, when Line earned the win light.
“We haven’t mastered this track yet, so tomorrow will be a challenge,” said Line. “But it’s a challenge KB Racing is looking forward to. We might need a little bit of luck, but we have a lot in our favor in terms of determination and just how hard we’re willing to work to get these Summit Racing Camaros faster and going rounds.”
Line, who was victorious in Houston earlier this season, is certainly hoping for a very special winner’s circle celebration on Sunday – which happens to be Father’s Day – with his wife and two young children in attendance. However, the compassionate driver is also heading into raceday with a broadening perspective and a heavy heart with the knowledge that a member of the drag racing family is headed home to be with a loved one courageously battling a cruel disease.
“Right now I’m thinking a lot about our friend and his family, and our hearts go out to them,” said Line. “Times like this make you think about what’s really important. We have great folks on this team, and we believe we’re going to win more races – tomorrow or down the road. But I think we’re all going to be hugging our families a little tighter tomorrow, no matter the outcome of the race.”
