Line looking to win it for dad on Father’s Day in Bristol
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (June 11, 2014) – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line didn’t stumble into this furiously addictive business of drag racing by accident. No, it was through the influence of his father, Minnesota drag racer Lawrence Line, and what better way to thank Dear Ol’ Dad than by going to battle for the trophy on Father’s Day at this weekend’s 14th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.
Line recalls that his father was an avid drag racer, but much of the racing actually occurred before Lawrence and wife Maxine’s children were born, and it tapered off when the kids were very young.
“After he had us, he couldn’t really afford to race anymore – so he quit,” said Line. “He still kept his cars, though, and always being around cars like that was a big influence for us.”
Line’s older brother Lance was perhaps the leader in a return to racing for the performance-hungry family.
“My brother and I both had an interest in cars, and once Lance got his driver’s license, he wanted to go to the racetrack and race. We had looked at all the pictures, and we had some memories of going to the track when we were kids,” said Line. “It was sort of a natural thing for us. We had the interest, and our parents were very supportive of it.”
They were so supportive in fact that Lawrence lined up racing parts for Lance’s car and allowed the boys to venture to the racetrack with friends – and without parental supervision.
“Yeah, I’m not so sure that they actually loved us,” joked Line. “I still can’t believe they let us go, but I’m glad they did. I’d say it turned out pretty well. I have my parents to thank for where I am today.”
Line was just 13 when he first accompanied his big brother to the racetrack, and an early career at Minnesota’s famed Brainerd Int’l Raceway paved the way for a lifetime of success in a racecar. Now a two-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion, Line looks forward to this weekend’s event at Bristol Dragway and the opportunity to return to his winning ways on a very special Sunday.
The first three times that KB Racing driver Line contested Pro Stock on Father’s Day, he won the event – 2004, 2005 and 2006 in Englishtown.
“It’s been a long drought since then,” he said. “But to get back to winning on Father’s Day would be cool. It would be special to put my Summit Racing Chevy Camaro in the winner’s circle for my dad, and it would also be special for me because I’m a dad, too. I have very high hopes going into this weekend, and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect that this team can accomplish our goals.”
