No. 2 Line Powerful in NHRA Sonoma Nationals Qualifying
SONOMA, Calif., July 26, 2014 – Jason Line is continuing a new and very favorable trend for the Summit Racing Pro Stock team. Last weekend in Denver Line ran better than the rest and was the No. 1 qualifier, and this weekend at the 27th annual NHRA Sonoma Nationals he just missed claiming the top spot again but had one of the most powerful cars on the property. The Mooresville, N.C.-based competitor now has the opportunity to be among the first to clinch a spot in NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship playoffs, and it begins with a first-round meeting with part time driver Joey Grose.
Line was stopped before he even began in the first qualifying session when an eyelet on the battery cable snapped and shut down the power just after he made the burnout. Coming into the second session, however, Line kept a furious pace and zoomed to a 6.550-second blast at 210.93 mph to fly right up to the No. 1 spot. Saturday morning was good for a 6.554, 211.53, and in the final session the two-time Sonoma winner was even quicker with a solid 6.541 at 211.79.
“I’m a little disappointed; I thought we’d keep that No. 1,” said Line, who has qualified in the top half at all but one race this year and has started fourth or better eight times. “Quite honestly, on both runs today it was 100% the driver’s fault that we didn’t go faster. I did things today that I’ve never done before as a driver, and I feel like I let our team down. It was unreal.
“I have the best car here – again – and I’m very excited about that. I don’t want to dwell on the mistakes I made, but it was just a crazy day.”
Despite the self-criticisms, Line withstood the heat at Sonoma Raceway while temperatures soared near 100 degrees Fahrenheit on both days, and he continued to show off the power of the Summit Racing team as he gathered three more bonus qualifying points. Coming into the event, Line was No. 4 in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series standings. According to NHRA officials, if Line advances to the second round, it is possible that he could secure a Countdown to the Championship berth. Two drivers have already clinched a position in the six-race playoffs set to begin in Charlotte in September. Line and two other drivers will have the opportunity to do the same.
“I’m actually really happy because we’re going the right way,” said Line. “The qualifying performances show that, and all in all, it’s still good. We wanted that No. 1, but we made our best run of the weekend on that last pass, and I think we could have even gone faster. We left an honest .005-.007 out there, and the Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro is a great car. We have a lot to be excited about right now.”