Points Leader Line Claims National Record at Four-Wide Nationals

CONCORD, N.C., March 29, 2015 – Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line didn’t exactly get what he wanted at this weekend’s 6th annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, but the insatiably horsepower-hungry, 36-time Pro Stock winner leaves zMAX Dragway with a certain advantage over his competitors. He is in possession of the points lead and, after a very productive weekend, is once again the NHRA national record holder for elapsed time.

Line narrowly missed qualifying in the top spot, clocking a 6.481 to start from the No. 2 spot, but the first round of eliminations left the fans floored as the two-time Pro Stock champion flew to a 6.455-second pass at 214.48 mph in his blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro. Although Line has been quicker in testing, the pass was the quickest run ever in NHRA Pro Stock competition, and the KB Racing driver immediately took hold of the record, which had – only moments before – been in the hands of Allen Johnson with a 6.463. Line’s best qualifying time was a backup for the 6.455, and it was written right into the record book.

“It was a very smooth run, very nice. The driver actually shifted on time and did all of those things right. It felt like a good run, right up until the finish line,” said Line, who moved ahead to round two with Larry Morgan (6.501, 214.42) while John Gaydosh and Rodger Brogdon were done for the day.

As Line approached the stripe on the record-setting run, something went wrong in the engine. The national record was in hand, but there was little time to celebrate as round two was coming up quickly, and the Summit Racing crew had to hustle to make the call.

“It was a freak thing that set off a bad series of events. We ended up getting up there late for the next run with no chance to warm up the engine. [In the second round], I knew something was wrong so I didn’t want to keep going,” said Line, who slowed to a 9.255 alongside KB Racing-powered Jimmy Alund’s 6.525, 214.01, while Morgan and Vincent Nobile, also supplied with KB-power, moved ahead to the final. Nobile clocked a 6.480, 213.77 and Morgan recorded a 6.477, 214.25.

“It’s one of those things – with the good, there is always some bad,” lamented the Minnesota-native and lifelong racer. “But the bottom line is that we leave here with the fastest Pro Stocker on the planet, so that feels really good. It was kind of a crazy day. I really felt like we were going to come out of here with three of our KB Racing cars in the final, and it didn’t happen. Still, it was a nice day. And congratulations to Larry Morgan on the win. There isn’t a sportsman or professional racer who would hate to see him win, that’s for sure. He’s one of the true characters of our sport, and I’m certainly happy for him to have had a good weekend.”

Line leaves zMAX Dragway 43 points ahead of No. 2 man Rodger Brogdon. Although there is so much in the plus column for the KB Racing crew and their Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaros, the focused and determined driver simply does not feel satisfied.

“I really felt like we could’ve and should’ve set the [mph] record with the red car,” said Line of his KB Racing teammate Greg Anderson’s Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro that won two weeks ago in Gainesville and clocked a thrillingly fast 215.48 mph in Concord that was the second-fastest Pro Stock pass ever.

“We just couldn’t quite get a handle on it, but we got close. I really thought we were going to come away from here with both ends of the record, but it was still a pretty good day. Our Summit Racing team worked really hard, and we have good power right now. We just need to do a little bit better refining things. It’s a constant quest to find more, but that’s what makes it fun. I’m happy with everyone involved in this; we have really good folks behind us, and it feels good to have something to be proud of. It’s a big deal. It’s hard to do.”