Line Learns in Houston, Taking Newfound Knowledge Down the Road

HOUSTON, Tex., April 26, 2015 – Overall, raceday in Houston at the 28th annual NHRA SpringNationals did not put a smile on Jason Line’s face. A second-round exit was not what the driver of the blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro had planned, particularly as he was coming into Sunday with the 40th low qualifier award of his career in his pocket. However, the bigger picture tells a brighter story. What the KB Racing team found in qualifying should benefit them greatly in the long run, and as a parting shot and a promise of the future, Line left the building on Sunday with low e.t. of eliminations in his hands.

“We ran well, we just didn’t race very good today,” said Line. “We lost the handle a little bit and slipped a little, but anybody that does this long enough is going to go through times like that. It’s just part of racing – you don’t dwell on it. You just keep digging.”

Line launched into eliminations with a loud boom, leaving the starting line at the precise same moment as opponent Deric Kramer and then sending him home with a resounding 6.547-second pass at 210.70 mph to a 6.655, 208.30. Line’s elapsed time on the scoreboard would hold as the quickest of the day throughout all of eliminations.

He again clocked a very fast pass in the second round, a 6.556 at 211.06, but his fate was decided at the starting line, and young Jonathan Gray’s quicker reaction time came into play at the top end. A surprising .085-second launch left Line on the defense to Gray’s .023. His challenger advanced with a 6.581, 210.11.

Although raceday in Houston was far too abbreviated for Line’s taste, the season stats speak for themselves. So far this year, the two-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion has been to two final rounds, scored an event win, and earned back-to-back low qualifier awards. Perhaps most notably, Line is in possession of the national record for elapsed time – an honor he has held more than once in the past. It would appear that Team Summit has hit upon something very important, and they plan to utilize all of their resources to continue to move forward.

“What we tested here this weekend went well, and even though today didn’t have the outcome we wanted or expected, we’re pointed in the right direction,” said Line. “Yesterday was a good day for KB Racing, and our Summit Racing Camaros are great racecars. I feel really good about where we’re going.”