Line Returns to Roots for Home Race in Brainerd
Mooresville, N.C., August 19, 2015 – Long before Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line became a successful ambassador for one of the premier teams in the class, the Minnesota native was actively involved in the grass roots of the sport. Line, a native of Wright, Minn., was devoted to competing in NHRA’s sportsman series, now known as the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, alongside his drag racing family members.
Line won multiple events and in 1993 achieved a tremendous goal as he claimed a national championship in the Stock Eliminator category. For as far as he has come since that time – including 37 professional victories in 77 final rounds and two Pro Stock world championships – Line has never forgotten where he came from.
This weekend, at the 34th annual NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd Int’l Raceway, the driver of the blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro will trace the steps of history as he races his 1970 Buick Gran Sport – yes, the same car he won the 1993 championship with – in Stock while also defending the Brainerd title in Pro Stock.
“I’m excited about this weekend,” said Line, who won his first national event in Stock Eliminator at the 1992 Brainerd race. He also won Stock there in 1997. “I have a lot of good memories from growing up and going to Brainerd. That was always a huge deal for us. The national event was something our family looked forward to every year, and my original core group of friends still race there and still love it just as much as they used to.
“Plus, I’m a car guy, and I like muscle cars. To me, Stockers are the ultimate showcase of that. You get a wide variety of old and brand new muscle cars, and it’s fun to watch and fun to race. It’s still cool for me to see how fast people can make these cars go. They put a serious amount of effort into it, and they love their racecars. It’s a very fun thing to be a part of.”
Although he had those two previous wins in Stock Eliminator at the Brainerd facility, Line had never before won the event in Pro Stock – until last season. Unfortunately, the finish to the race was delayed by weather and Line was unable to win on the hallowed grounds at Brainerd Int’l Raceway. He sealed the deal two weeks later in Indianapolis during qualifying for the U.S. Nationals.
“It was good to cross this one off the list because it was something I had always wanted to do in Pro Stock, but it would have been more fun to win in Brainerd with my family and friends there. We’ll have a chance this year, and hopefully we’ll be able to get it done.
“I feel like our two Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaros and all four of the KB Racing cars are on the right track. This should be a good weekend.”