TEAM SUMMIT RACING’S JASON LINE WINS
2016 NHRA PRO STOCK CHAMPIONSHIP
Pomona, CA (November 13, 2016) – Team Summit Racing driver Jason Line won the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Pro Stock Championship at the 62nd NHRA Auto Club Finals in Pomona, California.
Line came to Pomona with a 23 point lead over teammate Greg Anderson. He clinched the championship with a semifinal round win. This Line’s third championship; he won the title in 2006 and 2011.
JASON LINE Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro SS
Jason Line qualified Number One with a 6.545 second, 211.33 MPH pass. He defeated Alan Prusiensky in Round One of eliminations (6.560/211.13 to 6.657/208.14); Chris McGaha in Round Two (6.605/209.33 to 6.607/209.43); and Erica Enders-Stevens in the semi-finals (6.590/210.54 to 13.902/63.67).
It was an all-Team Summit Racing final as Line faced teammate Greg Anderson. Anderson got the jump at the starting line with a .016 second reaction time and took the win.
“It was a great year and I want to thank all our competitors. They did a great job and made us work hard right to the end,” Line said. “ Of course a big thanks goes out to the Summit Racing folks and (team owner) Ken Black. It’s been an incredible dream season.”
GREG ANDERSON Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro SS
Greg Anderson qualified third with a 6.555/210.80 run. He defeated Aaron Strong in Round One (6.576/210.80 to 6.633/208.78), Shane Gray in Round Two (6.592/210.37 to 6.596/210.47), and KB Racing Teammate Bo Butner in the semi-finals. (6.596/210.54 to 6.630/210.41).
Anderson defeated Jason Line in the final round, 6.580/210.24 to 6.570/211.43 thanks to a .028 second starting line advantage (.016 to .044 reaction time). The win puts Anderson in second place on the all-time NHRA Pro Stock win list, surpassing the legendary Bob Glidden.
“It came down to the final race of the year. Jason is the world champion and I won the race. What a dream!” said Anderson. “To break Bob Glidden’s record is obviously fantastic. That‘s something I never considered, could think about or imagine. Now that it’s happened it’s just unreal.”
TIM WILKERSON Ford Shelby Mustang Nitro Funny Car
Tim Wilkerson qualified ninth with a 3.920/328.38 pass. He defeated 2015 Funny Car Champion Del Worsham in Round One, 3.922/325.77 to 325.77. In Round Two Wilkerson came up against Jack Beckman. Wilkerson was late off the starting line with a .175 second reaction time, and Beckman took the win, 3.910/327.82 to 4.007/276.69.
“I just had a bad second round there. I got up there and I really couldn’t see because of the sun shining in my eyes,” Wilkerson said. “We weren’t going to outrun a 3.91 anyways, but we’ve been testing out some new combinations and I’m really optimistic about how it ran today.”
Wilkerson finished the 2016 season ninth in the Funny Car points standings.
Team Summit Notes: Top Fuel
Doug Kalitta qualified second (3.709/327.90). He defeated Shawn Reed, Tony Schumacher, and Shawn Langdon to reach the final round, where he defeated teammate J.R. Todd for the win. Kalitta finished the season second in the points standings.
J.R. Todd qualified Number One (3.680/327.82). He defeated Troy Buff, Richie Crampton, and Antron Brown to reach the final round, where he lost to Doug Kalitta. Todd finished the season fourth in the points standings.
Team Summit Notes: Funny Car
Del Worsham qualified eighth (3.912/327.35), but lost to Tim Wilkerson in Round One of eliminations. He finished the season seventh in the points standings.
Jeff Arend drove for the injured Alex DeJoria. He qualified 10th (3.930/317.19) and defeated Matt Hagan Round One, but lost to Courtney Force in Round Two. DeJoria finished the season 10th in the points standings.
Paul Lee qualified 11th(3.935/305.36) but lost to Robert Hight in Round One.