Summit Racing driver Line seeking first New England Dragway win
MOORESVILLE, N.C., June 10, 2015 – Last season at the NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, Jason Line was No. 4 in the standings. This year, he is sitting No. 3 and has a serious drive to claim the trophy at one of just five NHRA events where he has so far been winless. This weekend’s event will only be the third opportunity for a driver to win the New England Nationals title, but that doesn’t lower the determination – or the expectations – for Line and the Summit Racing team.
Throughout his career, Line has been a championship contender. In his first full season behind the wheel of a Ken Black-owned Pro Stock car, the Minnesota-born dyno operator-turned-racecar driver visited eight final rounds, and he earned four coveted Wally trophies along the way to a remarkable second-place finish to Summit Racing teammate Greg Anderson. Much success was to follow, and to date, the two-time Pro Stock world champion has participated in 77 Pro Stock final rounds for Team Summit and won 37 national events.
“With the history of this Summit Racing team, I believe that we can accomplish great things at any racetrack we go to,” said Line, whose 37 trophies bring the Summit Racing NHRA Pro Stock win total to a pleasing 113. “I don’t think there is any particular reason that we haven’t yet won in Epping, except to say that things happen. This year, I think we have as good a chance as ever – our Summit Racing Camaros are good cars, and my teammate over there has a great car. All of the cars in the KB Racing stable [including the KB Racing-powered Camaros driven by Vincent Nobile and Bo Butner] are performing well, and I’m certainly looking forward to this weekend.”
While the track sits very near to sea level and provides the kind of air that the naturally aspirated Pro Stock engines thrive on, it is also situated in a part of the country where Pro Stock fans come out in droves to watch the factory hot rods compete.
“The racetrack is good there, and the fans are really appreciative that there is good racing in their backyard,” said Line. “They’re just a great bunch of people, and it is always neat to go to a place like that. It makes it more fun for us when the fans are into racing the way they are up there.”
Line has been challenged at the last two races on the tour and has not won a round of racing on Sunday since he earned the Atlanta Summit Racing Southern Nationals trophy from the No. 1 spot in May. Despite the mini-slump, the driver of the blue Summit Racing Camaro hasn’t lost any of his focus and is just as determined as ever.
“My mentality going into this weekend isn’t any different than it always is,” said Line. “You’re supposed to go to these races to win, and that’s exactly what I’m going there to try to do.”