Line’s Competent Summit Racing Camaro Heading to Gainesville
CHANDLER, Ariz., February 22, 2015 – The second race of 24 in NHRA’s 2015 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series is in the books, and Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line was hoping to continue his win streak after scoring the title at the first race of the season two weeks ago. Unfortunately, a second straight victory was not in the cards. Team Summit, however, is formulating a plan to continue an upward climb as they depart the 31st annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals and Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park near Phoenix.
Line, of Mooresville, N.C., blasted to a qualifying best time of 6.562-second and earned a start from the No. 6 spot. The driver of the blue Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro continued his quest in the first round of eliminations with a strong 6.567 at 210.70 mph that was the quickest pass of the round and defeated KB Racing teammate Vincent Nobile, who lost grip on the racetrack and could only muster an 11.11-second pass.
The second round is where the weekend came to a halt. Line powered down the racetrack with a 6.582-second pass at 210.87 mph that was quicker than Drew Skillman’s 6.595, 210.50; unfortunately, Skillman’s .020-second head start at the starting line made the difference. Line forfeited the victory on a holeshot by just .007-second.
“That second round, we didn’t make the run we could have – and I did a lousy job as a driver,” said Line, who was a reasonable .058 at the tree to Skillman’s .038. “Somedays come out better, but today did not. To win in this class, you have to be great every round, every second. Today I wasn’t, and that equals an early exit. That’s what it comes down to.
“Our car was really good, but it never made the kind of run that we are capable of this weekend. We just never quite got a handle on it, and I didn’t drive as well as I’m capable of, either. It happens, and we will move on, but we would have liked to have done better for Summit Racing and for our team owners Ken and Judy Black.”
Although disappointed that he was not able to go the distance this time around, the 36-time Pro Stock national event winner can take consolation in the fact that he is leaving the event in the No. 3 position, just 27 points out of the lead.
Also brightening the weekend was the fact that Ken and Judy Black were in attendance, as was a good friend to the Summit Team, Jim Greenleaf from Summit Racing Equipment.
“It was really great this weekend to have Jim from Summit Racing as well as Ken and Judy here,” said Line. “We always have fun when they’re here, and Ken loves the sport more than anyone I’ve ever met. He reminds me why I started doing this, and it was good to have him here.”
As for what’s next, Line and Team Summit will travel to Florida for the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville. The race is just three weeks away, allowing plenty of time for the KB Racing crew to devote to improving a program that is already well ahead of many of their competitors.
“We certainly have a lot of work to do,” said Line. “But we will keep working. That’s one thing we do relentlessly, all of our guys work really hard, and that’s good because we are going to get better.”