Line looks for win in Dallas

Line Resolved to Seal the Deal in Dallas

Jason Line

Photo by: Ted Rossino

Mooresville, N.C., September 22, 2011 – Of the ten Pro Stock drivers who qualified for this year’s NHRA Countdown to the Championship, Summit Racing’s Jason Line was the one who made the most of the first of the six playoff races, qualifying No. 1 and powering to the final round one week ago in Charlotte. Although this performance allowed him to take over the points lead, heading into this weekend’s AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals in Dallas, TX, the quiet-spoken Minnesota native still feels like he has some unfinished business to take care of, namely scoring his fifth win of the 2011 season. He has come close, with runner-up finishes in each of his last two races, but nevertheless comes to the Lone Star State determined to finish the job.

“There’s a cowboy hat with my name on it in Dallas,” said Line, referring to the Stetson hats the track awards each one of the winners. “I may not be much of a cowboy, but I want to leave there with that hat, just like Greg (teammate and defending event winner Anderson) did a year ago.

“Everything is clicking so well on our Summit Racing team right now that we can’t wait to get to the track, because we know when we pull through those gates that we have a really good shot at winning the race, which is all you can ask for. For my part, I have to make sure to do my job to the best of my ability so that we can take advantage of these fast hot rods the team is giving us and win races.

“I’m here to win, not only for me, but for our team, our sponsors, our families and friends, as well as all our fans. My goal is the same as everyone else in the Countdown – to be the champion. To do that I need to win races, starting this weekend in Texas.”

This weekend’s edition marks Line’s eighth appearance on the Ennis quarter mile, which is among a handful of tracks on the 2011 Full Throttle circuit has yet to win. Even so, the 2006 champion is optimistic about his chances for success this weekend, as he looks to add yet another accomplishment to his Motorplex resume.

“Although I’ve yet to win at the Texas Motorplex, I still have some good memories from racing there,” said Line. “For example, I took over the points lead in Dallas the year I won the championship in Stock Eliminator, and our Summit Racing Pontiacs have historically run well there.

“A lot will be said about the all-concrete surface and even though this was the first on the NHRA tour, we have other tracks on the schedule that are built in a similar fashion, including last weekend in Charlotte. Still, it’s one of the nicer facilities we go to, and one we always enjoy going to.

“It’s going to be warm all weekend, so there won’t be any records set, but the track should stay fairly consistent. Besides, I think we showed in Indianapolis (where Line & Anderson qualified 1-2) that we have a pretty good tune-up for the heat, so I have to say I like our chances. We’ve been knocking at the door of the winner’s circle, and I think is about time we busted it open.”