Line Focused and Ready to Get Back to the Track in Pomona

By his own admission, Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line is a homebody.  A dedicated husband and father, his favorite activity is spending time with his wife Cindy and children Jack and Emma.  However, as much as he has enjoyed being home for the last three months, the 2006 champion knows it is time to return to the racetrack.  After all, the 2011 Full Throttle Drag Racing season gets underway this weekend with the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, CA, and he must resume his pursuit of national event wins and a second championship, dual goals that the Troutman, NC resident believes are achievable.

“It’s been great being home, but I am ready to get back to the track,” said Line.  “After all, this extended break between races is the longest period I have ever been away from a racetrack in my life.  We’ve had a decent off-season, and although we’re never really satisfied, I believe this Summit Racing team should be competitive right out of the box.  We’re heading to Pomona, where we’ve historically done well, and we’ll have Ken (team owner Black) at the track with us, which will be a tremendous boost for the entire team.  Best of all, my family will be joining me out there, so it’s shaping up to be a good weekend.”

Although he last climbed behind the wheel of Summit Racing Pontiac at the Finals last November, Line has maintained a hectic schedule, including a week-long trip to visit the troops in Germany and numerous trips to Phoenix to participate in the shooting of the Burnout: The Ultimate Drag Racing Challenge show that will air on MTV2 beginning in April.  In addition, he balanced his research and development efforts with work reclaiming any usable parts from the engines damaged in teammate Greg Anderson’s transporter fire.  After spending many long days at the KB Racing shop in Mooresville, he looks forward to seeing the results of both his and the entire team’s efforts at The Auto Club Raceway at Pomona this weekend.

“I’m not going to make any bold predictions, but let’s just say I’m optimistic about our Summit Racing team’s chances in 2011,” said Line.  “With as tight as the competition is right now in Pro Stock, I don’t think anyone is going to dominate, but I feel we have as good a shot as anyone to take home the championship.  My focus is on doing my job to the best of my abilities, doing whatever I can to put us in a position to win.  That is my primary objective heading into the season.

“This is an exciting time for our team. Besides Greg and myself we also have Ronnie (Humphrey, who will be piloting a Summit-sponsored car out of the KB Racing stable) running the full season for the first time in his career.  It will be fun to help him succeed and get that first national event win, which I feel like he is going to do.  We also have a few other things working that we hope will pay dividends down the road.

“I’ve been going to the Winternationals since 1993, and have always had fun going to Pomona.  There is a lot of history surrounding this race, as well as excitement, with everyone anticipating the start of a new season.  This year it has even more meaning as the first race of the NHRA’s 60th anniversary season, so there’s more incentive to do well.  The bottom line is that it’s the first step in what we hope will be a great year, and we want to get off on the right foot.”

Jason Line & the Summit Racing Pontiac crew

By the Numbers - The Auto Club Raceway at Pomona edition

1 - Win scored by Line at the Winternationals heading into this weekend, which came in 2009, when Line qualified second and defeated Rickie Jones, Johnny Gray, Allen Johnson and Mike Edwards for the 16th national event win of his Pro Stock career

2 - No. 1 qualifying performances by Line at The Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in 14 previous starts.

3 – Final round appearances by Line in Pomona.

4.29 – Average starting spot for Jason in his previous Auto Club Raceway starts, with only two starts outside the top half of the field.

7 – Finishes of the semifinals or better by Line in his previous 14 Pomona starts

21 – Elimination round wins scored by Jason in his previous Auto Club Raceway starts versus 13 losses for a 61.8 round win percentage.

211.63 - Jason’s Auto Club Raceway at Pomona track record top speed, which he set at the 2009 Winternationals.

Did you know?  Jason and his KB Racing teammate Greg Anderson have combined to win five of the last seven Winternationals.