POINTS LEADER LINE HOPES TO MAKE IT THREE-FOR-THREE AS SERIES HEADS TO LAS VEGAS:

To say that the start of the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series for Pro Stock points leader Jason Line has been anything but a surprise may be the understatement of the century. Back-to-back wins to start the season and the points lead, with teammate Greg Anderson close behind in second place, may not have been the position Line thought he’d be in heading into this weekend’s SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip At Las Vegas Motor Speedway. But with the momentum of early-season success pushing his Summit Racing Pontiac GXP, Line hopes to make it three wins to start the season, especially at his primary sponsor’s event. “It’s huge for me,” said Line, referring to a possible win this weekend. “It’s a big deal, and especially right now it’s a big deal for Ken (Black, team owner), because us doing well definitely motivates him and he’s really working hard and he’s trying to get better and get out of that wheelchair. He’s going to make it.” Line’s greatest competition in Las Vegas may be the man sharing a pit stall with him, as teammate and defending world champion Anderson holds the most wins of any driver at The Strip At Las Vegas Motor Speedway with seven, three of which were at this event. “(Greg and I) try not to take it too serious,” said Line. “But it’s a tough thing because obviously we both have egos and we both want to win and not just for ourselves but we owe it to the rest of the team to do the best job we can because these guys are working hard to give us good hot rods.” But fate itself could be against Line, as only five drivers in NHRA history have ever won three-consecutive races to start out the season, the last coming 15 years ago (Jim Yates, Pro Stock, 1996). Can Line make it three to start the year, or will another contender rise from the ranks? Tickets are still available for the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals by calling (800) 644-4444 or online at Ticketmaster.com.