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BRAINERD, Minn. -- They say the first is always the best. That was true for the first sportsman win at Brainerd International Raceway (BIR) for Jason Line, who now drives the KB Racing LLC-owned, Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GTO.
The 37-year old driver from Wright, Minn. who currently leads the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock point standing, knows that feeling will return many times over if he can win the Pro Stock class at this weekend's NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals at BIR. It would be Line's first professional win at what was his home track, a track that holds many remembrances.
"It's great to be on top for the first time in my career," said Line, who now lives in Terrell, N.C. "While this point chase is far from over, I would like to be on top come the end of this season but we've got to do some winning between now and the end of the season.
"If we can keep this Summit Racing Pontiac running like it has for the past few races, then I feel we have a great chance at winning. I would not only remember a win at BIR this weekend, but if I could put this KB Racing Pontiac in the winner's circle it would go a long way in helping me in the point battle."
Line started his racing career in 1985 as a bracket racer at BIR racing a '68 Chevy Chevelle. After a timeout for military service (U.S. Air Force) from 1987-1991, Line resumed his racing career in 1992 behind the wheel of his 1966 Chevrolet Belair R/Stock Automatic Station Wagon. He won his first NHRA Stock Eliminator national event at Brainerd that year, a win that he remembers to this day.
Line followed that feat up with two additional firsts. In 1993, Line claimed the NHRA Division 5 Stock Eliminator champion en route to winning his first national sportsman title the 1993 NHRA Stock Eliminator World Championship.
Line also won the Stock Eliminator category at the 1997 NHRA NorthStar Nationals at Brainerd driving a 1970 Buick Grand Sport D/Stock Automatic.
Near the start of the new millennium, Line left Minnesota and headed to NASCAR country - North Carolina - where he worked five years at Joe Gibbs Racing and served as the chief dynamometer engine specialist and at-track engine tuner for 2000 NASCAR cup champion Bobby Labonte.
In 2003, Line returned to his roots when he hired on at KB Racing LLC as an engine tuner and dyno specialist on the Pro Stock Pontiac driven by Greg Anderson, who like Line was born and raised in Minnesota. But later that year, when he had the opportunity to drive a second Pro Stock car for KB Racing LLC, Line quickly got behind the wheel. Line will never forget his first race in a Pro Stock car.
After qualifying for his first Pro Stock race in the No.14 slot at the 2003 Pontiac Excitement Nationals Presented by Summit Racing in Columbus, Ohio, Line got a surprise during eliminations.
Paired opposite veteran Pro Stock driver Terry Adams, Line's car got out of the groove, hit the wall, rolled over on its top and slid down the National Trail Raceway quarter-mile upside down. Not to be deterred Line returned to action at the prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals later that year, qualifying ninth and notching his first round win of his career in the opening round of eliminations.
In 2004, Line began a full-time racing schedule and finished second to his teammate Anderson in the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock point standing. Last season, he finished No. 3.
While many only know him as the teammate of three-time and defending NHRA POWERade Pro Stock champion Anderson (2003-2005), Line has quietly made his way to the pinnacle of Pro Stock drag racing. For the first time in his professional career, Line is No. 1 in the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock point standings. The unassuming Line took over the top spot at the NHRA national event in Denver and has tenaciously held that spot for the last three events.
Entering the 25th annual NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway this weekend, Line leads second place Anderson, who had held the point lead the first 12 races of the 2006 season, by 64 points and third place Dave Connolly by 122 points. Jim Yates is fourth, 188 points back and KJ - Kurt Johnson - rounds out the top five in fifth, 252 points behind.
Qualifying for Line and his KB Racing LLC/Summit Racing Equipment Pro Stock Pontiac GTO begins with two Pro Stock sessions on Friday, Aug. 11, scheduled for 2:45 and 5:30 p.m. and concludes with two additional Pro Stock sessions on Saturday, Aug. 12, at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. Line begins his quest for the Lucas Oil Nationals Pro Stock title on Sunday, Aug. 13 with eliminations for all classes beginning at 11 a.m. All times are local Brainerd time (CT) and subject to change at anytime.
Qualifying highlights for the silver anniversary NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals can be seen on ESPN2 on Saturday (August 12) from 6 to 8 p.m. ESPN2 will also air same-day television coverage of eliminations from 7 until 10 p.m. (Sunday, August 13). The elimination show repeats early Friday morning (August 18) from 3-5 a.m. Also, tune in to NHRA2Day on ESPN2, the weekly show that gives you the latest information about the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. NHRA2Day can be seen on Sunday morning, August 13, from 11:30 a.m. - 12 noon. Television times are Eastern Time (ET) and subject to change at anytime. Check local listings.
KB Racing LLC is owned by Las Vegas businessmen Ken Black and his son Kenny Black. KB Racing LLC fields two Summit Racing Equipment Pro Stock Pontiac GTOs, one driven by Greg Anderson and the other by Jason Line in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Anderson has won three consecutive POWERade Pro Stock Championships (2003-2005). Line finished third in the 2005 POWERade point standings and was honored with the 2004 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future award, presented to the most outstanding rookie in a professional category. This year KB Racing LLC also began fielding a Top Fuel Dragster, managed by Kalitta Motorsports, with rookie Top Fuel driver Hillary Will handling the driving duties.
First Pro Stock Win at Brainerd Would be Remembrance for Line
BRAINERD, Minn. -- They say the first is always the best. That was true for the first sportsman win at Brainerd International Raceway (BIR) for Jason Line, who now drives the KB Racing LLC-owned, Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GTO.
The 37-year old driver from Wright, Minn. who currently leads the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock point standing, knows that feeling will return many times over if he can win the Pro Stock class at this weekend's NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals at BIR. It would be Line's first professional win at what was his home track, a track that holds many remembrances.
"It's great to be on top for the first time in my career," said Line, who now lives in Terrell, N.C. "While this point chase is far from over, I would like to be on top come the end of this season but we've got to do some winning between now and the end of the season.
"If we can keep this Summit Racing Pontiac running like it has for the past few races, then I feel we have a great chance at winning. I would not only remember a win at BIR this weekend, but if I could put this KB Racing Pontiac in the winner's circle it would go a long way in helping me in the point battle."
Line started his racing career in 1985 as a bracket racer at BIR racing a '68 Chevy Chevelle. After a timeout for military service (U.S. Air Force) from 1987-1991, Line resumed his racing career in 1992 behind the wheel of his 1966 Chevrolet Belair R/Stock Automatic Station Wagon. He won his first NHRA Stock Eliminator national event at Brainerd that year, a win that he remembers to this day.
Line followed that feat up with two additional firsts. In 1993, Line claimed the NHRA Division 5 Stock Eliminator champion en route to winning his first national sportsman title the 1993 NHRA Stock Eliminator World Championship.
Line also won the Stock Eliminator category at the 1997 NHRA NorthStar Nationals at Brainerd driving a 1970 Buick Grand Sport D/Stock Automatic.
Near the start of the new millennium, Line left Minnesota and headed to NASCAR country - North Carolina - where he worked five years at Joe Gibbs Racing and served as the chief dynamometer engine specialist and at-track engine tuner for 2000 NASCAR cup champion Bobby Labonte.
In 2003, Line returned to his roots when he hired on at KB Racing LLC as an engine tuner and dyno specialist on the Pro Stock Pontiac driven by Greg Anderson, who like Line was born and raised in Minnesota. But later that year, when he had the opportunity to drive a second Pro Stock car for KB Racing LLC, Line quickly got behind the wheel. Line will never forget his first race in a Pro Stock car.
After qualifying for his first Pro Stock race in the No.14 slot at the 2003 Pontiac Excitement Nationals Presented by Summit Racing in Columbus, Ohio, Line got a surprise during eliminations.
Paired opposite veteran Pro Stock driver Terry Adams, Line's car got out of the groove, hit the wall, rolled over on its top and slid down the National Trail Raceway quarter-mile upside down. Not to be deterred Line returned to action at the prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals later that year, qualifying ninth and notching his first round win of his career in the opening round of eliminations.
In 2004, Line began a full-time racing schedule and finished second to his teammate Anderson in the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock point standing. Last season, he finished No. 3.
While many only know him as the teammate of three-time and defending NHRA POWERade Pro Stock champion Anderson (2003-2005), Line has quietly made his way to the pinnacle of Pro Stock drag racing. For the first time in his professional career, Line is No. 1 in the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock point standings. The unassuming Line took over the top spot at the NHRA national event in Denver and has tenaciously held that spot for the last three events.
Entering the 25th annual NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway this weekend, Line leads second place Anderson, who had held the point lead the first 12 races of the 2006 season, by 64 points and third place Dave Connolly by 122 points. Jim Yates is fourth, 188 points back and KJ - Kurt Johnson - rounds out the top five in fifth, 252 points behind.
Qualifying for Line and his KB Racing LLC/Summit Racing Equipment Pro Stock Pontiac GTO begins with two Pro Stock sessions on Friday, Aug. 11, scheduled for 2:45 and 5:30 p.m. and concludes with two additional Pro Stock sessions on Saturday, Aug. 12, at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. Line begins his quest for the Lucas Oil Nationals Pro Stock title on Sunday, Aug. 13 with eliminations for all classes beginning at 11 a.m. All times are local Brainerd time (CT) and subject to change at anytime.
Qualifying highlights for the silver anniversary NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals can be seen on ESPN2 on Saturday (August 12) from 6 to 8 p.m. ESPN2 will also air same-day television coverage of eliminations from 7 until 10 p.m. (Sunday, August 13). The elimination show repeats early Friday morning (August 18) from 3-5 a.m. Also, tune in to NHRA2Day on ESPN2, the weekly show that gives you the latest information about the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. NHRA2Day can be seen on Sunday morning, August 13, from 11:30 a.m. - 12 noon. Television times are Eastern Time (ET) and subject to change at anytime. Check local listings.
KB Racing LLC is owned by Las Vegas businessmen Ken Black and his son Kenny Black. KB Racing LLC fields two Summit Racing Equipment Pro Stock Pontiac GTOs, one driven by Greg Anderson and the other by Jason Line in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Anderson has won three consecutive POWERade Pro Stock Championships (2003-2005). Line finished third in the 2005 POWERade point standings and was honored with the 2004 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future award, presented to the most outstanding rookie in a professional category. This year KB Racing LLC also began fielding a Top Fuel Dragster, managed by Kalitta Motorsports, with rookie Top Fuel driver Hillary Will handling the driving duties.
