Image/Auto Imagery
Jason Line is eager to return to the driver’s seat of his Summit Racing Chevy Camaro this weekend at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, AZ. As the defending event champion at the NHRA Arizona Nationals, the second-generation drag racer is also eager to return to the winners circle.
In 2012, Line and Summit Racing teammate Greg Anderson dominated in the desert, each knocking out respective opponents on opposite sides of the ladder to negotiate a Team Summit final. Line ultimately got the best of Anderson in the final round to earn bragging rights in the KB Racing camp.
“It was great to have both Summit Racing cars going for the trophy last year,” Line said. “I’d like to do that again. I’m sure my teammate would like to get his hands on the trophy this time, but when it comes down to it, I want to defend the title. Every team has a racetrack or two that they just can’t seem to get a handle on for some reason, and before last season, that racetrack was Arizona for the KB Racing team. Now, hopefully, we’ve got it figured out. The weather there is usually nice, and our goal is to get in the groove and get some sort of rhythm going for this season. This would be the perfect opportunity to do it.”
While Line tries to defend his title, teammate Greg Anderson is hoping to break out of a slump at the desert dragstrip. Anderson enjoyed success in Arizona early in his career as a Pro Stock competitor, scoring the win in 2003 and racing to the pole the following season. In 2006, he was again #1 qualifier and returned to the final round, where he fell just short.
But the next six years produced a frustrating dry spell that repeatedly barred the unrelenting driver from reaching another championship round at the Southwestern racetrack. “This KB Racing team has typically struggled (at Firebird International Raceway), but we seemed to have figured something out last season,” Anderson said. “Hopefully, that will help us out when we return in a few days with our Summit Racing Camaros.”
For Line, defending the Arizona Nationals title is only part of the equation. Should the North Carolina-based driver turn on four win lights on raceday, he will earn the 30th Pro Stock title of his career. Just a few days ago, at the season-opening NHRA Winternationals, Line was unable to seize the opportunity and he and Anderson were both halted early on raceday. The shockingly abbreviated raceday was a motivator for both drivers.
“I don’t normally say this, but I’m very glad that we only have a few days between these races,” Line said. “There is always a positive to come from experiences like that, and I learned a few things last weekend in Pomona. Racing effectively is about identifying problems and figuring out how to deal with them, and so I’m excited to go back to Phoenix. We have another shot at getting our Summit Racing Camaros back up to the top where they should be.”
Comments