Jason Line came into the 28th annual NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway looking to capture the one thing that has eluded him in his professional drag racing career: a victory at his home track.
Line hoped to give the “The Wally,” the winner’s trophy named after late NHRA founder Wally Parks, to friend Peter Boslovitch, who is battling bone cancer. Instead, Anderson gave it to his father, Rod.
Anderson certainly had added incentive in wanting to win as well. Anderson hadn’t won since the 2008 season finale on Nov. 16 in Pomona, Calif., the longest winless drought of his career. His only other BIR victory came in 2003, a win he dedicated to his late friend John Hagan, who was killed at the track in 1983.
Anderson now has a 17-11 elimination record against Line, including 9-4 in finals, but lost in the previous Pro Stock final three weeks ago in Sonoma, Calif.,
“That win felt like the first one of my life, and it was great to win here. I love these people,” Anderson said. “It’s been a long dry spell, without a doubt, and you certainly start to doubt yourself. I know I certainly was. Everyone always tells you, ‘You’ve got to stop worrying about it,’ but that’s easier said than done. I struggled with that this year. Sometimes the mind can be a terrible thing.”
Anderson went on to heap praise on his teammate. The Summit Racing duo tunes each other’s engines, so victories and defeats are a shared experience. Duluth News Tribune
“I’ve always had a great team and a lot of support and a great team mate. He’s carried the load for this entire Summit team all year long, and I’m grateful for that. I’m very proud of him and proud to race him in the final. I thought that was a pretty neat deal and we put on a great show for the fans. It came down just as it should have: decided by a couple of inches.”
Line, who scored his first career NHRA victories here in Stock in 1992 and ‘97, made it back to the final round with his fifth straight Pro Stock final of the season and his eighth overall this year. Line opened his Sunday action against another former Minnesotan, defeating defending event champ Kurt Johnson with a 6.68, then edged Ron Krisher with a 6.67. Line showcased his improved driving skills by reaching the final, the 42nd of his Pro Stock career, on a holeshot victory over No. 1 qualifier Mike Edwards, 6.65 to 6.63. Edwards’ losing time and his speed, 208.07, were both meet bests but came in a losing cause. NHRA
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