The 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season kicks off this weekend with the 50th annual O’Reilly Kragen Winternationals in Pomona, CA, with the first qualifying session at the Auto Club Raceway on Thursday afternoon bringing the three-month off-season to a close. It was a period in which the KB Racing team balanced celebrating the holidays with their families with long days at their shop in Mooresville, NC working tirelessly to prepare for the 23-race, nine-month grind that lies ahead.
Coming off a tremendous 2009 campaign that saw him establish personal bests in elapsed time, top speed and single-season wins, Pro Stock standout Jason Line is more than ready to get his Summit Racing Pontiac back on the racetrack. While confident that he and his team are up to the challenge of the new season, he admits he would have welcomed having some extra time to work on various research and development projects.
“I’m pretty stoked to start racing again,” said Line. “The off-season seems to get shorter every year, with the Winternationals always seeming to sneak up on us, so naturally, you get to the track wishing you could have done more. That is especially the case this year when we have had more than our share of challenges.
“However, I believe our Summit Racing team is more than ready to get the 2010 season started in a productive fashion. The Auto Club Raceway at Pomona has been a very good track for KB Racing, and it’s always fun going there to get away from the cold and kick off the new year. We’ve been working hard and know our competition hasn’t exactly been sitting still, so it will be interesting to get out on the track and see where we stand. I’ll be driving the same Pontiac GXP that won both Pomona races last year, so I feel pretty good about my chances.”
Line comes into this event as the defending champion, having defeated eventual series titlist Mike Edwards on a hole shot in the final round one year ago. It was his first win at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona after runner-up finishes in 2004 and 2006, and fourth consecutive victory for the KB Racing crew at the Winternationals. At a time where the NHRA is celebrating the 50th running of this venerable race, that singular run of success is one tradition the 2006 Pro Stock champion would like to extend.
“It’s great anytime you win, but I have to admit that winning last year’s Winternationals was very special,” said Line. “Because of the rain, we had to wait until Tuesday to get it done, but it was well worth it. As close as the competition is in Pro Stock, to win a race you not only have to be at your very best, but also need a little good fortune on your side. We obviously had last year, winning out of the right lane in the final, which is very hard to do in Pomona.
“The Winternationals is one of drag racing’s biggest races, and to be able to add my name to those that have won it was pretty cool. The only thing better would be winning the 50th Winternationals, which naturally is our Summit Racing team’s goal. We’ve done the easy part, planning and talking about it. Now we just have to go out and do it.”
Notes & Quotes for Jason Line & the Summit Racing Pontiac crew
At The Auto Club Raceway at Pomona:
Line at the Winternationals: This is Jason’s seventh appearance at the Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals. In his previous six starts, he has one win and two finishes of the semifinals or better.
Line at Pomona: In 12 career starts at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Jason has one win in three final round appearances and seven finishes of the semifinals or better.
One year ago – defending champion: Jason qualified second with a 6.616-second elapsed time, and then defeated Rickie Jones, Johnny Gray, Allen Johnson in the early rounds before eliminating Mike Edwards on a hole shot in the final to earn the 16th Pro Stock national event win of his career.
The Winternationals are KB Racing country: Jason and his Summit Racing teammate Greg Anderson have combined to win the last four Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals, as well five of the last six runnings of the traditional NHRA season opener.
Line’s Auto Club Raceway Qualifying Stats: Jason has been the No. 1 qualifier twice at the Auto Club Raceway (in 12 career starts), with only one start outside the top half of the field. Overall, he has an average starting spot of 4.00 in Pomona.
Pomona Track Record Holder: Jason’s 211.63 mph top speed in last year’s Winternationals final is the current Pro Stock track record at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
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