Although Saturday’s predicted rain never materialized, Mother Nature still proved to a formidable foe for Jason Line and the Summit Racing team during the final day of qualifying at the United Association Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, IL.
Under the best circumstances, the heat and humidity the racers had to deal with would severely hamper the naturally-aspirated Pro Stock Cars’ performance, robbing them of speed-producing horsepower. However, this particular combination had been a particular torment to the KB Racing crew over the last few weeks.
Therefore, there were mixed feelings when Line’s best effort of 6.670-seconds, 206.83 mph earned the three-time Joliet winner the 11th starting spot for Sunday’s final eliminations at Route 66 Raceway.
“On one hand, we’re pleased to have gotten our Summit Racing Pontiac into the field,” said Line. “In recent weeks, we’ve been fighting to adapt our chassis and engine combination to the hot and humid conditions like those we’ve experienced here this weekend, and although we seem to be making progress, we still have a way to go, as we are certainly not satisfied with starting eleventh.
“Still, we’re in the show, which gives us a chance to go a few rounds tomorrow. The driver will have to do his job, and we’ll need to improve our race car’s performance, both of which we are capable of doing. We’ve accomplished our first goal – now it’s time to focus on the second.”
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