Baytown: Jason Line preview

Jason Line thinks weather may have it effect on all at Houston

BAYTOWN, Texas (March 28, 2007) -- It looks like it will be to the warm side and humid as the NHRA 20th annual O'Reilly Spring Nationals return this weekend to Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas, just a stone throw from Houston.

Jason Line feels that the warmer weather will have an effect on the elapsed time and speeds, especially following the record-setting pace at the last race in Gainesville. Line left that event with a national record speed of 211.69 mph in his KB Racing LLC-owned, Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GTO.

"I don't think the numbers will be like Gainesville due to the heat and humidity," said Line. "Our Summit Pontiacs tend to run better when the air is good but we have been making large strides in our hot, humid weather package also, so I feel that we'll be all right this weekend.

"I would have to say I like Houston Raceway Park. It was the first place that I was ever in a final round in Pro Stock, so that part of it is kind of nice. I've never won there though. I think I was runner-up twice. Hopefully, we can change that stat this weekend."

Line was runner-up to his teammate Greg Anderson in 2004 and to Warren Johnson in 2005. He was No. 1 last year and holds the track elapsed time record at 6.686 seconds.

Although it's early in the Countdown to Eight segment of the Countdown to the Championship, Line, the reigning NHRA POWERade Pro Stock champion, trails Anderson, by 103 points. Anderson, who also drives a KB Racing LLC-owned, Summit Racing Equipment-backed Pontiac, leads the Pro Stock class, while Line is in second.

In closing, the tragic death of Eric Medlen, a rising star with John Force Racing, in a testing accident following the Gatornationals in Gainesville will be on the minds of many, including Line, at Houston Raceway Park this weekend. As a result the remaining three John Force Funny Cars will not compete.

"We will be thinking about the entire Medlen and Force group throughout the weekend here in Houston," Line said. "It's going to be a strange weekend at Houston without the Force cars here. It will probably put a damper on every body's mood. The accident was an unfortunate thing, we do have risks out here, but you never feel good when someone loses their life. My condolences go out to all that have been affected by this tragedy."

QUALIFYING: Qualifying for the Pro Stock classes begins on Friday (March 30), with two sessions at 3 and 6 p.m. (Pro Stock Motorcycles run first, followed by Pro Stock cars). Qualifying for the Pro Stock class concludes on Saturday (March 31), with two sessions at 11:15 a.m. and 2 p.m. (Pro Stock Motorcycles run first, followed by Pro Stock cars). Final eliminations for all teams begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Times are local Houston time (CT) and subject to change.

-credit: kbr