Denver: Jason Line preview

A Confident Line is Determined to Double-Up in Denver

Mooresville, N.C., July 7, 2009 -- There are several factors that go into any successful racing effort. Naturally, having the proper equipment and a top-shelf crew are paramount to winning, as is an unwavering attention to detail in every aspect of the operation. However, there is one key element that cannot be bought, fabricated or even taught, namely a confidence in one's ability to win. As part of the championship-winning Summit Racing team, Pro Stock racer Jason Line knows that all the necessary pieces are in place, and heading into this weekend's Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver, CO, both his and his crew's self-assurance is also at its peak following an extremely rewarding win at their sponsor's race in Norwalk, Ohio ten days ago.

"One of the benefits of a win is the boost in confidence it gives the entire team," said Line. "It was certainly big to win in Norwalk for Summit at their home track. As I've said before, I consider it one of the biggest wins of my career. J"However, it also gave our Summit Racing crew a much-needed shot in the arm. Throughout the weekend, we ran better than we had in the last few months, and showed we were capable of winning races. Now we hope that performance will giv e us some extra momentum and confidence heading into Denver and the Western Swing."

Carved into the side of a mountain on the outskirts of Denver, Bandimere Speedway is considered one of the most picturesque stops on the Full Throttle Drag Racing tour. However, this scenic beauty belies the wafer-thin air of the Mile-High City, which robs the naturally-aspirated Pro Stock engines of almost 30% of their power. While some might find the task of finding the proper set-up for these conditions rather daunting, the 2006 Pro Stock champion enjoys the technical challenge, while simultaneously appreciating the efforts of the track owners.

"I really like going to Bandimere Speedway," said Line. "It's a great facility, and the Bandimere family really treats us well, making it a fun place to go. With all the stresses associated with racing, I think it's important that you make sure to enjoy yourself along the way, and that's something you can certainly do in Denver.

"I enjoy the unique atmospheric conditions that make you think, because every aspect of your set-up is completely different. Bandimere also has that one-of-a-kind cooling system under the racetrack which I think is pretty neat. The sun can get pretty hot up there on the mountain, making it hard to get down the track, and the cooling lines make a big difference. That not only makes it better for us, it also creates a better product for the fans. The entire staff at Bandimere is proud of their race track, and it shows. J"We also have two nighttime qualifying sessions this year for the first time, which could prove to be very interesting -- the field probably won't be set until all four sessions are done. Fortunately, we had a fairly productive test there last week with both our Summit Pontiacs, including a couple runs at night, giving us plenty of information we hope to put to good use this weekend."

Finally, this weekend's race represents the first stop of the NHRA's traditional "Western Swing", a three-week odyssey where teams will compete on consecutive weekends at tracks spread across the Western states, each with its own set of tuning conditions. Although setting their sights high, Line and his KB Racing crew will keep things in perspective as they close in on securing their spot in this year's NHRA playoffs, the Countdown to One.

"This is the first race of the Western Swing, and it would be cool to be the second guy to sweep it, matching Greg's run from 2004," said Line. "Certainly it's a lofty goal, but there's no reason our Summit Racing crew can't do it. However, you can't think about a sweep unless you win Denver, which I have yet to do. With that in mind, we're just going to take it one race at a time, getting the most out of every run, and letting the rest take care of itself."

-credit: j2r