Jason Line wins "Road to the Future" award

Outstanding Season Propels Pontiac's Jason Line To 2004 Road To The Future Award

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif., Nov. 16, 2004 - Pontiac's Jason Line won the 2004 Automobile Club of Southern California Road To The Future trophy along with a check for $20,000 during the season-ending NHRA awards ceremony at the Westin Mission Hills Resort. A prominent panel of motorsports journalists selected Line for "The Road To The Future" award which recognizes the NHRA's Rookie of the Year.

"Winning the Automobile Club of Southern California Road To The Future award is certainly a tremendous honor, but it's an even greater tribute to what everyone on the KB Racing team has achieved this season," said Line. "Racing for this team has been an absolute once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I want to thank Ken Black and Greg Anderson for the chance to drive an outstanding racecar, Judy, Cory, Kenny Jr., and Michelle Black, KB Framers, Summit Racing, Pontiac, GM Racing, and my mom and dad for introducing me to NHRA Drag Racing.

"This is a team sport, and our success on the racetrack is first and foremost a testament to the hard work of everyone involved in our program. It's really hard for me to believe that my name is now included with some the truly great drivers in our sport - it's something I never could have imagined of. I also want to congratulate Morgan Lucas and Eric Medlen for being great competitors and good guys."

Line's engraving this year on the NHRA Road to The Future award was well deserved. In 2004, the 35-year-old Minnesota native and current North Carolina resident drove his Pontiac Grand Am to four national event victories, competed in eight final rounds, earned two raceday pole awards, captured 42 round wins (.689) and accumulated 1,660 points. He finished second in the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock standings behind teammate and fellow Grand Am competitor Greg Anderson. This year, Line also piloted his KB Framers Pontiac to a career-best elapsed time of 6.669 seconds at Reading (Pa.), and a career-best speed of 207.40 mph at Joliet (Ill.). He was runner-up to Anderson at the season-concluding NHRA Finals at Pomona Raceway.

"This year has definitely been more fun than I thought it would be," said Line. "Not just racing itself, but being a part of a first-class organization and being a part of this race team. There are a great group of guys here at KB Racing, with diverse backgrounds and experience, and just being around it is what I've enjoyed the most. Now it's time to get back to work and start preparing for 2005."

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