All-Summit Racing Pro Stock Final at NHRA Northwest Nationals

The Summit Racing Pro Stock team had an extraordinary outing this weekend at the 27th annual NHRA Northwest Nationals as Jason Line and Greg Anderson met in the final round. Line took the win, but Anderson had plenty to celebrate as he broke into the Top 10 in the points standings.

Line qualified third with a 6.549 second, 211 MPH pass. He defeated Mark Wolfe in Round One of eliminations with a 6.555/211.16 run to Wolfe’s 6.810/205.94. Line knocked out V. Gaines in Round Two, 6.579/210.73 to 6.593/210.77, then met up with Shane Gray in the semi-finals. Line got a .032 second jump on Gray and never looked back, taking the win with a 6.606/210.24 to Gray’s 6.625/210.05.

The scene was set for the first all-Summit Racing final round since the 2012 NHRA Summernationals. It would be the 70th final round for Line and the 116th for Anderson. The race was also the 22nd time the two had faced each other in the final.

After a brief staging duel, Line pulled his car into the final beam and Anderson quickly followed suit. Line got a .005-second advantage on the starting line, which was the edge he needed to take the win with a 6.611/210.67 pass to Anderson's quicker 6.608/210.54. The margin of victory was just .002 of a second. The win was the 34th of Line’s Pro Stock career and his third of the season.

“Today was a very good day for KB Racing and for Team Summit,” said Line. “We got both of the Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaros to the final, and Greg got into the Top 10—what more could you ask for? The Summit Racing team has some good things coming in the future, and I’m very optimistic. Greg has a good car, and the truth is that he drove better than anybody else today. He’s going to be tough from here on out, trust me.”

The next event is the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minnesota, not far from Line’s hometown of Wright. Brainerd International Raceway was his home track—the perfect setting to win his third straight race.

“I haven’t won three in a row yet, but there is a first time for everything,” he said.

Line is currently third in the Pro Stock points standings, and just 37 points outside of first place.

Anderson Gets into the Top 10
For Greg Anderson, the NHRA Northwest Nationals will be remembered as one of the high points of the 2014 season as he broke into the Pro Stock Top 10. But with two races left before the Countdown to the Championship, Anderson is not resting on any laurels.

“I have a very small lead, and we have two races left,” said Anderson. “Anything can happen, and I want to win a race before the Countdown to the Championship starts. I know that this team is capable of it. I was close today, and there were a lot of positives this weekend.”

Anderson qualified fifth with a 6.556/211.56. He got an automatic win in Round One when Deric Kramer had a foul start, but Anderson’s 6.556./211.63 had Kramer’s 6.607/210.11 covered regardless. In Round Two, Anderson ran a 6.571/211.30 to defeat Jeg Coughlin, Jr., who encountered tire shake severe enough to shake out the parachutes.

Allen Johnson got the jump on Anderson in the semifinals, but tire shake forced Johnson to shut off. Anderson took the win with a 6.586/210.90, the quickest and fastest pass of the round. Anderson had a quicker pass than teammate Jason Line in the final round, but Line’s .005 second starting line advantage was enough to take the win.

“It was a great weekend,” said Anderson. “I’m disappointed that I didn’t win today, but Jason did his job. He did what we pay him to do—win races. We really feel so positive leaving this race. I just feel good.”

Anderson is currently 10th in the Pro Stock points standings.

Team Summit Results: Top Fuel
Doug Kalitta qualified second (3.805/320.28). He defeated Mike Salinas, Troy Buff, and Shawn Langdon to reach the final round of eliminations, where he defeated Antron Brown for the win. Kalitta is currently first in the points standings.
J.R. Todd qualified eighth (3.827/314.83), but was defeated by Steve Torrence in Round One of eliminations. Todd is currently 10th in the points standings.

Team Summit Results: Funny Car
Tim Wilkerson qualified seventh (4.120/306.40). He defeated Del Worsham in Round One, but lost to Gary Densham in Round Two. Wilkerson is currently 10th in the points standings.
Del Worsham qualified 10th (4.136/298.34), but lost to Tim Wilkerson in Round One. He is currently ninth in the points standings.
Alexis DeJoria qualified fourth (4.101/303.23). She defeated Tony Pedregon in Round One and Jack Beckman in Round Two, but lost to John Force in the semifinals. DeJoria is currently sixth in the points standings.

Final Round Results
Top Fuel: Doug Kalitta defeated Antron Brown, 3.844/318.84 to 3.887/311.70.
Funny Car: John Force defeated Gary Densham, 4.173/302.48 to 5.808/120.44.
Pro Stock: Jason Line defeated Greg Anderson, 6.611/210.67 to 6.608/210.54.

Next Race
The next race is the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, August 14-17 in Brainerd, Minnesota. Visit Drag Race Central for complete results from the NHRA Northwest Nationals.