Jason Line Gets 50th Pro Stock Win at Mopar Express Lane Nationals

Jason Line won the first race of the Countdown to the Championship, and his 50th career Pro Stock win, at the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania. With this win, Line moved up to first place in the Pro Stock points standings.

In Round One of eliminations, Line defeated Wally Stroupe with a 6.540 second/210.44 MPH pass to Stroupe’s tire-shaking 17.922/45.55.

In Round Two, Line faced KB Racing teammate, Bo Butner, taking the win with a 6.549/210.41 to Butner’s 6.575/210.41.

In the semifinals, Line was victorious against Matt Hartford, with a 6.572/210.57 pass to Hartford’s 6.604/210.73.

The final round had Line face another KB Racing teammate, Fernando Cuadra. Cuadra was first to launch, but Line bridged the gap with his 6.553/210.64 run to Cuadra’s 6.594/208.78.

“It was a lot of fun to have Fernando in the other lane,” said Line. “Congratulations to him, it was his first final round. This is probably the best car I’ve ever had, and all I have to do is not mess it up. Easier said than done, but that’s what makes Pro Stock so great.”

Greg Anderson still holds the track speed record of 214.59 MPH which he set in 2015.

In Round One of eliminations, Anderson had his race day cut short by Matt Hartford. Hartford took the win, 5.578/209.75 to Anderson’s 6.622/211.06.

“We have a mystery with my car right now,” Anderson said. “It’s a good car, it just has a very small tuning window, and you have to be perfect. That’s tough to do every time. We’re going to go test before St. Louis.”

Anderson is eighth in the Pro Stock points standings.

Tim Wilkerson, driver of the Levi, Ray and Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang Nitro Funny Car moved up one position to ninth in the Funny Car points standings.

In Round One of eliminations, Wilkerson defeated Terry Haddock with a 3.926/320.36 pass to Haddock’s tire smoking 10.025/83.22. In Round Two against John Force, Wilk’s tires broke loose going by the tree, giving Force the win 3.944/331.61 to 7.140/133.20.

“We're still learning this clutch package and other things we’ve changed,” said Wilkerson. “The rest of the year is going to be good.”

Final Round Results
Top Fuel—Richie Crampton (3.738/329.10) defeated Dough Kalitta (3.779/331.28)

Funny Car— Jack Beckman (3.958/330.07) defeated John Force (3.952/328.78)

Pro Stock—Jason Line (6.553/210.60) defeated Fernando Cuadra (6.594/208.78)

Pro Stock Motorcycle— Jerry Savoie (6.774/198.55) defeated Steve Johnson
(6.805/196.59)

Low ET: Erica Enders, 6.480 seconds
Top Speed: Jason Line, 212.49 MPH

What’s Next
The second race in the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship is the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park in St. Louis, Missouri, September 27-29

For more information and complete race results visit DragRaceCentral.com.