Jason Line Makes it Eight for Eight at Topeka

The Summit Racing/KB Racing powerhouse continues to dominate NHRA Pro Stock as Jason Line won his fifth race of the year at the 28th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals. Line defeated Summit Racing teammate Greg Anderson in the finals.

The victory is Jason’s 42nd career win and his first in Topeka. It was also his eighth final round in a row.

“I was just joking and said that Topeka was my new favorite place because I have never done anything good here,” Line said. “The fact that we didn’t mess it up and actually put our Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro in the winner’s circle is a really big deal to me. It’s nice to win someplace that you have never won before. I can’t stop smiling.”

Line qualified Number One with a 6.578 second, 210.37 MPH pass. It was his third Number One this season and the 44th of his career. He defeated Mark Hogan in Round One of eliminations, Erica Enders-Stevens in Round Two, and Shane Gray in the semifinals to meet teammate Greg Anderson in the finals. Anderson got the 0.014 second jump off the starting line, but Line’s Summit Racing Camaro reached the finish line first, 6.664/207.85 to 6.687/207.02.

Line is currently Number One in the Pro Stock points standings, 126 points ahead of second place Greg Anderson.

Anderson Holds on to Second Place in the Points Standings
Greg Anderson qualified third with a 6.600/209.30 pass. He defeated V. Gaines, Vincent Nobile, and Allen Johnson to meet teammate Jason Line in the final round. Despite losing to Line, Anderson remains upbeat about the season.

“It was a great day,” Anderson said. “We have two great Chevrolets over here. We are having a blast out at the races. If the worst thing that happens to you is you lose to your teammate in the final, it’s still a pretty good day.”

“I have to figure out a way to stop matching up against that blue Summit Racing Chevy though,” Anderson continued. “That car has been to eight final rounds in a row and it’s just been the best in the field. Jason is driving like a man possessed, so that is a tough combination to beat.”

Anderson is currently second in the Pro Stock points standings.

Wilkerson Walks Away from Crash
Tim Wilkerson was having a great weekend in Topeka. He qualified third with a 3.869/333.74 run, his quickest and fastest pass ever. It was the third quickest and second fastest pass in Funny Car history.

Wilkerson defeated John Hale and Del Worsham to face Jack Beckman in the semifinals. Right off the line, Wilkerson’s car made a sharp right turn, crashed into the right wall, then spun around and hit the left wall. Frightening to watch, but Wilkerson walked away uninjured.

“We still don’t know what happened. From the tracks here, it looks like the car probably broke an axle or scooped a hub out because it was going along and just made a right turn,” said Wilkerson. “After it made that turn, the car hit the wall and got itself in its own oil with one tire still spinning. The car was like a top going in circles.”

You can see the video of the crash here.

Wilkerson is currently third in the NHRA Funny Car points standings.

Team Summit Results: Top Fuel
Doug Kalitta qualified second (3.701/331.85), the quickest and fastest pass of his career. Kalitta defeated Rob Passey, Clay Millican, and Steve Torrence to reach the final round, where he defeated Antron Brown. It was Kalitta’s third straight win and the 41st of his career. Kalitta is currently Number One in the points standings.
J.R. Todd qualified ninth (3.758/320.89) but lost to Antron Brown in Round One of eliminations. He is tied with Clay Millican for fifth place in the points standings.

Team Summit Results: Funny Car
Del Worsham qualified sixth (3.880/332.67), the quickest and fastest pass of his career. He defeated John Force in Round One, but lost to Tim Wilkerson in Round Two. Worsham is currently seventh in the points standings.
Alexis DeJoria qualified fifth (3.875/332.18), the quickest and fastest pass of her career. She defeated Chad Head in Round One, but lost to Courtney Force in Round Two. DeJoria is currently eighth in the points standings.

Final Round Results
Top Fuel: Doug Kalitta (5.452/238.85) defeated Antron Brown (5.687/298.60).
Funny Car: Matt Hagan (5.724/179.04) defeated Jack Beckman (6.560/146.75).
Pro Stock: Jason Line (6.664/207.85) defeated Greg Anderson (6.687/207.02).

Next Race
The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues with the NHRA New England Nationals, June 3-5 at New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire. Visit Drag Race Central for more news and results from the NHRA Kansas Nationals.