Line Looks to Defend Winternationals Title

Last season, Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Jason Line was just one win light shy of winning his third championship title. At this weekend's 55th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals, Line hopes to begin a year-long quest to even the score and bring home that championship trophy. Historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona is the ideal setting to begin the journey.

The 35-time Pro Stock winner scored a victory at 2014’s Winternationals. Three more wins would follow in 2014 for a total of four event trophies in a remarkable nine final round appearances. Line held the points lead through the better half of the Countdown to the Championship. The deciding factor was made in the last round of the very last race. Line and his opponent, Erica Enders-Stevens, both reacted too quickly at the tree and logged respective foul starts, but Enders-Stevens was the lesser offender and took home the trophy.

"It's supposed to come down to the last race, and it did," said Line. "It just happened that we came out on the wrong end of it, but it certainly didn't change how I feel about racing. We had a very short off-season, but fortunately we have good folks back in the shop and everyone worked very hard. We have a lot of good things in the works, and I think this year is going to be a lot of fun."

Line and Summit Racing teammate Greg Anderson will be joined in the field by nine-time FIA Pro Stock champion Jimmy Alund, who will be behind the wheel of the Pontiac GXP that Line drove to the championship in 2011. Last season, the KB Racing team was entertained – and kept well-caffeinated – by the Swedish European Pro Stock champ when he drove Anderson's Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro for the first five races. Alund won for the team in his final race, the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte.

"In a way, I wish we had a month left to keep working on everything," said Line. "These first few races are going to be pretty interesting. The bottom line is that I want to win. We all want to win. We'll continue to work as hard as we can, and we'll hope for the best. We have high expectations for our Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaros, and we're willing to put in the time and effort to reach our goals."

Jason Line By the Numbers, Winternationals Edition 
3: Wins scored by Line at the Winternationals heading into this weekend.
5: Semifinal or better finishes in 10 previous starts at the NHRA season-opener.
11: Years since Line's first start in Pomona (2004 Winternationals).

Event Schedule (All Times Pacific)
Friday, February 6: Two qualifying sessions at 12:30 and 3:30 pm
Saturday, February 7: Two qualifying sessions at 12:30 and 3:30 pm
Sunday, February 8: Final eliminations starting at 11:00 am
 
Television Coverage on ESPN2
Qualifying: Saturday, February 7, 10:00-11:30 pm ET/7:00-8:30 pm PT
Eliminations: Sunday, February 8, 7:30-10:30 pm ET/4:30-7:30 pm PT