Points Leader Line Makes Final Round at Midwest Nationals

Jason Line kept his grip on the points lead in the Countdown to the Championship thanks to a runner-up finish at the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals in St. Louis. It was Line’s eighth final round appearance of the season and the 73rd of his career.

Line qualified third with a 6.522 second, 212.29 MPH pass. He took the automatic win in Round One of eliminations when Aaron Stanfield clocked a -0.142 second foul start. In the second round matchup with Vincent Nobile, Line got a .012 second jump on his opponent. Nobile got into trouble with severe tire shake, his car getting sideways before he lifted the throttle. Line took the win with a 6.567/211.86 run.

Line moved on to a semifinals meeting with Jeg Coughlin, Jr. Once again he got off the starting line first with a .026 second advantage, and closed the deal with a 6.595/211.53 to Coughlin’s 6.573/212.13.

Line met up with Dave Connolly in the final round. This time is was Line’s opponent who had the starting line advantage, and Connolly took the win with a  6.562/211.53 to Line’s 6.565/211.66.

“We made an okay run, but the starting line was tough and we just came up short,” said Line. “The good news is that we still have the points lead. We’ve got three races left, and the Summit Racing team is going to keep at it.”

Line is still first in the points standings with a 26 point lead over second place Dave Connolly.

Bad Luck Halts Anderson
Sunday in St. Louis did not turn out how Greg Anderson intended. Anderson qualified ninth with a 6.542/212.13, and faced Jonathan Gray in Round One of eliminations. Anderson got off the starting line first with a blisteringly quick .007 second reaction, but his Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro suddenly quit running. Anderson slowed to a 25.156/38.24 as Gray got the win light on a 6.540/211.49 pass.

“Something happened on the burnout, and when I let go of the clutch we didn’t go anywhere,” said Anderson. “It was just bad luck, and hopefully we got it out of the way. We had a good chance going out there and it didn't work out as planned, but next week we get to go right back in the saddle. I can’t wait to get to Reading.”

Kenny Lang Goes a Round in Pro Mod Makeup Race
Pro Modified eliminations from the rain-delay NHRA Carolina Nationals were run at St. Louis. Summit Racing’s Kenny Lang qualified 15th (6.027/238.30) but lost to Danny Rowe in Round One of eliminations. Pro Modified was also contested as part of the NHRA Midwest Nationals. Unfortunately, Lang’s 6.075/242.19 run was not enough to qualify for final eliminations.

Team Summit Results: Top Fuel
Doug Kalitta qualified Number One (3.758/325.45). He defeated Chris Karamesines in Round One of eliminations, but lost to Bob Vandergriff Jr. in Round Two. Kalitta is currently fifth in the points standings.
J.R. Todd qualified fourth (3.779/325.37). He defeated Troy Buff in Round One, but lost to Shawn Langdon in Round Two. Todd is currently sixth in the points standings.

Team Summit Results: Funny Car
Tim Wilkerson qualified 11th (4.117/289.82) but lost to Tommy Johnson Jr. in Round One. He is currently ninth in the points standings.
Del Worsham qualified fifth (4.049/314.75). He defeated Jeff Diehl in Round One, but lost to Courtney Force in Round Two. Worsham is currently eighth in the points standings.
Alexis DeJoria qualified 10th (4.108/298.93) but lost to Matt Hagan in Round One. She is currently seventh in the points standings.

Final Round Results
Top Fuel: Antron Brown defeated Shawn Langdon, 3.844/315.42 to 4.035/279.38.
Funny Car: Courtney Force defeated Matt Hagan, 4.094/313.44 to 4.121/309.77.
Pro Stock: Dave Connolly defeated Jason Line, 6.562/211.53 to 6.565/211.66.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: Jerry Savoie defeated Andrew Hines, 6.871/196.53 to 6.881/193.57
Pro Modified: Mike Knowles defeated Von Smith, 5.934/244.65 to 5.929/241.80.

Next Race
The next event is the NHRA Nationals, October 3-5 in Reading, Pennsylvania. Visit Drag Race Central for more news and in-depth results from the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals.