 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
MOHNTON, Pa. --
Line has picked the worst time to go into a slump in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro, losing in the opening round at each of the first two stops in the Countdown to the Championship, dropping him to eighth in the points standings. It also means that this weekend's 31st annual NHRA Keystone Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway is vitally important for Line. If any shot remains of a championship, Line will need a standout performance at Maple Grove Raceway, a facility where he has won twice and still holds the track record for speed at 214.35 mph, which he set in 2012. "Maple Grove Raceway has always been one of my favorite places we go on the NHRA tour, for several reasons," said Line, who has two victories and four final round appearances in 2015. "That particular racetrack is a great place for racing Pro Stock, and our Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaros seem to do very well there. I have had a lot of good races there, and we've set the record at Maple Grove a few times." Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Rodger Brogdon (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year's winners of the event that will once again be televised on ESPN2. The lucrative event is third of six playoff races in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, finishing off a string of three straight race weekends.
He qualified 10th in St. Louis, just the second time in 2015 he has qualified 10th or worse, and his team has been unable to get Line's Camaro to perform at optimal levels. Line has put together solid runs but he knows great ones are needed in the Countdown playoffs. "I'm very happy about the progress for my teammates and their Chevrolet Camaros, and we are definitely narrowing it down with my car," Line said. We're still kind of stuck, but it isn't bad. It's just off a little bit, but in this class right now, being a little bit off isn't going to get it done. We're going to keep digging, and we have great folks over here in the KB Racing camp. I'm certainly grateful for what I have, and I know it will all come together at some point in the very near future." Line hopes that near future is this weekend but he has always delivered in pressure situations throughout his standout career. Tracking down points leader and reigning world champion Erica Enders, who holds a 206-point lead over Line, will be difficult but he knows his car can perform better. Teammate Greg Anderson, who sits in second and is 113 points behind Enders, is proof of that as his Camaro has qualified No. 1 at each of the past three races.
Line will again face off against a number of championship-caliber stars in Pro Stock, including Enders, who won three straight races before a runner-up finish last weekend in St. Louis. Also trying to track her down will be Drew Skillman, who picked up his first professional win in St. Louis, Allen Johnson, who jumped to third in points, Vincent Nobile, Chris McGaha, Larry Morgan, who is currently in fifth, Shane Gray and Jonathan Gray. But Line has always felt at home at Maple Grove Raceway, thriving in the fast conditions that are usually part of race weekend. Quick conditions could again present themselves this weekend and Line plans to make the most of it. "It's just fun to race there, and I always try to bring my family with me because it's a nice time of year to be in that part of the country," said Line, who has 37 career victories. "We all enjoy it. It's always a good weekend. "This is a race I always look forward to. Of course, we have a job to do. KB Racing will be focused on that and on capitalizing on the conditions. We could see more record runs this weekend if the conditions are just right." In Top Fuel, Antron Brown has been red-hot with two wins in the Countdown, opening up a 77-point lead over defending event winner and reigning world champion Tony Schumacher. Other Countdown standouts include three-time world champion Larry Dixon, Brittany Force, J.R. Todd, Doug Kalitta, Richie Crampton, who has four wins in 2015, Dave Connolly, 2013 world champion Shawn Langdon and Steve Torrence.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, reigning world champion Andrew Hines will look for his second win in the Countdown at Maple Grove after his earlier playoff win in Charlotte. Hector Arana Jr. moved to second in points with his win in St. Louis, while regular season points leader Eddie Krawiec now sits in third. Others to watch include Jerry Savoie, who is three points behind Krawiec in fourth, Matt Smith, Hector Arana, two-time season winner Karen Stoffer, Jim Underdahl, Chip Ellis and Scotty Pollacheck. Drivers in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will race hard in their quest to become winners of the thrilling event during the weekend. As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they're granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers. Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying begins Friday, Oct. 2, with sessions at 11:15 and 2:15 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, Oct. 3, at 11:15 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 4. To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call Maple Grove Raceway at (610) 856-9200 or visit www.maplegroveraceway.com.
|
|
Ready to take your order at 1-800-230-3030 | Customer Service 1-800-517-1035