There are several factors that go into any successful racing effort. Naturally, having the proper
equipment and a top-shelf crew are paramount to winning, as is an unwavering attention to detail in
every aspect of the operation. However, there is one key element that cannot be bought, fabricated
or even taught, namely a confidence in one's ability to win. As part of the championship-winning
Summit Racing team, Pro Stock racer Jason Line knows that all the necessary pieces are in place,
and heading into this weekend's Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver, CO, both his and his crew's
self-assurance is also at its peak following an extremely rewarding win at their sponsor's race in
Norwalk, Ohio ten days ago.
"One of the benefits of a win is the boost in confidence it gives the entire team," said Line. "It
was certainly big to win in Norwalk for Summit at their home track. As I've said before, I
consider it one of the biggest wins of my career.
"However, it also gave our Summit Racing crew a much-needed shot in the arm. Throughout the
weekend, we ran better than we had in the last few months, and showed we were capable of winning
races. Now we hope that performance will giv e us some extra momentum and confidence heading into
Denver and the Western Swing."
Carved into the side of a mountain on the outskirts of Denver, Bandimere Speedway is considered one
of the most picturesque stops on the Full Throttle Drag Racing tour. However, this scenic beauty
belies the wafer-thin air of the Mile-High City, which robs the naturally-aspirated Pro Stock
engines of almost 30% of their power. While some might find the task of finding the proper set-up
for these conditions rather daunting, the 2006 Pro Stock champion enjoys the technical challenge,
while simultaneously appreciating the efforts of the track owners.
"I really like going to Bandimere Speedway," said Line. "It's a great facility, and the Bandimere
family really treats us well, making it a fun place to go. With all the stresses associated with
racing, I think it's important that you make sure to enjoy yourself along the way, and that's
something you can certainly do in Denver.
"I enjoy the unique atmospheric conditions that make you think, because every aspect of your set-up
is completely different. Bandimere also has that one-of-a-kind cooling system under the racetrack
which I think is pretty neat. The sun can get pretty hot up there on the mountain, making it hard
to get down the track, and the cooling lines make a big difference. That not only makes it better
for us, it also creates a better product for the fans. The entire staff at Bandimere is proud of
their race track, and it shows.
"We also have two nighttime qualifying sessions this year for the first time, which could prove to
be very interesting - the field probably won't be set until all four sessions are done.
Fortunately, we had a fairly productive test there last week with both our Summit Pontiacs,
including a couple runs at night, giving us plenty of information we hope to put to good use this
weekend."
Finally, this weekend's race represents the first stop of the NHRA's traditional "Western Swing", a
three-week odyssey where teams will compete on consecutive weekends at tracks spread across the
Western states, each with its own set of tuning conditions. Although setting their sights high,
Line and his KB Racing crew will keep things in perspective as they close in on securing their spot
in this year's NHRA playoffs, the Countdown to One.
"This is the first race of the Western Swing, and it would be cool to be the second guy to sweep
it, matching Greg's run from 2004," said Line. "Certainly it's a lofty goal, but there's no reason
our Summit Racing crew can't do it. However, you can't think about a sweep unless you win Denver,
which I have yet to do. With that in mind, we're just going to take it one race at a time, getting
the most out of every run, and letting the rest take care of itself."
Fast Facts on Jason Line & the Summit Racing GXP crew at the Mile-High Nationals:
Jason on the Mountain: This will be Jason's sixth appearance at Bandimere Speedway, where he has
one final round appearance in 2006.
Looking to put Bandimere in the Win Column: Jason is looking to add Bandimere Speedway to the list
of tracks where he has scored a Pro Stock national event win. If he is able to do so, it will be
the 14th different track where he has won.
Doubling Up: Having won the last race in Norwalk, Ohio, Jason is looking to win back-to-back races
for the second time in his career, having won the Joliet and Englishtown races in consecutive
outings in 2005. Jason has six previous final round appearances following a win, most recently in
Atlanta one year ago.
Event Schedule:
Friday, July 10: Two qualifying sessions at 4:45 & 7:15 p.m.
Saturday, July 11: Two qualifying sessions at 3:45 & 7:15 p.m.
Sunday, July 12: Final eliminations starting at 12:00 noon
Television Coverage (all coverage on ESPN2):
Qualifying: Saturday, July 11 - 10:00 p.m. - 12:00 midnight
Eliminations: Sunday, July 12 - 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
RaceDay: Sunday, July 12 - 11:00 - 11:30 a.m.
(All20times Eastern)
Established in 1968, Summit Racing Equipment is the leading high performance parts and accessories
company. Summit Racing offers the largest selection, lowest prices, and best customer service in
the high performance industry via catalogs, Internet, and Retail Super Stores. The company is
headquartered in Tallmadge, Ohio with retail locations in Tallmadge, Ohio; Sparks, Nevada; and
McDonough, Georgia. For more information, please visit http://www.summitracing.com
