Fri, 24 Feb 2017, 13:50 PM Line Eyes Title Defense, Anderson seeks Redemption at NHRA Arizona Nationals

Courtesy of Kelly Topolinski Photo credit: Auto Imagery

MOORESVILLE, NC --

Summit Racing drivers Greg Anderson, near lane, and Jason Line at the 2017 NHRA Winternationals.

With the first race of the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series behind them, Ken Black's KB Racing team has a good read on how they stack up against the competition. Their Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro Pro Stock cars were the last two factory hot rods standing two weeks ago in Pomona, and KB Racing's Jason Line narrowly topped teammate Greg Anderson for the event win in the 35th all-Summit final round. It was plain as day, though, that their competitors had made gains over a long winter.

Now, Line and Anderson are suiting up for what they expect will be a tough fight at this weekend's 33rd annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.

"You could see at Pomona that all the cars are really close, and you're just going to have to do a really good job driving. That's going to be key, and it's going to be like that every place we go to this year," said reigning and three-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion Line, who enters this season's Phoenix race as the defending event titlist.

It's early yet, and he isn't adamant that a strong start is necessary for a stellar finish when it comes to the 24-race season, but Line notes that it sure doesn't hurt.

"Sometimes, people start off like a house on fire and then they fade," he said. "Other times, like last year, we started off good, had a few moments where we weren't great, but stayed pretty good. It's important to start off well, but it's just as important to win as many races as you can. Opportunity doesn't keep knocking."

Line is a 46-time NHRA Pro Stock winner, and he entered the professional category in 2003 with two Stock Eliminator national event trophies and a championship already on his scorecard. Of his 48 total wins, two have been earned at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.

"We do tend to run really fast in Phoenix, so I'm a little surprised that we don't have a stronger record there. It's a good, fast racetrack, especially considering the elevation," said Line of the racetrack that sits 1,100 feet above sea-level. The naturally aspirated Pro Stock cars are more keen to go fast at lower elevation, where the air isn't quite as thin.

In addition to Line's two victories at the Arizona facility earned in 2012 and 2016, he was runner-up there in both 2007 and 2008, and he earned the No. 1 qualifier position in Phoenix once (2007).

Summit Racing teammate Anderson's record includes the 2003 Arizona Nationals win and final rounds in 2006 and 2012. He was the No. 1 qualifier there in both 2004 and 2006.

"Phoenix has been a tough track for me, but we like the facility and the racetrack, we have no issues with it, and we've tested there so we don't have any excuses," said Anderson, a four-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion, 86-time national event winner, and the second-most winning driver in the history of the class.

"Phoenix has been kind of like Chicago for me [where Anderson has two wins]. It's been a tough nut to crack. But right now, we have a lot of momentum. I fell one round short in Pomona, but we're going there with confidence and smiles on our faces thinking we can get it done.

"We didn't have much of an advantage [in Pomona], but we made real good runs with our Summit Racing Chevys. It was a total team effort, and that's what it's going to take this year. It'll be tougher and tighter, and there will be a lot of different race winners. You'll have to be on your game in every aspect. It's a little bit of a different landscape this time around, but that's okay. It's good for the class, and it makes for exciting racing."

Team Summit Stats
Greg Anderson
KB Racing, Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro
Car No.: PS2
 
NHRA Arizona Nationals Stats
One win in three final rounds in Phoenix
Won 2003 (defeated Troy Coughlin)
Runner-up 2012 (Jason Line)
Runner-up 2006 (Warren Johnson)
No. 1 in 2006, 2004
In 2016: Qualified No. 3, lost in semifinals to Jason Line
 
Career Stats through 2017 Winternationals, race 1 of 24
No. 2 in Pro Stock standings
405 Pro Stock races
86 wins
53 runner-up finishes
139 overall final rounds
87 No. 1 qualifier awards
Career best e.t.: 6.457 (Dallas 2015)
Career best speed: 215.48 (Charlotte 1 2015)

Jason Line
KB Racing, Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro
Car No.: PS1
 
NHRA Arizona Nationals Stats
Two wins in four final rounds in Phoenix
Won 2016 (defeated Chris McGaha)
Won 2012 (defeated Greg Anderson)
Runner-up 2008 (V. Gaines)
Runner-up 2007 (Kurt Johnson)
No. 1 in 2007
In 2016: Qualified No. 2, defeated Chris McGaha in the final round
 
Career Stats through 2017 Winternationals, race 1 of 24
No. 1 in Pro Stock standings
309 Pro Stock races
46 Pro Stock wins
93 Pro Stock final rounds
50 Pro Stock No. 1 qualifier awards
48 overall wins, including NHRA Sportsman and Professional competition
(2 Stock Eliminator, 46 Pro Stock)
95 overall final rounds, including NHRA Sportsman and Professional competition
(2 Stock Eliminator, 93 Pro Stock)
Career best e.t.: 6.455 (Charlotte 1 2015)
Career best speed: 215.17 (Englishtown 2015)