Line poised to claim second Pro Stock championship

The battle for the NHRA Pro Stock championship has been an intrasquad contest between teammates Jason Line and Greg Anderson for most of the season.

Of the first 20 events on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series this year, Line has won six titles and Anderson five.

Anderson, who also manages the team for Las Vegas owner Ken Black, is the reigning Pro Stock champ. He will be dethroned by Line either Sunday during the elimination finals of the NHRA Big O Tires Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway or two weeks later at the season finale in Pomona, Calif.

Line has virtually clinched the championship, which pays a $250,000 bonus.

He was the quickest car in both of Friday's qualifying sessions to build his lead to 193 points over Anderson. Line will take the championship Sunday if he advances to the final round or goes two rounds farther than Anderson in the 16-car eliminations.

It would be Line's second championship. He won his first in 2006, in his third year racing full time in the 200 mph Pro Stock category.

"At this point in my life, I'll appreciate this one more," said Line, 42. "I understand better now how hard it is to achieve that.

"Five years ago, when I won the first, I was naive and didn't realize how hard it is."

It will be the sixth championship in the past eight years for owner Black, including four won by Anderson.

"The master plan, the goal at the start of every season, is to somehow someway have these cars finish the season 1-2," said Anderson, who has won seven event titles at Las Vegas.

"Beyond that, it's just a personal thing between Jason and I who's going to be No. 1 and who's going to be No. 2."

When Line wraps up the championship, Anderson will have another reason to celebrate because they tune each other's engines.

"I'm not sure if there's a bonus in there for the tuner," Anderson said jokingly.

For the second consecutive year, the trip to Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a joyous one regardless of on-track success.

A year ago, Anderson beat Line for the event title. More important to either of them was that Black was able to attend a race for the first time after suffering a stroke a year earlier.

On Friday, Black, 65, not only was in the pits but walking with some assistance from a walker and signing autographs.

"Sometimes we whine about how hard we have to work, but that's nothing compared to how hard Ken's had to work to be able to come out here and be able to walk," Line said.

"Ken and (wife) Judy are inspiring. The only one tougher than Ken is Judy."

Line said his plan for Sunday is simple.

"If you are going to be the champ, you should go out winning," he said.

And unlike a year ago when Anderson was in the winner's circle, this time Black will be able to stand alongside his racecar.

Jeff Wolf is a freelance reporter. He can be reached at (702) 406-8165 or nitrorodeo@gmail.com.