Line’s semifinal bid nets second Pro Stock crown
Jason Line's father thought his son needed psychiatric guidance in 2003, when Line said he was going to quit a job in the engine shop of Joe Gibbs Racing to join a new Pro Stock drag racing team.
NASCAR was booming at the time, and three years earlier Line had earned a championship ring for helping Gibbs driver Bobby Labonte win a Cup championship.
"My dad said I was crazy when I told him I was leaving Gibbs," Line said Sunday after clinching his second NHRA Pro Stock season championship. "It was the best job I had ever had. Now it's the second-best job I've ever had."
In addition to being a two-time Pro Stock champion, Line tuned the engines for each of teammate Greg Anderson's four titles.
What made Line move a few miles from Gibbs to the KB Racing operation in Mooresville, N.C., was that Anderson -- then KB's crew chief and its only driver -- promised Line a chance to drive when KB added a second Pro Stocker.
That sealed the deal, and the move has paid dividends for Line, Anderson and team owner Ken Black of Las Vegas.
With only the season finale remaining in two weeks at Pomona, Calif., Line clinched the title early by reaching the semifinal round of the Big O Tires Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Line's afternoon ended in the semis when he left the starting line too early and was disqualified. But it only momentarily dulled his excitement.
"It feels unbelievable," Line said. "It's a great day. It's unfortunate that we couldn't have finished it in true championship style, but it is what it is."
Line, who has won a series-leading six event titles this year, will receive a $250,000 champion's bonus. He also won the Pro Stock championship in 2006.
"At this point in my life, I'll appreciate this one more," he said. "I understand better now how hard it is to achieve that."
■ PRO CLASSES -- John Force Racing drivers had a bad day in Funny Car eliminations, with Mike Neff, Robert Hight and Force being ousted in the first round.
"I told my guys I had to overcome a big point lead last year," Force said after a team meeting. "We did it and we won the championship. Mike and Robert are still in (contention) until they tell me we can't get any more points. We win together and we lose together."
Leader Matt Hagan heads to Pomona with a one-point lead over Don Schumacher Racing teammate Jack Beckman. Cruz Pedregon is third, 26 points behind Hagan. Neff fell to fourth, 34 points back, and Hight fifth, 71 back.
For Force, it was the first time in his 33-year career that he has lost in the first round at seven consecutive events.
Las Vegas resident Rod Fuller qualified seventh in Top Fuel and reached the second round, where he lost to eventual runner-up Spencer Massey.
■ SPORTSMAN -- Greg Hicks of North Las Vegas was the most successful Southern Nevada racer over the weekend. He advanced to the Super Comp semifinals, but his dragster broke on the starting line.
Lucas Oil sportsman division winners were: Chris Demke (Sunland, Calif.), Top Alcohol Dragster; Tony Bartone (Long Island City, N.Y.), Top Alcohol Funny Car; Ed DeStaute (Rosemead, Calif.), Super Gas; Billy Torrence (Kilgore, Texas), Super Comp; Jim Meador (Yorba Linda, Calif.), Stock Eliminator; and Peter Biondo (Maspeth, N.Y.), Super Stock.
Jeff Wolf is a freelance reporter. He can be reached at (702) 406-8165 or nitrorodeo@gmail.com.
