PRO STOCK’S JASON LINE PUSHING FOR HIGHER MARKS AT SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS

COMMERCE, Ga. — Jason Line can be his own harshest critic, but the talented two-time Pro Stock world champ considered all factors when taking into account his grade for the first quarter of the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

It’s been a solid start that has included a victory at the season-opening NHRA Winternationals, but also has been scattered with missed opportunities in Line’s mind. Line has been the points leader after three races this season and currently sits in second, but the driver of the Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro sees the potential for more.

With that in mind, Line gave himself respectable marks with the hope he can continue to move forward at this weekend’s 35th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.

“I would give us a B,” Line said. “It could be a lot worse, it could definitely be worse. But we only have one win. We’ve run well all season, but we just haven’t raced well. But I definitely think we’ll get better as the year goes on. We’re excited about what’s ahead.”

Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Jeg Coughlin (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 race is the seventh of 24 races during the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Series season, also signaling the start of the busy portion of the regular season.

That means a greater attention to detail for Line’s talented team, but he’s more focused on the improvements he has to make behind the wheel.

“In my own case, the driver has to do a better job,” Line said. “The car is great and it’s given us an opportunity to win every race. But I just haven’t driven as well as I should have. I just have to focus on doing my job better. But I’m not going to look back; I’m just going to look ahead.”

There are certainly plenty of positives for Line and his Summit Racing Equipment team to focus on during the first six races. Following the season-opening win in Pomona, Line advanced to the final round in Gainesville and only trails reigning world champion Erica Enders, who took over the points lead after earning back-to-back wins at the two most recent events, in Las Vegas and Houston.

Line’s teammate, four-time world champion Greg Anderson, sits in third and posted a win in Charlotte, another notch in the team’s strong start in 2015. That also means Line is expecting a lot this weekend in Atlanta, especially considering the duo has combined for five victories at Georgia’s House of Speed, including Line’s win in 2011.

“I feel like we’re in a good spot and anything less than a win for one of our cars would be a disappointing weekend,” Line said. “I’m pretty excited about the weekend. It’s a cool race and the fact that it’s a Summit race makes it big. I look forward to this race every year.”

While the added presence of Summit Racing Equipment as the title sponsor in the event provides plenty of motivation, Line knows he also has to contended with a talent-rich Pro Stock field loaded with challengers, including Allen Johnson and Larry Morgan, who are the two active Pro Stock drivers other than Anderson to win at Atlanta Dragway. Other stars include defending world champ Enders, rookie Drew Skillman, Shane Gray, Jonathan Gray, Vincent Nobile, Chris McGaha and V Gaines.

Even with the high-level of competition and Line’s constant desire to perform better, he also hasn’t forgot about how much he enjoys racing against the top racers in the world.

“You definitely put a little more emphasis and pressure on these races and sometimes that’s worked out well for us,” Line said. “But you still need to have fun and you can’t lose sight of that. Racing these cars is a cool thing and I’m fortunate enough to be able to do it for a living.”

In Top Fuel, Massey claimed his first victory at Atlanta Dragway last season when he defeated Doug Kalitta, who won the most recent event in Houston, in the final round. Massey won earlier this season in Gainesville, while teammate Antron Brown has three Atlanta wins. Three-time world champ Larry Dixon has the most Top Fuel wins at Atlanta Dragway with four, while eight-time and defending world champ Tony Schumacher has yet to visit the winner’s circle in Atlanta. Others to watch are Richie Crampton, J.R. Todd, Brittany Force, Clay Millican and 2012 Atlanta winner Steve Torrence.

The 16-time Funny Car world champ, John Force, is the winningest active driver in any pro category in Atlanta with seven career victories. His teammate Hight has had much recent success at Atlanta with three wins since 2008, including his victory last season, while other competitors in pursuit of the Funny Car event crown are current points leader and two-time winner this season Ron Capps, Courtney Force, reigning world champ Matt Hagan, Jack Beckman, 1991 winner Del Worsham, Alexis DeJoria, two-time world champ Cruz Pedregon, three-time event winner Tony Pedregon and Tim Wilkerson.

Pro Stock Motorcycle returned to Atlanta following a year off in 2013 and three-time world champ Krawiec picked up right where he left off, picking up his third win at the facility. Four-time and defending world champ Hines is looking for his first Georgia victory since 2010, while other standouts include Angelle Sampey, a three-time world champ who has four victories at the track, two-time world champ Matt Smith, Hector Arana Jr., 2009 world champ Hector Arana, Gainesville winner Karen Stoffer and veteran rider Steve Johnson.

The NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series will make its third stop of the 2015 season at Atlanta Dragway. The race also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

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 Series qualifying begins Friday, May 15, with sessions at 3:45 and 6:15 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, May 16, at 12:45 and 3:15 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 17.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, log on to www.NHRA.com/tickets or call (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Children 12 and younger are free in general admission areas with a paying adult. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.

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SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS FACT SHEET

WHAT: 35th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, the seventh of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – earn points leading to 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.

WHERE: Atlanta Dragway, Commerce, Ga. I-85 to Exit 149 (Hwy 441). After exiting the freeway, go north on Highway 441 to Steven Tanger Blvd. Take left on Tanger and then go right on Ridgeway Road.

COURSE: Championship drag strip; Track elevation is 1,100 feet above sea level; Track direction is southeast to northwest.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, May 15-17

SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY, May 15 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying

NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 3:15 and 5:45 p.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 3:45 and 6:15 p.m.

SATURDAY, May 16- LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations

NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at noon. Round 1 of eliminations at 2:45 p.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 12:45 and 3:15 p.m.

SUNDAY, May 17 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:

Saturday, May 16, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 9 p.m. (ET).

Sunday, May 17, ESPN2 will televise three hours of eliminations coverage starting at 9 p.m. (ET).

SATELLITE (Digital HD feed):

Saturday, May 16, 6:30 – 7 p.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 03C

Sunday, May 17, 6 – 6:30 p.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 03C

(3760 MHz, horizontal; Data Rate: 40.46147055 Mbp; Symbol Rate: 29.27 Ms; FEC: ¾; Bandwidth: 36 Mhz)

Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners’ interviews on Sunday.

2014 EVENT WINNERS: Spencer Massey, Top Fuel; Robert Hight, Funny Car; Jeg Coughlin, Pro Stock, Eddie Krawiec, Pro Stock Motorcycle.

MOST VICTORIES: Dave Schultz, 8, PSM; John Force, 7, FC; Warren Johnson, 5, PS; Kenny Bernstein, 4, TF/FC; Larry Dixon, 4, TF; Angelle Sampey, 4, PSM; Greg Anderson, 4, PS; Lee Shepherd, 4, PS.

TRACK RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.732 sec. and 328.86 mph by Doug Kalitta, May ’14.

Funny Car – 4.012 sec. by Alexis DeJoria, May ’14; 320.58 mph by Courtney Force, May ’14.

Pro Stock – 6.493 sec. by Erica Enders, May ’14; 213.00 mph by Jason Line, May ’14.

Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.794 sec. and 197.54 mph by Eddie Krawiec, May ’14.

NATIONAL RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.701 sec. by Antron Brown, Oct. ‘12, Reading, Pa.; 332.18 mph by Spencer Massey, April ’12, Charlotte, N.C.

Funny Car – 3.965 sec. and 324.12 mph by John Force, Feb. ’14, Pomona, Calif.

Pro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May ‘14, Englishtown N.J.

PS Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 199.88 mph by Hector Arana Jr., April ’15, Charlotte, N.C.

TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also available online at www.NHRA.com/tickets.

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NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS

GLENDORA, Calif. — Point standings (top 10) following the sixth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series –

Top Fuel: 1. Tony Schumacher, 474; 2. Spencer Massey, 441; 3. Antron Brown, 437; 4. Shawn Langdon, 406; 5. Doug Kalitta, 390; 6. Richie Crampton, 374; 7. Steve Torrence, 325; 8. Larry Dixon, 318; 9. Clay Millican, 312; 10. J.R. Todd, 299.

Funny Car: 1. Ron Capps, 431; 2. Matt Hagan, 425; 3. Del Worsham, 401; 4. Robert Hight, 397; 5. Tommy Johnson Jr., 369; 6. Jack Beckman, 353; 7. (tie) Alexis DeJoria, 328; John Force, 328; 9. Courtney Force, 301; 10. Cruz Pedregon, 291.

Pro Stock: 1. Erica Enders, 510; 2. Jason Line, 495; 3. Greg Anderson, 458; 4. Chris McGaha, 432; 5. Rodger Brogdon, 385; 6. Vincent Nobile, 337; 7. Drew Skillman, 334; 8. Larry Morgan, 320; 9. Shane Gray, 295; 10. Allen Johnson, 280.

Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Karen Stoffer, 115; 2. Eddie Krawiec, 98; 3. (tie) Shawn Gann, 72; LE Tonglet, 72; 5. Angelle Sampey, 66; 6. Andrew Hines, 59; 7. Hector Arana, 54; 8. Angie Smith, 51; 9. Matt Smith, 43; 10. (tie) Steve Johnson, 34. Jim Underdahl, 34.