THREE-TIME SEATTLE PRO STOCK WINNER JASON LINE FEELS RIGHT AT HOME AT NHRA NORTHWEST NATIONALS

KENT, Wash. — Two-time Pro Stock world champion Jason Line may have struggled at scenic Pacific Raceways early in his career, but he has more than made up for it in recent seasons.

Line picked up his third win at the facility a year ago in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro, tying him with teammate Greg Anderson for the most among active Pro Stock drivers. In fact, Line and Anderson are the only current drivers in the class who have more than one victory in Seattle.

Wanting to finish the three-week NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Western Swing on a good note, Line, a Wright, Minn. native, hopes to break that tie with Anderson at this weekend’s 28th annual NHRA Northwest Nationals.

“Seattle started off as a really tough track for me, but in recent years it has been a really good place for me,” said Line, who won in 2014, 2011 and 2008. “I like going there. It’s a nice part of the country, and to be honest it’s a little Minnesota-ish. It reminds me of home and where I grew up racing, and that makes it a very enjoyable track to visit.”

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel) and John Force (Funny Car) joined Line as winners of last year’s race. Once again the race will be televised on ESPN2. Serving as the only major American motorsport that visits the region each racing season, it is the 16th of 24 events in 2015, meaning just two races follow it before the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship begins.

Another Seattle victory would put Line, who is currently third in the points standings, in a good spot heading into the Countdown to the Championship. His victory last year led to a thrilling final race a year ago, where he ultimately finished second to Erica Enders, who is currently second in points.

Knowing what affect a Seattle victory can have on the final stretch of the NHRA regular season and into the Countdown, Line is focused on another strong performance at Pacific Raceways. It finishes off a rigorous three-race stretch, but Line, who secured a spot in the Countdown after a semifinal appearance last weekend in Sonoma, insists he’ll have no problem being ready to perform this weekend.

“Our Chevy Camaros really like these racetracks, and we probably should have come out of Sonoma with the win,” Line said. “But Seattle gives us another chance, and we generally run really well there. It’s a good track for Team Summit, and we have a lot of confidence going into this race. It was good to secure our spots in the Countdown to the Championship last week, and now we want to finish the Western Swing on a high note and go back home with a trophy for KB Racing.”

Line has missed out on victories at the first two stops of the Western Swing, a minor sour spot considering he felt he had a car capable of winning in Sonoma, where he qualified second. But Line has posted two victories and three final round appearances this season, and his successful past in Seattle makes him one of the favorites this weekend.

Defending world champ and 2012 event winner Erica Enders, 2012 world champ Allen Johnson, Vincent Nobile, Larry Morgan, Drew Skillman and breakthrough Sonoma winner Chris McGaha, all figure to be drivers to watch in the 200-mph factory hot rod category. Line will also have to hold off teammate Anderson, who has four wins and the current points lead in what has been a huge bounce back year for the four-time world champion.

Knowing they have combined for six wins in Seattle, Line, who has 37 career Pro Stock victories, realizes he could see another final round matchup with his longtime teammate.

“Last year we raced Greg in the final, and we’ve had the chance to race our Summit Racing teammate in the final round there before, too,” said Line, who has wins in Pomona and Atlanta this season. “We’ll have to see if we can do that again this year. These are, historically, a fun couple of races for the KB Racing team – Sonoma last week and then Seattle.”

The Top Fuel class features a host of stars, including defending event winner Kalitta, as well as four-time race winner, points leader and defending world champion Tony Schumacher, who looks to tie Joe Amato for most Top Fuel wins at the facility. Other standouts who expect to compete for the event win include 2012 world champ and 2009 Seattle winner Antron Brown, who won last weekend in Sonoma, 2003 winner and three-time world champ Larry Dixon, Brittany Force, Spencer Massey, J.R. Todd, Shawn Langdon, Steve Torrence and Richie Crampton.

Force’s Funny Car win last season marked his eighth victory at Pacific Raceways, more than double the next Funny Car competitor. Force already has two wins in 2015, but will face off against a talented host of standouts, including Jack Beckman, who will try to sweep the Western Swing after scoring wins in Denver and Sonoma. Other standouts are three-time Seattle winner Tim Wilkerson, 2012 winner Courtney Force, two-time and defending world champ and 2013 winner Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, Tommy Johnson Jr., Cruz Pedregon, Robert Hight, Alexis DeJoria and Del Worsham.

The NHRA Northwest Nationals also will feature thrilling side-by-side 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 Drag Racing Series qualifying begins Friday, Aug. 7, with sessions at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, Aug. 8, at 1 and 4 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 9.

To purchase tickets, call (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.

* * *

NHRA NORTHWEST NATIONALS FACT SHEET

WHAT: 28th annual NHRA Northwest Nationals, the 16th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Drivers in three categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock – earn points leading to 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.

WHERE: Pacific Raceways, Kent, Wash. The track is located 10 miles east of Interstate 5 on Highway 18. From I-5, use Exit 142A (Auburn exit) and travel east 10 miles on Highway 18, following the signs to the track. From other points, use Highway 18 and exit S.E. 304th St. or S.E. 312th St.

COURSE: Championship drag strip; Track elevation is 280 feet above sea level; Track direction is east to west.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, Aug. 7-9

SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY, Aug. 7 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, Aug. 8 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 1 and 4 p.m.

SUNDAY, Aug. 9 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:

Saturday, Aug. 8, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 11 p.m. (ET).

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

SATELLITE (Digital HD feed):

Saturday, Aug. 8, 9:30 – 10 p.m. (ET), SES 1/Transponder 22C

Sunday, Aug. 9, 9 – 9:30 p.m. (ET), SES 1/ Transponder 22C

(4140 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: Doug Kalitta, Top Fuel; John Force, Funny Car; Jason Line, Pro Stock.

MOST VICTORIES: John Force, 8, FC; Bob Glidden, 6, PS; Joe Amato, 5, TF; Tony Schumacher, 4, TF; Warren Johnson, 4, PS.

TRACK RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.765 sec. by Shawn Langdon, Aug. ’13; 322.19 mph by Tony Schumacher, July ’10.

Funny Car – 4.049 sec. by Jack Beckman, Aug. ’13; 308.85 mph by John Force, Aug. ’11.

Pro Stock – 6.526 sec. and 212.29 mph by Mike Edwards, Aug. ’13.

NATIONAL RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.701 sec. by Antron Brown, Oct. ‘12, Reading, Pa.; 332.51 mph by Larry Dixon, June ’15, Norwalk, Ohio.

Funny Car – 3.921 sec. by Jack Beckman, Aug. ’15, Sonoma, Calif.; 325.06 mph by Courtney Force, May ’15, Topeka, Kan.

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

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

* * *

NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS

GLENDORA, Calif. — Point standings (top 10) following the 15th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series –

Top Fuel: 1. Tony Schumacher, 1,206*; 2. Antron Brown, 1,169*; 3. Larry Dixon, 960; 4. Doug Kalitta, 912; 5. Richie Crampton, 901; 6. Spencer Massey, 820; 7. Brittany Force, 794; 8. Steve Torrence, 783; 9. J.R. Todd, 782; 10. Shawn Langdon, 780.

Funny Car: 1. Matt Hagan, 1,142*; 2. Jack Beckman, 1,085; 3. John Force, 948; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr., 947; 5. Ron Capps, 935; 6. Del Worsham, 902; 7. Cruz Pedregon, 855; 8. Tim Wilkerson, 815; 9. Robert Hight, 784; 10. Alexis DeJoria, 765.

Pro Stock: 1. Greg Anderson, 1,263*; 2. Erica Enders, 1,216*; 3. Jason Line, 1,069*; 4. Chris McGaha, 1,053; 5. Allen Johnson, 877; 6. Larry Morgan, 874; 7. Drew Skillman, 779; 8. Jonathan Gray, 761; 9. Shane Gray, 757; 10. Vincent Nobile, 735.

Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Eddie Krawiec, 702; 2. Hector Arana Jr, 596; 3. Andrew Hines, 546; 4. Karen Stoffer, 468; 5. Jim Underdahl, 459; 6. Jerry Savoie, 429; 7. Hector Arana, 417; 8. Matt Smith, 389; 9. Scotty Pollacheck, 376; 10. Angelle Sampey, 336.

*Driver has clinched a berth in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s six-race playoffs.