KB Racing LLC: Line advances to semifinal round
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE* *KB RACING LLC* *NHRA POWERADE DRAG RACING SERIES* *SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT PONTIAC GTO PRO STOCK* *JASON LINE -- DRIVER * *MEDIA CONTACT: Mickey Schultz* *PHONE: 425-557-8899* *E-MAIL: mschultz@bellsouth.net* *10TH ANNUAL NHRA O'REILLY MIDWEST NATIONALS* *GATEWAY INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY -- MADISON, ILL. (ST. LOUIS)* *JUNE 23-25, 2006* *QUALIFYING:* *#8: 6.712 seconds at 204.82 mph* *ELIMINATIONS:* *Round 1: Line (6.759/204.79) def. Dave Howard (6.833/203.98)* *Round 2: Line (6.713/205.91) def. Steve Schmidt (6.789/203.16)* *Round 3(semifinals): Line (6.735/206.07) lost to Larry Morgan (6.741/205.98)* *Line advances to semifinal round /Inches closer to POWERade point lead/ * MADISON, Ill. (June 25, 2006) -- Jason Line came up just five thousandths of a second short of advancing to his second consecutive final round as Larry Morgan turned back Line in the semifinal round at the 10th annual NHRA O'Reilly Midwest Nationals, at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill., just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. In the opening round, Dave Howard was out first against Line, but Line's KB Racing LLC/Summit Racing Equipment Pro Stock Pontiac GTO quickly made up the difference and led all the way to the finish line. Line recorded a 6.759-second pass, the quickest run of the first round winners. Next against Steve Schmidt, who had defeated Line's teammate Greg Anderson in the first round, it was all Line, who led from start to finish. Line's 6.713-second blast was the quickest of all drivers in round two. It was an old fashioned drag race in the semifinals between Line and Larry Morgan. Morgan gained a slight advantage at the starting line of .011 seconds against Line. Line covered the quarter-mile in 6.735 seconds. Morgan stopped the finish line scoreboard in 6.741 seconds. You do the math; Morgan's margin of victory was five thousandths of a second or about an estimated 18 inches. With Line going to the semifinals and his teammate Anderson being stopped in the opening round, Line picked up valuable NHRA POWERade points and nearly overtook Anderson, falling just two points short. Unofficially, with 11 races remaining on the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule, the top five are: 1.) Anderson (801 points); *2.) Jason Line (799)*; 3.) Dave Connolly (730); 4.) Jim Yates (708); and 5.) Kurt Johnson (696). "As long as we're (Nos.) 1 and 2, that's all that matters to me," said Line. "We both need to do better jobs all the way around, but all in all, it could be worse. It's a tough deal right now, but I guess I'd rather be in my position than almost everybody else's, that's for sure. We've got a good car and everybody's doing a good job, we just need to tune-up the driver a little bit and we'll be in good shape." It's now time for the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series mid season break, albeit a short break. The next event will be the third weekend in July when Bandimere Speedway in Denver hosts the long running 27th annual NHRA Mopar Mile-High Nationals, July 14-16 The elimination show for the 10th annual NHRA O'Reilly Midwest Nationals on ESPN2 repeats early Tuesday morning (June 27) from 2:30-4:30 a.m. *Television time is Eastern Time (ET) and subject to change at anytime. Check local listings.* /KB Racing LLC is owned by Las Vegas businessmen Ken Black and his son Kenny Black. KB Racing LLC fields two Summit Racing Equipment Pro Stock Pontiac GTOs, one driven by Greg Anderson and the other by Jason Line in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Anderson has won three consecutive POWERade Pro Stock Championships (2003-2005). Line finished third in the 2005 POWERade point standings and was honored with the 2004 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future award, presented to the most outstanding rookie in a professional category. This year KB Racing LLC also began fielding a Top Fuel Dragster, managed by Kalitta Motorsports, with rookie Top Fuel driver Hillary Will handling the driving duties./ ####