KB Racing LLC: Runner-up for Line at BIR
KB RACING LLC NHRA POWERADE DRAG RACING SERIES SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT PONTIAC GTO PRO STOCK JASON LINE - DRIVER 25th annual (Silver Anniversary) NHRA LUCAS OIL NATIONALS BRAINERD INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY - BRAINERD, MINN. AUGUST 10-13, 2006 QUALIFYING: #2: 6.753 seconds at 203.06 mph ELIMINATIONS: Round 1: Line (6.760/203.68) def. Kenny Koretsky (6.797/202.85) Round 2: Line (6.725/204.45) def. Kurt Johnson (6.771/203.74) Round 3 (semifinals): Line (6.737/204.51) def. Allen Johnson (6.776/203.19) Round 4 (finals): Line (6.737/205.22) runner-up to Dave Connolly (6.776/207.05) Runner-up for Line at BIR BRAINERD, Minn. (August 13, 2006) - Under less than ideal weather conditions, Jason Line drove his KB Racing-owned, Summit Racing Equipment-backed Pontiac GTO to a runner-up spot today at Brainerd International Raceway (BIR). Co-crew chief Jeff Perley rejoined the team at BIR after missing the last race in Sonoma due to the birth of a new addition to the family, daughter Delayna Addison Perley. Delayna was born at 6:56 p.m. on Tuesday, July 25, 2006. She was 7 lbs. 11 oz., 20 inches long. Everything went really smooth and both mother Leslie and Delayna are doing fine, as is dad. Also, according to Jeff, brother Griffin, 18 months, found out that Delayna wasn't going away and has now adapted well. Congratulations Jeff and Leslie. Welcome back Jeff. As to the racing end of things, after qualifying concluded yesterday afternoon with Line No. 2 on the final qualifying ladder, it has been raining off and on throughout the evening. Rain again greeted fans and competitors today. Prerace ceremonies, driver introductions, and a visit with the governor of Minnesota were held in light to moderate rain which eventually delayed the start of the 25th running of the Lucas Oil Nationals. After a one hour and 50 minute hold, racing got underway. In the opening round, paired against Kenny Koretsky, Line, the 37-year old driver from Wright, Minn., who now lives in Terrell, N.C., led from start to finish crossing the finish line in 6.760 seconds, low elapsed time of the round. Koretsky followed in 6.797 seconds. Although the sun peeked out periodically between rounds, after Top Fuel and most of Funny Car ran their second round, racing was again put on hold due to rain. This second delay lasted approximately 20 minutes. In the second round of Pro Stock, Line, who began his racing career in 1985 as a bracket racer at BIR, was handed an easy win as Kurt Johnson, who was born in nearby Virginia, Minn., red lighted, throwing away a 6.771 seconds pass in his Chevy Cobalt. Line covered the BIR quarter-mile in 6.725 seconds, again low of the round. In the semifinals, Line, who won the 1997 NHRA NorthStar Nationals in Stock Eliminator at Brainerd, faced another Johnson. This one named Allen. Johnson had a out of this world .008 second reaction time at the green but the power of Line's Summit Racing Pontiac made up the difference and crossed the finish line 14 thousandths of a second in front of Johnson's Dodge Stratus. Moving to the finials, Line was matched against Dave Connolly, who he has met four time previously in final round - three this season. With a outstanding reaction time, Connolly left on Line and held the advantage down the full quarter-mile. Line had an elapsed time of 6.737 seconds to 6.743 seconds for Connolly. The end result was that Connolly took the win light. "We had a good overall weekend, both in qualifying and during eliminations," said Line. "We just didn't have the type of ending we wanted. I felt I had a good light and many times would have won the race going away. Connolly just had the better of today's match up but there will be more and neither Greg nor I are going to run and hide. "While my concentration is on putting this Summit Racing Pontiac in the winner's circle, the point lead is still a bonus. But as I've said since I took the lead, I'd rather be there that anywhere else. The main thing on the championship is that either Greg or I are on top come the end of the season." It was the 20th final round of Line's career. He has 11 wins. In 2006, Line has five final rounds, winning three. Line had the low elapsed time (6.725 seconds) and top speed (205.22 mph) of the event. For the fourth consecutive race, Line will walk away with the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock point lead. He leads his teammate Greg Anderson, who in second, by 84 points and third place Dave Connolly by 108 points. Line and his KB Racing-owned, Summit Racing Equipment team now move straight to Memphis Motorsports Park in Memphis, Tenn., the "Home of the Blues" and the adopted city of Elvis Presley, for the NHRA O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals, Aug. 18-20. ESPN2 aired same-day television coverage of eliminations from the 25th annual NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals from 7 until 10 p.m. (Sunday, August 13). The elimination show repeats early Friday morning (August 18) from 3-5 a.m. Television times are 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.