KB RacingLLC: Jason Line thinks weather may have it effect on all at Houston

KB RACING LLC
NHRA POWERADE DRAG RACING SERIES 
KB RACING LLC/SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT PRO STOCK PONTIAC GTO
JASON LINE -- DRIVER
ROB DOWNING -- CREW CHIEF

20th ANNUAL NHRA O'REILLY SPRING NATIONALS
HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK -- BAYTOWN, TEXAS
MARCH 30 - APRIL 1, 2007*

BAYTOWN, Texas (March 28, 2007) -- It looks like it will be to the warm side and humid as the NHRA 20th annual O'Reilly Spring Nationals return this weekend to Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas, just a stone throw from Houston.

Jason Line feels that the warmer weather will have an effect on the elapsed time and speeds, especially following the record-setting pace at the last race in Gainesville. Line left that event with a national record speed of 211.69 mph in his KB Racing LLC-owned, Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GTO.

"I don't think the numbers will be like Gainesville due to the heat and humidity," said Line. "Our Summit Pontiacs tend to run better when the air is good but we have been making large strides in our hot, humid weather package also, so I feel that we'll be all right this weekend.

"I would have to say I like Houston Raceway Park. It was the first place that I was ever in a final round in Pro Stock, so that part of it is kind of nice. I've never won there though. I think I was runner-up twice. Hopefully, we can change that stat this weekend."

Line was runner-up to his teammate Greg Anderson in 2004 and to Warren Johnson in 2005. He was No. 1 last year and holds the track elapsed time record at 6.686 seconds.

Although it's early in the Countdown to Eight segment of the Countdown to the Championship, Line, the reigning NHRA POWERade Pro Stock champion, trails Anderson, by 103 points. Anderson, who also drives a KB Racing LLC-owned, Summit Racing Equipment-backed Pontiac, leads the Pro Stock class, while Line is in second.

In closing, the tragic death of Eric Medlen, a rising star with John Force Racing, in a testing accident following the Gatornationals in Gainesville will be on the minds of many, including Line, at Houston Raceway Park this weekend. As a result the remaining three John Force Funny Cars will not compete.

"We will be thinking about the entire Medlen and Force group throughout the weekend here in Houston," Line said. "It's going to be a strange weekend at Houston without the Force cars here. It will probably put a damper on every body's mood. The accident was an unfortunate thing, we do have risks out here, but you never feel good when someone loses their life. My condolences go out to all that have been affected by this tragedy."

*QUALIFYING:* Qualifying for the Pro Stock classes begins on Friday (March 30), with two sessions at 3 and 6 p.m. (Pro Stock Motorcycles run first, followed by Pro Stock cars). Qualifying for the Pro Stock class concludes on Saturday (March 31), with two sessions at 11:15 a.m. and 2 p.m. (Pro Stock Motorcycles run first, followed by Pro Stock cars). Final eliminations for all teams begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday. *Times are local Houston time (CT) and subject to change.*

*TELEVISION:* Qualifying highlights for the 20th annual O'Reilly Spring Nationals can be seen on ESPN2 / ESPN2 HD Saturday evening (March 31) from 7 until 9 p.m. ESPN2 / ESPN2 HD will also air same-day coverage of eliminations on Sunday (April 1) from 4-7 p.m. The elimination show repeats early Friday morning (April 6), from 4-6 a.m. Also, NHRA Race Day is back providing the drag racing fan with the latest information about the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The O'Reilly Spring Nationals installment of NHRA Race Day can be seen this Sunday (April 1) from 11-11:30 a.m. *Television times are ET and subject to change without notice. Check your local listing.*

*KB RACING LLC* is owned by Las Vegas businessmen Ken Black and his son Kenny Black. In the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, KB Racing LLC fields two Summit Racing Equipment Pro Stock Pontiac GTOs, one driven by Greg Anderson, a native of Duluth, Minn. who now lives in the Charlotte, N. C. area, and the other by Jason Line, a native of Wright, Minn. who now lives in the Charlotte, N. C. area, and a Top Fuel dragster, managed by Kalitta Motorsports, and driven by Hillary Will, a native of Fortuna, Calif. who now resides in Ypsilanti, Mich. Anderson won three consecutive POWERade Pro Stock Championships (2003-2005) and finished second in the point standings in 2006. Line, who finished second in points in his rookie season in 2004 and third in 2005, is the reigning 2006 POWERade Pro Stock Champion. Line was honored with the 2004 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award, presented to the outstanding rookie in a professional category. Will finished No. 10 in her rookie season in Top Fuel in 2006 and was nominated for the Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award. The Pro Stock shop of Anderson and Line is in Mooresville, N. C. and the Kalitta Motorsports racing operation is in Ypsilanti, Mich.