The demanding schedule of NHRA’s Mello Yello Drag Racing Series does not allow for much time off, so with a rare two-week break between events, reigning and three-time Pro Stock world champion Jason Line was determined to make every minute count.

This past weekend, 1993 Stock Eliminator national champion Line returned to his roots and brought his family along for the ride as he raced his C/SA 1970 Buick Gran Sport in Stock Eliminator at the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at GALOT Motorsports Park. Line had his trusty Buick – the same car he has raced since he was a teen in Wright, Minnesota – tuned up to score the No. 1 qualifying position, and the 46-time Pro Stock victor took the power all the way to the final round at the Southeast Division’s fourth race of the season.

“I really like working on my own car, and I had done some work to my Buick and just wanted to see how fast it would go,” said Line, who is normally found behind the wheel or tuning on his Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro Pro Stocker in Ken Black’s KB Racing camp. “Our friend Jimmy Alund was here from Sweden, and this was a great opportunity to race with him again and go have some fun with my family – especially my son, Jack, who is very interested in racing. This let him see a different side of racing than what he’s used to, and he was able to work on the car, help me, and be part of it. We all had a great time, and it was a lot of fun.”

Although it had not been raced since last season’s NHRA Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, the well-prepared Buick GS 455 Stage 1 engine exceeded Line’s expectations and produced a blistering 6.317-second pass on the 1/8-mile racetrack to secure the Hughes Performance No. 1 Qualifier Award and a bye run in the opening round of eliminations.

In round two, Line came up against Charles Myers, a devoted Sportsman racer who is also the Media Coordinator for Benson, North Carolina’s GALOT Motorsports Park. Myers took a tidy advantage at the tree, but Line ran right on target with a 6.345 on a 6.34 dial to his opponent’s 7.693 (7.70) breakout pass.

Myers advanced to his second-round meeting with Line after socking away a victory over Sweden’s Alund, who earned his 10th FIA European Pro Stock championship in 2016 flying the Summit Racing Equipment banner on his Chevrolet Camaro. Alund has also won on the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour; in 2014 he brought home the Pro Stock title at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals driving a KB Racing-powered Chevrolet Camaro.

“It was neat to be able to run both Jimmy Alund and Jason Line,” said Myers. “That kind of thing doesn’t happen every day. My parents were joking about how unlucky I had to be to have to run two champions in the first and second round, but I feel almost like I hit the lottery. To have a winning record against one and a losing record against the other – it’s an honor. These guys are the reason the sport is growing and why people enjoy Pro Stock. They’re just like us, and that stands out in people’s minds.”

Line next survived a heads-up match with Wallace Dent, then scored the semifinals bye run when Jeff Longhany broke out by .008-second.

In the final, Line’s 6.34 dial was well-matched as Jeff Adkinson rolled to the starting line with 6.38 on the window of his A/SA 1969 Camaro. Adkinson’s .042-second reaction time with a 6.415 at 102.21 mph translated to victory over Line’s .078 and 6.352, 104.44.

“What a great weekend. We loved the facility, and everyone there was super nice,” said Line, who was joined at GALOT by wife Cindy, daughter Emma, and son Jack. “The best part of the weekend was being there with my family. My boy was so excited that he told his mom he would have to miss his Friday night dodgeball game because we had to get the Stocker ready to go. I love cars, and this something Jack and I can do together. He’s been surrounded by it forever, but this is a chance for him to really start at the beginning and see how it works. As a father, to be able to work on an old muscle car with my son, it’s really special.

“Before the final, Jack looked at me and said, ‘Dad, this is the most fun I’ve ever had. We should do this every weekend.’ This was so fun, my kids were so excited, and it was one of my favorite days ever going to the racetrack.”

About the Car
Line’s 1970 Buick Gran Sport 455 Stage 1 engine is fitted with a Quadrajet carburetor and has stock Buick heads and manifold, per NHRA Stock Eliminator rules. It utilizes a Scott McClay TH200 Metric transmission, Meziere starter, ATI balancer, MSD ignition, Cometic gaskets, Strange Engineering axles, DENSO spark plugs, and Maxima racing oil. It features Classic Instruments gauges and rides on Goodyear tires. Future additions to Line’s prized Buick GS will include Race Star wheels and Comp Cam products. Line’s next scheduled NHRA Stock Eliminator race will be the 2017 Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Dragway at Indianapolis.

Words by Kelly Topolinski. Photos courtesy NHRA/Rhonda McCole