NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

As Jason Line has progressed throughout his standout Pro Stock career, the two-time world champion admits he has become a more mature and calm racer in almost every aspect.

That development has also allowed Line to enjoy a start to the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season that nobody could have predicted. Line and his longtime Summit Racing Equipment teammate Greg Anderson have dominated the first quarter of the season, combining for all six wins in the new-look Pro Stock class.

Line has three of those victories and the points lead in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro, advancing to the final round of all six races. Boasting an incredible 20-3 record during eliminations, Line will try to keep that hot streak going at this weekend’s 36th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.

But the veteran has already made a point to enjoy the remarkable run he has already experienced this year in Pro Stock.

“I’m certainly enjoying it a lot more than I would have maybe 10 to 15 years ago,” said Line, who is the defending winner of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals. “We haven’t dwelled on it, but it’s obviously been a lot of fun. It’s a huge deal to be this successful from our team’s standpoint. It’s more important than ever to have success, so it’s a huge deal.

“We’ve executed really well. Even back in 2004 when we had a dominant season, we didn’t execute as well as we have now. I think some of that is maturity and some of the things we’ve learned. You’re not going to be perfect, but I’m probably a little calmer these days as well.”

Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car), and Hector Arana Sr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) joined Line in the winner's circle one year ago. The race will be televised on FOX Sports 1 with qualifying shows Friday and Saturday and three hours of finals coverage Sunday. It is the seventh of 24 events in 2016, and the KB Racing team of Line, Anderson, and Bo Butner has been a step ahead of everyone during this banner start.

The season brought huge changes to the class, including fuel-injected engines, shorter wheelie bars, flat hoods, and a 10,500-rpm rev limiter. But Line and company found something in the offseason that has worked flawlessly. Line, who has 40 victories, might not have thought that he had something to prove heading into the year, but finishing 2015 in eighth place certainly wasn’t satisfying.

“One of the things that drives all of us is when you get beat,” Line said. “You tend to either dig down or quit. I would like to think our team has dug down and used our resources the best we can. We know this won’t last forever, and we would be foolish to think it would. But for me, it’s about enjoying the moment. It’s fun, and that’s what racing is all about.”

Winning and success make it considerably easier to have fun at the track, but the challenge of learning the ways of the new cars has also been enjoyable for Line, who has 84 final-round appearances. It has also caused him to work hard on changing a couple of his own characteristics.

“It definitely requires a different type of craft,” Line said. “Anybody who knows me well knows I am unorganized and unorthodox. For me, it’s been a challenge to keep everything organized. It’s been a challenge, and maybe I’ve had to go at it at a different pace. There’s a lot to digest and learn, and you constantly have to pay attention. But it’s been good. We’ve learned things, and hopefully we can continue to be successful. We’ve been on a roll, and you want to try to keep it going as long as you can.”

Line would surely like to see the success continue at his sponsor’s race this weekend in Atlanta, but a strong group of contenders has other ideas. Anderson, Jeg Coughlin Jr., and Allen Johnson are the only other active drivers with wins at Atlanta Dragway, and two-time and defending world champ Erica Enders, Drew Skillman, Butner, and Chris McGaha are also expected to make a push for the Pro Stock Wally at Georgia's House of Speed.

But Line, who has two No. 1 qualifiers this year and hasn’t qualified worse than third at any race, is ready to keep this hot streak going within the three-car team.

“The joy of being successful has been more spread out with all of our group, and I think that’s important,” Line said. “I think everybody has to enjoy the success, and it’s been good for everybody – friends, families, sponsors, and just everyone on the team. For me, that’s important. Everybody has been putting in a lot of effort, and to enjoy the fruits of your labor is a big deal.”

Qualifying for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta will feature two rounds, at 4 and 6:30 p.m., Friday, May 13, and the final two rounds of qualifying Saturday, May 14, at 1:30 and 4 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday, May 15.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRA.com/tickets. Kids 12 and younger will be admitted free in general-admission areas with a paid adult.