It's no surprise that defending Pro Stock champion Jason Line is looking forward to getting back to Bristol Dragway for the May 18-20 O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
Line liked Thunder Valley long before he finally etched his name in the record books as a Bristol winner in 2006. But the win, which came against teammate Greg Anderson, has taken his affinity for Bristol Dragway to another level.
"I really do love it there," he said. "Not just because it's close to home (he and Anderson are based in Terrell, N.C.) but for a lot of reasons. It's the most scenic place we go to, the facility is as nice, or nicer, than any other place we go and the people there are just so nice.
"The people at Bristol Dragway definitely care about the sport and they do all they can to make sure the fans get a great show and the drivers are happy and well taken care of. I don't know any drag racer that doesn't look forward to going to that track."
When the 37-year-old Line came to Bristol in April a year ago, he had yet to win in 2006. When he lined up against Anderson, who won three consecutive championships from 2003-2005, in the finals of the O'Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals, he hoped for the best but wasn't sure he could pull it off.
"Greg loves Bristol - he got his very first win there," said Line, whose Pontiac GTO posted a 6.715 run at 205.35 mph to Anderson's 6.752 at 204.70. "He's won a couple of times there actually. But in the end, I drove the best I've probably ever driven. I had my best reaction times. It was a lot of fun - it was great to finally get a Bristol win."
The win served as a launching pad of sorts for Line who went on to win three more times in 2006 while making nine final-round appearances. At season's end he had captured his first championship, 123 points ahead of Anderson.
"Last year was a great experience," said the Minnesota native who made his first NHRA start in 2003. "But it was also tough. Greg and I are good friends. We're teammates and he's so competitive, just like I am. It's tough that there can only be one winner but that's the way it is. I think he and I handle it all very well, not just when we're racing against each other in finals but also when it came down to the championship last year."
Line already has recorded a win this season, taking the O'Reilly Spring Nationals in Houston in early April. However, he's gone out in the first round three times this season - at Gainesville, Las Vegas and Atlanta and that's not sitting well with him right now.
"I didn't go out in the first round but twice all year last year," said Line, currently sitting second in the Pro Stock points, 212 behind Anderson. "I'm hoping to get it turned around by Bristol. We've run pretty well and we've had good power but I guess I've just had trouble executing. We've got some new people on the team and we've got new engines and maybe that's kind of thrown us for a loop.
"But I know we'll get a handle on it. I've certainly had worse starts to a season before. There's definitely room for improvement but it's not the end of the world. It always helps to go somewhere and race when you've won there before and I've got Bristol coming so I'm hoping to back last year's win up with another one. I've been in two finals out of the four years I've been there so you can just imagine how excited I am to getting back there."
Gates open for the O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals on Friday, May 18 and Saturday, May 19 at 7:30 a.m. and on Sunday, May 20 at 9:30 a.m. The first rounds of professional qualifying are Friday at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., followed by rounds three and four at 12:30 and 3 p.m. on Saturday. Final eliminations get under way at noon on Sunday.
Tickets are available for the O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Grandstand ticket pricing is as follows: Friday -- Sections A - D $25 Adult / $5 Junior; Sections E - U $30 Adult / $5 Junior; Thunder Terrace $30 Adult / $5 Junior, Saturday -- Sections A - D $45 Adult / $15 Junior; Sections E - U $55 Adult / $25 Junior; Thunder Terrace $55 Adult / $25 Junior, Sunday -- Sections A - D $45 Adult / $15 Junior, Sections E - U $55 Adult / $25 Junior, Thunder Terrace $55 Adult / $25 Junior. Weekend combos are: Sections A - D $85 Adult / $40 Junior, Sections E - U $110 Adult / $60 Junior, and Thunder Terrace $110 Adult / $60 Junior.
Thunder Valley Club tickets also are available and are $300 for adults and $100 for children for the weekend. Bruton's Club suite seats are available for the weekend for $425 per person.
To purchase tickets, please call the Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway ticket office at 423.989.6900 or visit www.bristoltix.com.
