NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

It's been a minute since we've seen three-time Pro Stock champion Jason Line in a race car at a national event, but this weekend, he's back in a big way pulling double duty in the Sox & Martin Hemi Challenge and Super Stock at the 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals.

When Minnesota-native Line retired from Pro Stock at the conclusion of the 2020 season, he didn't grab a fishing pole and head home to the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Instead, he transitioned his efforts into the engine-block building business officially labeled JLine Performance.

The time and effort it took to get the business up and running – including his contributions to the revolutionary Jesel Equal 8 prepared by JLine Performance engine – didn't allow time for thought about much else, but when longtime friend and engine customer Bucky Hess asked him to drive his new SS/AH 1968 Hemi Barracuda in the Sox & Martin Hemi Challenge presented by the McCandless Collection, he said yes.

"I'm still learning to drive it, but it's going to be really fast when we get it all sorted out," said Line, as qualifying for the specialty race was coming to a conclusion. " All-in-all, for having so few runs on it, we're pretty happy with it."

Line qualified the 'Cuda in the No. 3 position with a best time of 8.461-second at 158.19 mph, and in the first round of eliminations on Friday, he advanced with a consistent 8.479, 158.00 next to Jim Hensler, who fouled out by -.016. The Sox & Martin Hemi Challenge is set run to completion on Saturday with four additional elimination rounds.

As is true for every car in the Hess Hemi Drag Racing Team stable, the classic 'Cuda features a fantastic and outlandish hand-crafted design by custom painter Travis "Tuki" Hess, Bucky's son. Each of the radical Hemi-powered cars also has a moniker, and the one Line is driving uniquely and affectionately known as "Fish Stick."

While Line is racing one of three entries for the team, Bucky and Travis are racing the other two in the longstanding battle of Hemis.  

Line is also racing in Super Stock behind the wheel of Kevin Gaffney's SS/H 1967 Chevy II. The Gaffney team's goal with their vintage muscle car at the U.S. Nationals was to win the class trophy, and they were able to check that off with Line behind the wheel.

"When [Gaffney] asked me to drive it, I said no at first – I don't really like to drive anyone else's car, especially if I can't afford to buy it - and this one is super cool and rare," said Line. "I had never driven the car before – aside from driving it from their pit area to the staging lanes – and I totally botched up the first run. I'd never driven a car with that transmission in it. The second run, it did a huge wheel stand, the biggest wheel stand I'd ever done in my life. But it was fun, and I wanted to do a good job for them. Fortunately, I was able to make it down the track."

The return to drag racing has posed a question for many. Will Line, a longtime Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitor and the 1993 Stock eliminator champion, be tempted now to recommit to the quarter-mile life from behind the wheel?

Jason Line working on the 426 Hemi in Bucky Hess's  Fishstick Hemi Challenge Super Stocker.

"This is fun for me, and it brings back memories," said Line. "Maybe this is goofy, but making this trip with people you enjoying being with, that's a big part of it for me. I miss that part. We've had a good time coming here, the shenanigans and all that. A lot of times I say I don't care if I ever drive anything again – and that's partially true, but doing this reminds me why I started drag racing.

"But I'm ready for my son [Jack] to do it, I think I'd be just as happy watching him. That being said, this has been a blast. Hopefully, we can do some good with both cars and it'll be fun the rest of the weekend as well."