PRO STOCK

Defending Pro Stock world champion Line held off fellow KB Racing teammate Greg Anderson to secure his first win of the season. Line drove his Summit Racing Pontiac GXP to a 6.558 at 211.69 past Anderson to take his 28th career win and first at Firebird International Raceway.

“This is a great start,” said Line. “I felt like I had the best car at both races, but we just didn’t get the job done in Pomona. This was the first off-season we’ve had in a while without any tragedies, and I think it shows in how we’ve started off the year. All in all, it was a great day and a great weekend.”

With the win Line moved to second in the point standings, one point behind leader Anderson who made his second consecutive final round appearance of the season.

Larry Morgan showed some increased speed out of his Lucas Oil Ford at the NHRA Arizona Nationals that he rode to an improved second-round finish.

Morgan upset No. 6 qualifier Allen Johnson in the first round of Pro Stock eliminations. The No. 11 qualifier, Morgan left first and never trailed in beating one of Pro Stock's best.

"That was good," Morgan said. "We made a good run. We probably had a couple hundredths left in that run, but that was it. But we did make a good run."

The round win was Morgan's first of 2012 after falling in the first round at Pomona, but he then had to race in the first pair in Round 2 after a massive oil-down from the nitro class.

In that race, Morgan had the elapsed-time advantage on Greg Stanfield, giving him lane choice, but as soon as Morgan dumped the clutch in his Mustang, the rear tires shook violently, and the Lucas Oil driver had to abort his run.

"I let the clutch out, and it started shaking the tires," Morgan said. "It didn't surprise me. I figured that would happen being the first pair out because some times they can't get the track right after an oil-down. It happens."

The Lucas Oil Mustang went 11.083 seconds at 77.23 mph to Stanfield's run of 6.636 seconds at 207.85 mph.