Sophomore Harley rider Eddie Krawiec is No. 1 qualifier at Norwalk in Pro Stock Motorcycle. (NHRA photo) » More Photos

Line’s last-second heroics made the day for Summit officials at their sponsored event and racetrack as he lightened the pockets and the glory of mail-order rival Jeg Coughlin. Coughlin, disappointed by his holeshot loss to Line’s Summit teammate, Greg Anderson, in the semifinals of the K&N Horsepower Challenge, led the field with a 6.726, recorded in the first session/Challenge first round, but was supplanted by Line’s 6.716 during an improvement-filled final session. Line also was the No. 1 qualifier in Madison earlier this season. This is the 15th No. 1 of his career.

“I didn’t think we could go fast enough to take over the No. 1 spot,” said Line, who ran a 6.74 in the first session. “We made a decent run this morning, but we didn’t think there was three-hundredths in it considering how the weather changed, and we’re happy to put the Summit car on the pole, and any time we can knock the yellow car off the top, it’s kind of a big deal for us.

“Now it transfers to the pressure of trying to win the race. I haven’t had much racing luck this year – if there’s been a break to be had, it hasn’t fallen in my direction – but hopefully we can turn that around tomorrow. I’m driving decent, and the car’s running good enough to turn it into victory, so maybe tomorrow is the day.”

Challenge winner Allen Johnson and his Mopar-backed Stratus jumped up from the seven hole to the No. 3 spot with a 6.729, recorded during his semifinal Challenge battle with points leader Kurt Johnson. Line’s teammate, E-Town winner and Challenge runner-up Anderson, is a disappointing ninth and will give up first-round lane choice to Mike Edwards.

Ron Krisher, who entered the final session qualified, raced his Valvoline Cobalt right to the top half of the field with a 6.732 and was joined in the field by New Mexico oilman Johnny Gray, moving from No. 18 to No. 10 with a 6.762.

Rookie Rickie Jones, who entered the final session a comfortable 11th, got moved down to the bump spot in the field with his QuarterMax/RJ Race Cars Stratus and held on with a 6.773 and will oppose Line in the first round.

Among those not making the field were Jim Yates, Friday leader Richie Stevens in Kenny Koretsky’s GXP, Max Naylor, and local favorite Larry Nance.

Second-year Harley rider Krawiec grabbed his first career No. 1 qualifying berth with a 7.011 in the final session, which occurred before a rainstorm put a 90-minute hold on action and conditions changed for the worse. First-session leader Steve Johnson (7.058), gunning for just his second pole, was not able to claw his way back to the top of the order and was even passed by Krawiec’s teammate, Andrew Hines, who slid into second with a 7.045

“I definitely wanted everyone else to have the opportunity to run down the track so that I could get my first No. 1 on a fair shot, so it can never be a tainted No. 1,” said Krawiec. “We’ve been struggling a bit, so we threw a lot at it that run. Andrew and Matt Hines and I sat in the trailer for about three and a half hours Thursday staring at computer sheets and data for comparable conditions and tried a lot of changes, so to come out and go 1-2 shows that hard work really pays off.

“A lot of people look at it that I’m riding one of the best bikes out here, and I definitely am, but the learning curve for this bike makes it the hardest one out there to ride. Andrew and Matt Hines had the bike so well set up when I got there that I was able to get it down the track, but now I’m able to get it down the track efficiently.”

Gatornationals champ Matt Guidera sits fourth aboard the Mohegan Sun Buell with a 7.058 and is followed on the sheets by reigning NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series world champ Matt Smith (7.059) and Englishtown winner Chip Ellis (7.063).

Junior Pippin ended a two-race DNQ streak by putting his Buell into the show with a solid 7.137 in the 14th spot, while homestate rider Joe DeSantis sits on the bump spot with a 7.167 and will oppose Krawiec in the first round Sunday.