| KENT, Wash. (July 20, 2025) – The Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways wrapped for the three-car SCAG Racing team with two quarterfinal appearances for Justin Ashley in his SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel team and Daniel Wilkerson in his SCAG Ford Mustang Funny Car team while Dave Richards and the BlueBird Turf Funny Car had a first round exit to his teammate. Daniel Wilkerson started race day from the No. 5 spot on a 3.926-second pass at 327.51 mph setting him up with a first-round match up against No. 12 qualifier and teammate Dave Richards who made it in the show off a 4.026 at 311.05 on Saturday night. Wilkerson would have a clean pass to go 3.909 at 325.37 mph while the BlueBird Turf machine ran into issues to go 5.613 at 136.36. “It was great weekend having all my family at the track. Our relatives from Canada came down, my wife and girls were here, it was great,” Richards said. “It felt great qualifying on that last run on Saturday, a little more suspenseful than I think we would have liked but it all worked out. We’re still working hard on our tune-up and our program but it’s all coming along. It’s going to start clicking real soon and I’m really looking forward to it.” In the quarterfinals, Wilkerson faced three-time world champion Ron Capps. Wilkerson left the starting line first but his 3.942-second pass at 328.38 mph wasn’t enough for Capps’ 3.909 at 333.41. “This SCAG Mustang car improved every run it made…except the last one,” Wilkerson said. “It’s a little easier for me to take a loss when we all put our best foot forward and just came up short. It’s a bummer we had to race our teammate first round because they have a good car too. Our time is right around the corner when we have one of these Funny Cars and Justin’s dragster in the winners circle.” Justin Ashley and the SCAG Toyota Top Fuel team began their race day as the No. 6 qualifiers thanks to a 3.763-second pass at 329.50 mph. Their round one opponent was supposed to be Shawn Reed, however, Reed’s dragster had an accident during the qualifying and Reed was unable to make the call. On a solo run, the SCAG dragster had tire smoke and coasted to an 11.887 pass at 77.15. In the second round against former world champion Doug Kalitta, Ashley’s SCAG Toyota started to spin the tires at mid-track. Ashley would get it hooked back up for a 3.876-second pass at 280.78 but couldn’t chase down Kalitta’s 3.676 at 337.92. “There was a lot to learn from this weekend that we can apply beginning in Sonoma. We strung together a few very good races leading up to this one and feel confident about doing the same moving forward,” said Ashley who entered the weekend with back-to-back victories. “We just struggled more than expected in round two but during a 20-race season that comes with the territory. We have the best team in the business, and I am very proud to be a part of it. Our whole SCAG Power Equipment team is focused and ready for race two of the Western Swing.” SCAG Racing continues on the Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series with the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals next weekend, July 25-27, at Sonoma Raceway. |
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