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DINWIDDE, Va. (October 1, 2007) - After 20 events, three wins, four final round appearances, five No. 1 qualifiers, and six track speed records - including the fastest run in Funny Car history, the entire NHRA season comes down to one race for Torco Race Fuels driver Mike Ashley. Currently seventh in the POWERade Funny Car Championship race, Ashley is battling the top five drivers for one of four spots to continue his quest for the title, and is confident as always that his team will come through with a Championship performance this weekend at his sponsor's title race: the Torco Race Fuels NHRA Nationals in Richmond, Virginia.
"You can't get where we are without having done a lot of things right, and this team is so fired up and ready to go, I am convinced we'll get past this eliminations round and go for the Championship in Vegas and Pomona," Ashley said.
Ashley currently sits outside the bump for making the playoffs, but is less than one round-win out of advancing to the final rounds. With fourteen-time champion John Force sidelined after surviving a spectacular crash at the event in Dallas, Ashley is only 12 points out of fourth place, and two round-wins out of third, depending on how competitors Ron Capps, Jack Beckman and Gary Scelzi perform in Richmond. To advance and compete in the finals, Ashley must be in the top four after this weekend's event.
"We've been is several clutch situations already this year, and, every time this team has had the ball passed to them, they've responded with the clutch shots that prove they are already champions. It's like in basketball, one of those times when you don't think about whether you'll make the shot, you just want the ball, because you know what will happen when you get your fingers on it - you'll put it through the hoop.
"I'm ready - just throw me the ball," he said.
Ashley, who became team owner and brought together his team just this year, is no stranger to high-pressure situations. In racing, he has won two World Championships in AMS Pro Modified competition, each one coming during eliminations at the final race of the season. In business, as a mortgage banker from New York, Ashley is embroiled in the current credit crisis in America, and as Vice President and Chief Strategist, has positioned his company, Lend America, to not only weather the storm, but is actually growing his core business through the use of government-backed loan programs.
"For me, pressure is a fact of life. I don't seek it out, but I am always comfortable in it because I know I'm surrounded by the very best. Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald [Ashley's crew chiefs] and the rest of the guys have proven over and over this year that they know how to make this car run, and I know they will be on their game come this weekend," Ashley said.
About John Force, Ashley said, "His crash and injuries in Dallas were a huge reminder that this is a very serious sport, but the advancements in safety that have been made are proving themselves continually.
"I know that Brian has been working with our chassis-builder, Murf McKinney, to adapt the car and make it safer in the wake of what happened, and I agree that everything we can do to keep things safe are in the best interest of everyone in this sport. There are so many brilliant minds working on things to keep making them better, it's actually really exciting to be involved in such cutting-edge stuff.
"My heart and prayers go out to John and his family and team. I know he's desperately disappointed he can't race here this weekend, but right now, he just needs to take care of himself. John is an amazing man and a true hero, and I know he'll get better really soon," Ashley said.
Qualifying for the Torco Race Fuels NHRA Nationals is scheduled at 4 and 6:30 p.m. on Friday, October 5, and 12:30 and 3 p.m. Saturday, October 6. Eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. October 7 (all times EDT).
QUICK FACTS
* No. 7 in POWERade Championship Points
* Is a first-year Funny Car team owner
* Is a two-time AMS Pro Mod Challenge world champion
* Is Vice President and Chief Strategist of Lend America, the Official Mortgage Source of NHRA
* Ran the fastest speed in Funny Car history in Las Vegas at 334.32 mph
* Career-best FC et: 4.693 seconds (Reading'06)
* Career-best FC speed: 334.32 mph (Vegas 1 '07)
* Married, (Mindy) with two children (Alexa and Justin)
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For more information about Mike Ashley and Gotham City Racing, visit the team website: MIKEASHLEY.COM.
About Mike Ashley's Gotham City Racing:
Gotham City Racing is fully sponsored by Torco Race Fuels, Inc., the world's largest independently owned race fuel manufacturer. Torco Race Fuels has a full line of racing gasoline in addition to methanol, nitromethane and fuel additives. Torco's fuel product line is complimented by SKULL Shine -- a complete line of car care appearance products and SKULL Gear -- an innovative and trendy clothing line. Products can be purchased by calling 1-800-67-TORCO or by visiting the website: Welcome to Torco Race Fuels.
Mike Ashley's Gotham City Racing is also sponsored by:
* Knoll Gas Motorsports - Welcome to Torco Race Fuels
* Lucas Oil Products - Lucas Oil
* Oakley - Oakley - The Official Site
* The Hyperbaric Therapy Center - Hyperbaric Therapy Center - Hyperbaric Chamber
* Lend America - Nationwide, direct lender, Lend America offers mortgages, loans, with little to no money down, quick loan process
Lend America is a nationwide direct lender, specializing in residential financing for one to four family homes. Lend America combines a flexible, common sense loan review process with hundreds of loan programs to provide exceptional service for its clients. Lend America's Motto "Don't take NO for an answer" is in direct relation to its commitment to service borrowers with "lending or credit challenges." Contact Lend America today, (877) 4-RACE LOAN.
Ashley anxious to take the winning shot in Richmond
DINWIDDE, Va. (October 1, 2007) - After 20 events, three wins, four final round appearances, five No. 1 qualifiers, and six track speed records - including the fastest run in Funny Car history, the entire NHRA season comes down to one race for Torco Race Fuels driver Mike Ashley. Currently seventh in the POWERade Funny Car Championship race, Ashley is battling the top five drivers for one of four spots to continue his quest for the title, and is confident as always that his team will come through with a Championship performance this weekend at his sponsor's title race: the Torco Race Fuels NHRA Nationals in Richmond, Virginia.
"You can't get where we are without having done a lot of things right, and this team is so fired up and ready to go, I am convinced we'll get past this eliminations round and go for the Championship in Vegas and Pomona," Ashley said.
Ashley currently sits outside the bump for making the playoffs, but is less than one round-win out of advancing to the final rounds. With fourteen-time champion John Force sidelined after surviving a spectacular crash at the event in Dallas, Ashley is only 12 points out of fourth place, and two round-wins out of third, depending on how competitors Ron Capps, Jack Beckman and Gary Scelzi perform in Richmond. To advance and compete in the finals, Ashley must be in the top four after this weekend's event.
"We've been is several clutch situations already this year, and, every time this team has had the ball passed to them, they've responded with the clutch shots that prove they are already champions. It's like in basketball, one of those times when you don't think about whether you'll make the shot, you just want the ball, because you know what will happen when you get your fingers on it - you'll put it through the hoop.
"I'm ready - just throw me the ball," he said.
Ashley, who became team owner and brought together his team just this year, is no stranger to high-pressure situations. In racing, he has won two World Championships in AMS Pro Modified competition, each one coming during eliminations at the final race of the season. In business, as a mortgage banker from New York, Ashley is embroiled in the current credit crisis in America, and as Vice President and Chief Strategist, has positioned his company, Lend America, to not only weather the storm, but is actually growing his core business through the use of government-backed loan programs.
"For me, pressure is a fact of life. I don't seek it out, but I am always comfortable in it because I know I'm surrounded by the very best. Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald [Ashley's crew chiefs] and the rest of the guys have proven over and over this year that they know how to make this car run, and I know they will be on their game come this weekend," Ashley said.
About John Force, Ashley said, "His crash and injuries in Dallas were a huge reminder that this is a very serious sport, but the advancements in safety that have been made are proving themselves continually.
"I know that Brian has been working with our chassis-builder, Murf McKinney, to adapt the car and make it safer in the wake of what happened, and I agree that everything we can do to keep things safe are in the best interest of everyone in this sport. There are so many brilliant minds working on things to keep making them better, it's actually really exciting to be involved in such cutting-edge stuff.
"My heart and prayers go out to John and his family and team. I know he's desperately disappointed he can't race here this weekend, but right now, he just needs to take care of himself. John is an amazing man and a true hero, and I know he'll get better really soon," Ashley said.
Qualifying for the Torco Race Fuels NHRA Nationals is scheduled at 4 and 6:30 p.m. on Friday, October 5, and 12:30 and 3 p.m. Saturday, October 6. Eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. October 7 (all times EDT).
QUICK FACTS
* No. 7 in POWERade Championship Points
* Is a first-year Funny Car team owner
* Is a two-time AMS Pro Mod Challenge world champion
* Is Vice President and Chief Strategist of Lend America, the Official Mortgage Source of NHRA
* Ran the fastest speed in Funny Car history in Las Vegas at 334.32 mph
* Career-best FC et: 4.693 seconds (Reading'06)
* Career-best FC speed: 334.32 mph (Vegas 1 '07)
* Married, (Mindy) with two children (Alexa and Justin)
###
For more information about Mike Ashley and Gotham City Racing, visit the team website: MIKEASHLEY.COM.
About Mike Ashley's Gotham City Racing:
Gotham City Racing is fully sponsored by Torco Race Fuels, Inc., the world's largest independently owned race fuel manufacturer. Torco Race Fuels has a full line of racing gasoline in addition to methanol, nitromethane and fuel additives. Torco's fuel product line is complimented by SKULL Shine -- a complete line of car care appearance products and SKULL Gear -- an innovative and trendy clothing line. Products can be purchased by calling 1-800-67-TORCO or by visiting the website: Welcome to Torco Race Fuels.
Mike Ashley's Gotham City Racing is also sponsored by:
* Knoll Gas Motorsports - Welcome to Torco Race Fuels
* Lucas Oil Products - Lucas Oil
* Oakley - Oakley - The Official Site
* The Hyperbaric Therapy Center - Hyperbaric Therapy Center - Hyperbaric Chamber
* Lend America - Nationwide, direct lender, Lend America offers mortgages, loans, with little to no money down, quick loan process
Lend America is a nationwide direct lender, specializing in residential financing for one to four family homes. Lend America combines a flexible, common sense loan review process with hundreds of loan programs to provide exceptional service for its clients. Lend America's Motto "Don't take NO for an answer" is in direct relation to its commitment to service borrowers with "lending or credit challenges." Contact Lend America today, (877) 4-RACE LOAN.
