<img src="https://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/1/M_Ashley_185144.jpg" alt="M_Ashley_185144" align="left"borders="0"/>
POMONA, Calif. (February 10, 2007) - After three attempts that left him outside the pack scratching to get in, Torco Race Fuels Funny Car driver Mike Ashley saved his best run for last. In the final round of qualifying at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals, Ashley ran a 4.778/331.61 to claim the number 12 position in the quickest Funny Car field in NHRA history.
"Whew!" Ashley said. "I knew we would get it, and Brian [Corradi, crew chief] and the guys definitely gave us a great hot rod tonight."
Ashley entered the last session qualified in the number 18 spot, anxious but confident he would make the field. Under sunny skies, he put his word on the line and gave the team a welcome sigh of relief.
"I would have rather come into the evening session deep in the field, but, I had no doubt that we would get rid of the gremlins that were bothering us all weekend and get a good number," he said.
With a speed of 331.61 mph, Ashley recorded the second-fastest lap of the session, and was just .24 mph from his career best of 331.85 mph, which he recorded at the Fall Nationals in Pomona last year.
"A high speed says we have a lot of power, and going into tomorrow, I'm sure Brian will pull out all the stops and take advantage of it. We're looking at things one lap at a time, and we know that when the car gets to the line, the only ones we're really racing is ourselves.
“Earlier this weekend, I shared something with the team at a meeting we had that I really believe in my heart – that every successful endeavor begins with some sort of challenge, and although we were facing challenges, we would all work through them together and deliver on race day.
“Everyone really put in the effort and got themselves focused on the task at hand, and we got results. I think that positive, hard working attitude will continue to prove itself both this weekend and throughout the year in the Countdown to the Championship.
“We're all in this to win," Ashley said.
Pre-race ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Sunday Feb. 11, followed by the first round of eliminations at 11 a.m. where Ashley will face off against Tim Wilkerson in the first round.
TELEVISION: On Sunday, Feb. 11, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will broadcast NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at 11 a.m. (ET) and televise three hours of eliminations at 8 p.m. (ET).
Ashley delivers with heroic last-ditch effort
POMONA, Calif. (February 10, 2007) - After three attempts that left him outside the pack scratching to get in, Torco Race Fuels Funny Car driver Mike Ashley saved his best run for last. In the final round of qualifying at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals, Ashley ran a 4.778/331.61 to claim the number 12 position in the quickest Funny Car field in NHRA history.
"Whew!" Ashley said. "I knew we would get it, and Brian [Corradi, crew chief] and the guys definitely gave us a great hot rod tonight."
Ashley entered the last session qualified in the number 18 spot, anxious but confident he would make the field. Under sunny skies, he put his word on the line and gave the team a welcome sigh of relief.
"I would have rather come into the evening session deep in the field, but, I had no doubt that we would get rid of the gremlins that were bothering us all weekend and get a good number," he said.
With a speed of 331.61 mph, Ashley recorded the second-fastest lap of the session, and was just .24 mph from his career best of 331.85 mph, which he recorded at the Fall Nationals in Pomona last year.
"A high speed says we have a lot of power, and going into tomorrow, I'm sure Brian will pull out all the stops and take advantage of it. We're looking at things one lap at a time, and we know that when the car gets to the line, the only ones we're really racing is ourselves.
“Earlier this weekend, I shared something with the team at a meeting we had that I really believe in my heart – that every successful endeavor begins with some sort of challenge, and although we were facing challenges, we would all work through them together and deliver on race day.
“Everyone really put in the effort and got themselves focused on the task at hand, and we got results. I think that positive, hard working attitude will continue to prove itself both this weekend and throughout the year in the Countdown to the Championship.
“We're all in this to win," Ashley said.
Pre-race ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Sunday Feb. 11, followed by the first round of eliminations at 11 a.m. where Ashley will face off against Tim Wilkerson in the first round.
TELEVISION: On Sunday, Feb. 11, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will broadcast NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at 11 a.m. (ET) and televise three hours of eliminations at 8 p.m. (ET).
