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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (September 11, 2007) - Torco Racing Fuels Funny Car driver Mike Ashley is determined to continue the momentum following up his dramatic win at the U.S. Nationals just two weeks ago, and his Gotham City Racing team is fully prepared to be his supporting cast this weekend at the O'Reilly NHRA Mid South Nationals in Memphis, Tenn.
"Trying to put that win into words is still difficult, but amazing and awesome come to mind right off the top," Ashley said. "I can't say it enough, that the win was a team effort, and I have the best team and sponsor in drag racing behind me."
Coming into Memphis, Ashley is ranked second in POWERade Championship points and just 21 points out of the lead -- solidly ensconced among the top four who will advance to the next stage in the NHRA championship battle: the Countdown to One. This weekend is the second of four events in the next month that determine which of the top teams will advance and compete for the Funny Car crown.
"We have a goal oriented culture. At the beginning of the year, the team set a goal to make it to the playoffs, and we accomplished that. Before the last race, we made another goal, to make it to the next step in the Countdown, and so far we're right on track," he said.
"Absolutely, winning Indy was huge, and moving into second place is an important milestone, but in the championship picture it's only the first step and there still are 12 rounds of racing left until the next cut, and we want to win as many of those as possible. I've won two world championships before in Pro Modified, and this class is no different. Every round, every run, every single action is critical to our outcome."
Funny Car qualifying in the O'Reilly Mid South Nationals is scheduled for 4:30 and 7 p.m. Friday, September 14, and 12:45 and 3:15 p.m. Saturday, September 15. Eliminations are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, September 16. ESPN2/ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at midnight Saturday night (EDT). At 11 a.m. on Sunday, September 16, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute news magazine show, and follow with three hours of eliminations coverage beginning at 7 p.m.
MIKE ASHLEY QUICK FACTS:
* Second in POWERade Championship points and Countdown to Four playoff race, just 21 points behind leader Robert Hight, whom he beat last event
* Won the last event, the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis over Robert Hight, after dispatching Gary Densham, Jack Beckman, and Del Worsham
* Drove a special tribute car in the U.S. Nationals to raise funds for the Eric Blake Faulkner Foundation, a foundation to support the Perinatal Bereavement Program of St. Vincent's hospital in Little Rock, Ark. The car will be auctioned off at the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction in Scottsdale, Ariz. in January, 2008
* Qualified No. 9 in Memphis in 2006, beat Gary Scelzi first round, lost to Robert Hight in a Hole Shot, 4.833 to Hight's 4.835
* Earned five No. 1 qualifiers this season
* Has won three events in four final round appearances this year
* Delivered the fastest speed ever in Funny Car history at Vegas this year: 334.32 mph
* Personal quickest: 4.694 (Reading, 2006)
* Vice President and Chief Business Strategist of New York mortgage bank Lend America, the Official Mortgage Source of NHRA
* Wife: Mindy, Children: Alexa and Justin
* Son Justin won the POWERade Fan Nationals twice last year
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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 their website: http://www.torco.com
Mike Ashley's Gotham City Racing is also sponsored by:
* Knoll Gas Motorsports - www.torco.com
* Lucas Oil Products - Lucas Oil
* Dixie Chopper - Dixie Chopper
* 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 determined to keep the momentum after Indy Win
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (September 11, 2007) - Torco Racing Fuels Funny Car driver Mike Ashley is determined to continue the momentum following up his dramatic win at the U.S. Nationals just two weeks ago, and his Gotham City Racing team is fully prepared to be his supporting cast this weekend at the O'Reilly NHRA Mid South Nationals in Memphis, Tenn.
"Trying to put that win into words is still difficult, but amazing and awesome come to mind right off the top," Ashley said. "I can't say it enough, that the win was a team effort, and I have the best team and sponsor in drag racing behind me."
Coming into Memphis, Ashley is ranked second in POWERade Championship points and just 21 points out of the lead -- solidly ensconced among the top four who will advance to the next stage in the NHRA championship battle: the Countdown to One. This weekend is the second of four events in the next month that determine which of the top teams will advance and compete for the Funny Car crown.
"We have a goal oriented culture. At the beginning of the year, the team set a goal to make it to the playoffs, and we accomplished that. Before the last race, we made another goal, to make it to the next step in the Countdown, and so far we're right on track," he said.
"Absolutely, winning Indy was huge, and moving into second place is an important milestone, but in the championship picture it's only the first step and there still are 12 rounds of racing left until the next cut, and we want to win as many of those as possible. I've won two world championships before in Pro Modified, and this class is no different. Every round, every run, every single action is critical to our outcome."
Funny Car qualifying in the O'Reilly Mid South Nationals is scheduled for 4:30 and 7 p.m. Friday, September 14, and 12:45 and 3:15 p.m. Saturday, September 15. Eliminations are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, September 16. ESPN2/ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at midnight Saturday night (EDT). At 11 a.m. on Sunday, September 16, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute news magazine show, and follow with three hours of eliminations coverage beginning at 7 p.m.
MIKE ASHLEY QUICK FACTS:
* Second in POWERade Championship points and Countdown to Four playoff race, just 21 points behind leader Robert Hight, whom he beat last event
* Won the last event, the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis over Robert Hight, after dispatching Gary Densham, Jack Beckman, and Del Worsham
* Drove a special tribute car in the U.S. Nationals to raise funds for the Eric Blake Faulkner Foundation, a foundation to support the Perinatal Bereavement Program of St. Vincent's hospital in Little Rock, Ark. The car will be auctioned off at the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction in Scottsdale, Ariz. in January, 2008
* Qualified No. 9 in Memphis in 2006, beat Gary Scelzi first round, lost to Robert Hight in a Hole Shot, 4.833 to Hight's 4.835
* Earned five No. 1 qualifiers this season
* Has won three events in four final round appearances this year
* Delivered the fastest speed ever in Funny Car history at Vegas this year: 334.32 mph
* Personal quickest: 4.694 (Reading, 2006)
* Vice President and Chief Business Strategist of New York mortgage bank Lend America, the Official Mortgage Source of NHRA
* Wife: Mindy, Children: Alexa and Justin
* Son Justin won the POWERade Fan Nationals twice last year
###
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 their website: http://www.torco.com
Mike Ashley's Gotham City Racing is also sponsored by:
* Knoll Gas Motorsports - www.torco.com
* Lucas Oil Products - Lucas Oil
* Dixie Chopper - Dixie Chopper
* 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.
