<img src="http://gallery.nitromater.com/files/6/5/M_Ashley.jpg" alt="M_Ashley" align="right"borders="0"/>
BRAINERD, Minn. (8/13/06) -- On what would seem to most to be a very disappointing day, Funny Car driver Mike Ashley has drawn a line in the sand. Delivering a 4.774/326 run against former teammate Del Worsham's 5.411/221 at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., everything about the round was perfect - except for leaving the starting line .069 seconds early.
The red light start cost Ashley the race, but not his positive attitude.
"I am just trying to hard. This will stop and I will get it together. I definitely let [crewchief] Brian Corradi and the rest of the team down, and for that I am sorry. It's always disappointing when I don't do my job correctly, but, this run must be a turning point for me and I am going to make sure it is," Ashley said.
Ashley will continue to work on his starting line challenge utilizing the services of sports psychologist Dr. Jim Will. Dr. Will, who works with professional athletes to shape their "self talk," has spent several weekends working with Ashley and his crew to develop a program specific to drag racing success.
"Mike is an incredible driver, there's no doubt about that," said Dr. Will. "As we have talked over the past several days, we've agreed that trying too hard can be detrimental to achieving your goals, and I think Mike experienced that firsthand today.
"Mike always maintains a very positive attitude in life, and today is proof of that. So many people would beat themselves up over a loss like that, but he has taken it and turned it into something that can affect his future - and that's a great model for success," Dr. Will said.
"I think Mike is definitely focused and is a force to deal with in the future," he added.
Mike and the Torco Racing Fuels Funny Car travel to Memphis, Tenn. this week and will put his "new thinking" to the test next weekend at the O'Reilly Mid-South NHRA Nationals.
Ashley Draws A Red Line in the Sand with Early Exit in Brainerd
BRAINERD, Minn. (8/13/06) -- On what would seem to most to be a very disappointing day, Funny Car driver Mike Ashley has drawn a line in the sand. Delivering a 4.774/326 run against former teammate Del Worsham's 5.411/221 at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., everything about the round was perfect - except for leaving the starting line .069 seconds early.
The red light start cost Ashley the race, but not his positive attitude.
"I am just trying to hard. This will stop and I will get it together. I definitely let [crewchief] Brian Corradi and the rest of the team down, and for that I am sorry. It's always disappointing when I don't do my job correctly, but, this run must be a turning point for me and I am going to make sure it is," Ashley said.
Ashley will continue to work on his starting line challenge utilizing the services of sports psychologist Dr. Jim Will. Dr. Will, who works with professional athletes to shape their "self talk," has spent several weekends working with Ashley and his crew to develop a program specific to drag racing success.
"Mike is an incredible driver, there's no doubt about that," said Dr. Will. "As we have talked over the past several days, we've agreed that trying too hard can be detrimental to achieving your goals, and I think Mike experienced that firsthand today.
"Mike always maintains a very positive attitude in life, and today is proof of that. So many people would beat themselves up over a loss like that, but he has taken it and turned it into something that can affect his future - and that's a great model for success," Dr. Will said.
"I think Mike is definitely focused and is a force to deal with in the future," he added.
Mike and the Torco Racing Fuels Funny Car travel to Memphis, Tenn. this week and will put his "new thinking" to the test next weekend at the O'Reilly Mid-South NHRA Nationals.
