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MOHNTON, Penn. (August 14, 2007) - A year ago, Mike Ashley recorded his personal best elapsed time of 4.694 at Maple Grove Raceway just outside of Reading, Penn., and the New York mortgage banker is anxious to return this weekend, August 16-19, at the Toyo Tires Nationals to defend his No. 3 spot in POWERade Championship points and attempt to improve on his ET mark. Ashley has been on a tear this season in the Torco Race Fuels Dodge Charger R/T, winning two events, earning five No. 1 qualifying spots, and setting six track speed records including recording the fastest speed ever in a nitro Funny Car. Ashley holds the Funny Car speed record for Maple Grove at 330.96 mph, which he also set last year.
This race marks the end of nine straight weeks of racing for the Gotham City Racing crew and the end of the Countdown to Eight. Ashley has clinched his spot in the Countdown to Four - the next phase of the NHRA Championship playoff, and is also ranked second in the Skoal Showdown, a $100,000 race-within-a-race held at the Mac Tools US Nationals later this month.
"It would be great to run a time lower than the 4.69 we ran last year, but that's not entirely our goal for the weekend," Ashley said. "What we really want to do is keep our spot in the Countdown heading into the next part of the playoffs. There are so many quality cars right behind us, we really have to be on our game to hold on to our position.
"Brian Corradi [crew chief] and Mark Oswald definitely know this track, so I'm sure we'll be in good shape. Brian tuned us to that incredible number last year, and I know Mark has raced here many times before, so between them, we definitely have an advantage.
"Now is the time for us to really get our game ready for the next part of the Countdown, and I think you'll see a really serious, competitive side of all of the racers this weekend. For some, it's sink or swim. For us, it's get ready and go. This is great drag racing," Ashley said.
Qualifying begins Friday, August 17 with runs scheduled at 4 and 7 p.m., and continues on Saturday with rounds scheduled at noon and 3 p.m. Eliminations in the 17th of 23 races in the POWERade Championship Drag Racing Series are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, August 19. (All times EDT.)
ESPN2/ESPN2HD will broadcast two hours of qualifying coverage on Saturday, Aug. at 6 p.m. (EDT). Three hours of eliminations coverage will be televised at10 p.m. (EDT) on Sunday, August 19.
FAST FACTS:
* Mike Ashley is currently No. 3 in POWERade Championship Points
* Mike Ashley has won two NHRA events this season
* Mike Ashley has qualified No. 1 at the past two NHRA events
* Mike Ashley has qualified No. 1 at five NRHA events this season
* Mike Ashley has set track speed records at six tracks this year
* Mike Ashley is currently No. 2 in SKOAL Showdown points
* Team Gotham has won the Full Throttle Pit Crew Challenge three times
* Mike Ashley set the Maple Grove track speed record last year at 330.96 mph
* Mike Ashley set his personal best ET at Maple Grove last year: 4.694 seconds
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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: 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 looking for another record-setting performance in Reading
MOHNTON, Penn. (August 14, 2007) - A year ago, Mike Ashley recorded his personal best elapsed time of 4.694 at Maple Grove Raceway just outside of Reading, Penn., and the New York mortgage banker is anxious to return this weekend, August 16-19, at the Toyo Tires Nationals to defend his No. 3 spot in POWERade Championship points and attempt to improve on his ET mark. Ashley has been on a tear this season in the Torco Race Fuels Dodge Charger R/T, winning two events, earning five No. 1 qualifying spots, and setting six track speed records including recording the fastest speed ever in a nitro Funny Car. Ashley holds the Funny Car speed record for Maple Grove at 330.96 mph, which he also set last year.
This race marks the end of nine straight weeks of racing for the Gotham City Racing crew and the end of the Countdown to Eight. Ashley has clinched his spot in the Countdown to Four - the next phase of the NHRA Championship playoff, and is also ranked second in the Skoal Showdown, a $100,000 race-within-a-race held at the Mac Tools US Nationals later this month.
"It would be great to run a time lower than the 4.69 we ran last year, but that's not entirely our goal for the weekend," Ashley said. "What we really want to do is keep our spot in the Countdown heading into the next part of the playoffs. There are so many quality cars right behind us, we really have to be on our game to hold on to our position.
"Brian Corradi [crew chief] and Mark Oswald definitely know this track, so I'm sure we'll be in good shape. Brian tuned us to that incredible number last year, and I know Mark has raced here many times before, so between them, we definitely have an advantage.
"Now is the time for us to really get our game ready for the next part of the Countdown, and I think you'll see a really serious, competitive side of all of the racers this weekend. For some, it's sink or swim. For us, it's get ready and go. This is great drag racing," Ashley said.
Qualifying begins Friday, August 17 with runs scheduled at 4 and 7 p.m., and continues on Saturday with rounds scheduled at noon and 3 p.m. Eliminations in the 17th of 23 races in the POWERade Championship Drag Racing Series are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, August 19. (All times EDT.)
ESPN2/ESPN2HD will broadcast two hours of qualifying coverage on Saturday, Aug. at 6 p.m. (EDT). Three hours of eliminations coverage will be televised at10 p.m. (EDT) on Sunday, August 19.
FAST FACTS:
* Mike Ashley is currently No. 3 in POWERade Championship Points
* Mike Ashley has won two NHRA events this season
* Mike Ashley has qualified No. 1 at the past two NHRA events
* Mike Ashley has qualified No. 1 at five NRHA events this season
* Mike Ashley has set track speed records at six tracks this year
* Mike Ashley is currently No. 2 in SKOAL Showdown points
* Team Gotham has won the Full Throttle Pit Crew Challenge three times
* Mike Ashley set the Maple Grove track speed record last year at 330.96 mph
* Mike Ashley set his personal best ET at Maple Grove last year: 4.694 seconds
###
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: 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.
