<img src="http://gallery.nitromater.com/files/6/5/M_Ashley.jpg" alt="M_Ashley" align="right"borders="0"/>
INDIANAPOLIS --Mike Ashley entered last year’s NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals as an NHRA POWERade Funny Car rookie facing the mountainous challenge of driving a nitro-burning entry. This year the Knoll Gas – Torco Race Fuels Funny Car driver revisits the marquee event armed with experience and a mountain of opportunity.
Two words sum up Ashley’s enthusiasm for this weekend – confidence and performance. The two- time Pro Modified champion attributes those factors to Brian Corradi and a crew that refuses to settle for second place.
“This has been the best year and a great learning experience for me,” Ashley said. “I watch what is written on the Internet about how much experience a driver has and such - things like “this person has so many starts and Ashley has significantly less.
“Yes, the guys I’m racing have a lot more experience in a Funny Car, and I have a long way to go to get to that level, but, I’m surrounded by a great team that makes up for any lack of seat time. It has been a year that I’ve had to make some tough decisions. My sponsor, Evan Knoll, has been very supportive and I think along the way we have proven ourselves worthy of that support.”
This weekend will mark the seventh outing for Ashley with the newly formed Knoll Gas – Torco Race Fuels team. In that time, Ashley has nailed down two semi- final finishes, a quarter-final run, a pole position, three times has been a top-half qualifier and once set a track record. And, as if that isn’t enough, he’s also defeated the defending world champion and the 2005 rookie of the year in head-to-head competition thus far in 2006.
“We have really turned our program around and it shows,” Ashley said.
“We rarely smoke the tires and go from one end to the other much more consistently. We’re still finding our groove, but I’m sure we can get out of this season winning some rounds and races. I think we can make a run for the championship next year.”
Ashley’s confidence is fueled in part by a strong test last week in Indianapolis. During the official session, Ashley turned in the fourth quickest performance, second only to the three-car team from John Force Racing.
“When I roll into Indy, I know of no reason why we can’t win,” Ashley said. “I predict that we are going in to win. I worked all last week on improving my driving and the guys worked on their tuning.”
Ashley would love nothing more than to win this weekend to shake off the inability to accomplish the feat in Pro Modified.
“It’s a race I’d love to check off from my list of goals,” Ashley said. “I was never able to do it in the Pro Modified. Indy is a race you want to win regardless of which class you run in. I am pumped because this is a team that can go the distance. We can win this race and I intend to do everything I can to make that happen.”
Qualifying in the 18th of 23 events in the $50 million POWERade Drag Racing Series begins Friday, September 1 with a session scheduled for 7:30 p.m., and continues with sessions on Saturday at 2:45 and 7:45 p.m. Qualifying concludes on Sunday with the final two attempts at 12:45 and 4:10 p.m. Eliminations will begin at 11:00 p.m. on Monday, September 4.
For more Information about Mike Ashley and Gotham City Racing, visit the team website: www.GothamCityRacing.com
About Gotham City Racing
Gotham City Racing is fully sponsored by Knoll Gas Torco Race Fuels, the largest independently owned race fuel manufacturer. Knoll Gas - Torco Race Fuels has a full line of racing gasoline including methanol and nitromethane. Their full product line of additives is complimented by SKULL Gear -- an innovative and trendy clothing line. Product can be purchased by calling 1-800-67-TORCO or by visiting their website.
Website: http://www.torco.com
Torco Race Fuels CompetitionPlus.com
To keep up with the latest in drag racing news including same day coverage of NHRA POWERade national events, click on Torco's CompetitionPlus.com.
Mike Ashley's Gotham City Racing is also sponsored by:
Oakley
Optima Aluminum Trailers
Lend America
Impact Racing
Knoll Gas Motorsports
SKULL Shine
SKULL H2O
ASHLEY MARKS HIS FIRST FULL YEAR OF FUNNY CAR RACING WITH INDY 2006
INDIANAPOLIS --Mike Ashley entered last year’s NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals as an NHRA POWERade Funny Car rookie facing the mountainous challenge of driving a nitro-burning entry. This year the Knoll Gas – Torco Race Fuels Funny Car driver revisits the marquee event armed with experience and a mountain of opportunity.
Two words sum up Ashley’s enthusiasm for this weekend – confidence and performance. The two- time Pro Modified champion attributes those factors to Brian Corradi and a crew that refuses to settle for second place.
“This has been the best year and a great learning experience for me,” Ashley said. “I watch what is written on the Internet about how much experience a driver has and such - things like “this person has so many starts and Ashley has significantly less.
“Yes, the guys I’m racing have a lot more experience in a Funny Car, and I have a long way to go to get to that level, but, I’m surrounded by a great team that makes up for any lack of seat time. It has been a year that I’ve had to make some tough decisions. My sponsor, Evan Knoll, has been very supportive and I think along the way we have proven ourselves worthy of that support.”
This weekend will mark the seventh outing for Ashley with the newly formed Knoll Gas – Torco Race Fuels team. In that time, Ashley has nailed down two semi- final finishes, a quarter-final run, a pole position, three times has been a top-half qualifier and once set a track record. And, as if that isn’t enough, he’s also defeated the defending world champion and the 2005 rookie of the year in head-to-head competition thus far in 2006.
“We have really turned our program around and it shows,” Ashley said.
“We rarely smoke the tires and go from one end to the other much more consistently. We’re still finding our groove, but I’m sure we can get out of this season winning some rounds and races. I think we can make a run for the championship next year.”
Ashley’s confidence is fueled in part by a strong test last week in Indianapolis. During the official session, Ashley turned in the fourth quickest performance, second only to the three-car team from John Force Racing.
“When I roll into Indy, I know of no reason why we can’t win,” Ashley said. “I predict that we are going in to win. I worked all last week on improving my driving and the guys worked on their tuning.”
Ashley would love nothing more than to win this weekend to shake off the inability to accomplish the feat in Pro Modified.
“It’s a race I’d love to check off from my list of goals,” Ashley said. “I was never able to do it in the Pro Modified. Indy is a race you want to win regardless of which class you run in. I am pumped because this is a team that can go the distance. We can win this race and I intend to do everything I can to make that happen.”
Qualifying in the 18th of 23 events in the $50 million POWERade Drag Racing Series begins Friday, September 1 with a session scheduled for 7:30 p.m., and continues with sessions on Saturday at 2:45 and 7:45 p.m. Qualifying concludes on Sunday with the final two attempts at 12:45 and 4:10 p.m. Eliminations will begin at 11:00 p.m. on Monday, September 4.
For more Information about Mike Ashley and Gotham City Racing, visit the team website: www.GothamCityRacing.com
About Gotham City Racing
Gotham City Racing is fully sponsored by Knoll Gas Torco Race Fuels, the largest independently owned race fuel manufacturer. Knoll Gas - Torco Race Fuels has a full line of racing gasoline including methanol and nitromethane. Their full product line of additives is complimented by SKULL Gear -- an innovative and trendy clothing line. Product can be purchased by calling 1-800-67-TORCO or by visiting their website.
Website: http://www.torco.com
Torco Race Fuels CompetitionPlus.com
To keep up with the latest in drag racing news including same day coverage of NHRA POWERade national events, click on Torco's CompetitionPlus.com.
Mike Ashley's Gotham City Racing is also sponsored by:
Oakley
Optima Aluminum Trailers
Lend America
Impact Racing
Knoll Gas Motorsports
SKULL Shine
SKULL H2O
