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BAYTOWN, Tex. (March 31, 2007) - As thunderstorms hammered parts of central and southern Texas Saturday, causing power outages and severe flooding in parts of the greater Houston area, NHRA Funny Car driver Mike Ashley sat anxiously near his Torco Race Fuels, Inc. Dodge Charger, hoping for a break in the storm long enough to take another pass down the quarter mile at the O'Reilly NHRA Southern Nationals at Houston Raceway Park. Ashley had already qualified well for the 16-car field, taking the provisional No. 4 spot on Friday, and was not worried about making the show - he just wanted to race.
The constant rain kept racers from going down the track, but for Ashley, his energy remained high and his spirit confident.
"I'm very pleased that we accomplished the first part of our game plan, which is to qualify well on Friday so we can use Saturday as tune up and preparation for race day," Ashley said.
"I was really hoping we'd have at least another chance to run, and it looked like we might be able to try, but the track just wouldn't dry, and the rain just kept coming down.
"Don't get me wrong, I don't like the rain on race days because I feel like I should be doing something other than just sitting and waiting, but I feel like we did what we set out to do, and being number four just makes my point. That makes me feel good, and I'm very confident heading into tomorrow," he said.
Ashley will enter eliminations qualified fourth based on the strength of his 4.814/309.63 run, giving him lane choice over Tommy Johnson, Jr. in round one. Pre race ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. (CDT) on Sunday, April 1, and eliminations to begin at 11 a.m.
Ashley Qualifies No. 4 in Houston, Confident heading into Sunday
BAYTOWN, Tex. (March 31, 2007) - As thunderstorms hammered parts of central and southern Texas Saturday, causing power outages and severe flooding in parts of the greater Houston area, NHRA Funny Car driver Mike Ashley sat anxiously near his Torco Race Fuels, Inc. Dodge Charger, hoping for a break in the storm long enough to take another pass down the quarter mile at the O'Reilly NHRA Southern Nationals at Houston Raceway Park. Ashley had already qualified well for the 16-car field, taking the provisional No. 4 spot on Friday, and was not worried about making the show - he just wanted to race.
The constant rain kept racers from going down the track, but for Ashley, his energy remained high and his spirit confident.
"I'm very pleased that we accomplished the first part of our game plan, which is to qualify well on Friday so we can use Saturday as tune up and preparation for race day," Ashley said.
"I was really hoping we'd have at least another chance to run, and it looked like we might be able to try, but the track just wouldn't dry, and the rain just kept coming down.
"Don't get me wrong, I don't like the rain on race days because I feel like I should be doing something other than just sitting and waiting, but I feel like we did what we set out to do, and being number four just makes my point. That makes me feel good, and I'm very confident heading into tomorrow," he said.
Ashley will enter eliminations qualified fourth based on the strength of his 4.814/309.63 run, giving him lane choice over Tommy Johnson, Jr. in round one. Pre race ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. (CDT) on Sunday, April 1, and eliminations to begin at 11 a.m.
