<img src="http://gallery.nitromater.com/files/6/5/M_Ashley.jpg" alt="M_Ashley" align="left"borders="0"/>
READING, Pa. – Things just keep getting better for Knoll Gas/Torco Race Fuels Funny Car Driver Mike Ashley. Blasting his way to the provisional top-qualifying position at the TOYO Tires NHRA Nationals with a blazing personal-best and track record 4.694 second/330.96 m.p.h. run down the quarter mile, Ashley was grinning from ear to ear. Still riding the emotional wave from his first-ever Funny Car final round appearance last weekend in Dallas at the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals where he was also in the top spot after a day of qualifying, he said he always knew this team was capable of championship performance.
"This is serious," Ashley said just after his class-leading run. "I think last week, people saw first-hand exactly what I have been saying all along - this TORCO Funny Car is for real. And this backs it up, for sure."
"This is a team effort, and Brian Corradi [crew chief] and the guys are like a Swiss watch - perfection in motion," he said.
In the sport where fractions of a second are the difference between winning and losing, Ashley's run not only broke his personal best of 4.73/329.83, but also smashed John Force's two-year-old Maple Grove Raceway record by more than . 03 seconds in elapsed time, and just over 3 m.p.h. in speed. The old record was 3.728/327.82, set in October 2004, and Ashley's numbers were 4.694/330.96.
Ashley's numbers were also only .029 seconds shy of the NHRA national record of 4.665/333.58, also set by John Force and within reaching distance this weekend.
"Because we had made such a stellar run in the first round, and because the national record was so close, we decided as a team to swing for the fence and try to break Force's record in our second run," Ashley said.
On the second qualifying pass of the day, Corradi and crew attempted to run a 4.66 or better, but, according to Ashley, the track couldn't hold the tires and he had to click it off and abort the run.
"We had to try it, and we're still going for it tomorrow. It's definitely do-able, and I could really use the points to help us break into the top-ten by the end of the season," he said.
Setting a national record earns a driver 20 points, and from the number 15 position, every point is precious. Ashley earned 96 points last weekend for his runner-up finish and is currently 156 points out of the top ten, sitting with 631 points for the season so far. Including this event, there are only four events left to make up the difference.
Not to be slowed down off the track, after the Funny Car session Ashley headed straight to the airport to fly back to New York for a critical business meeting. As Executive Vice President of Lend America, he juggles his racing career with managing the day-to-day operations of the more than 200- strong mortgage bank. Lend America is the Official Mortgage Source for NHRA.
"I tried so hard to get out of this meeting, but I couldn't. It was just too important. I'm not worried, though - my focus is laser- sharp, and I am ready to go racing and win. I'll definitely be back in plenty of time to go for it again tomorrow.
"With such an incredible sponsor like Evan Knoll and Torco behind me and with that Brian Corradi-tuned Dodge Charger all around me, we are definitely going to finish the season strong.
"I'm definitely excited and ready for tomorrow," he said.
Nitro qualifying for the $1.5 million TOYO Tires NHRA Nationals in the POWERade Drag Racing Series is scheduled to continue at noon and 3 p.m. Saturday. Eliminations are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, October 1.
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:
Ashley Sets Records and Sits at Provisional Number One in Reading
READING, Pa. – Things just keep getting better for Knoll Gas/Torco Race Fuels Funny Car Driver Mike Ashley. Blasting his way to the provisional top-qualifying position at the TOYO Tires NHRA Nationals with a blazing personal-best and track record 4.694 second/330.96 m.p.h. run down the quarter mile, Ashley was grinning from ear to ear. Still riding the emotional wave from his first-ever Funny Car final round appearance last weekend in Dallas at the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals where he was also in the top spot after a day of qualifying, he said he always knew this team was capable of championship performance.
"This is serious," Ashley said just after his class-leading run. "I think last week, people saw first-hand exactly what I have been saying all along - this TORCO Funny Car is for real. And this backs it up, for sure."
"This is a team effort, and Brian Corradi [crew chief] and the guys are like a Swiss watch - perfection in motion," he said.
In the sport where fractions of a second are the difference between winning and losing, Ashley's run not only broke his personal best of 4.73/329.83, but also smashed John Force's two-year-old Maple Grove Raceway record by more than . 03 seconds in elapsed time, and just over 3 m.p.h. in speed. The old record was 3.728/327.82, set in October 2004, and Ashley's numbers were 4.694/330.96.
Ashley's numbers were also only .029 seconds shy of the NHRA national record of 4.665/333.58, also set by John Force and within reaching distance this weekend.
"Because we had made such a stellar run in the first round, and because the national record was so close, we decided as a team to swing for the fence and try to break Force's record in our second run," Ashley said.
On the second qualifying pass of the day, Corradi and crew attempted to run a 4.66 or better, but, according to Ashley, the track couldn't hold the tires and he had to click it off and abort the run.
"We had to try it, and we're still going for it tomorrow. It's definitely do-able, and I could really use the points to help us break into the top-ten by the end of the season," he said.
Setting a national record earns a driver 20 points, and from the number 15 position, every point is precious. Ashley earned 96 points last weekend for his runner-up finish and is currently 156 points out of the top ten, sitting with 631 points for the season so far. Including this event, there are only four events left to make up the difference.
Not to be slowed down off the track, after the Funny Car session Ashley headed straight to the airport to fly back to New York for a critical business meeting. As Executive Vice President of Lend America, he juggles his racing career with managing the day-to-day operations of the more than 200- strong mortgage bank. Lend America is the Official Mortgage Source for NHRA.
"I tried so hard to get out of this meeting, but I couldn't. It was just too important. I'm not worried, though - my focus is laser- sharp, and I am ready to go racing and win. I'll definitely be back in plenty of time to go for it again tomorrow.
"With such an incredible sponsor like Evan Knoll and Torco behind me and with that Brian Corradi-tuned Dodge Charger all around me, we are definitely going to finish the season strong.
"I'm definitely excited and ready for tomorrow," he said.
Nitro qualifying for the $1.5 million TOYO Tires NHRA Nationals in the POWERade Drag Racing Series is scheduled to continue at noon and 3 p.m. Saturday. Eliminations are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, October 1.
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
