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BRAINERD, Minn. (August 10, 2007) - After a tough week in the mortgage industry, Mike Ashley, driver of the Torco Race Fuels Dodge Charger R/T nitro Funny Car, took the provisional pole position at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn. with the help of two of his closest friends: Evan Knoll and Brian Corradi.
The New York mortgage banker and Vice President of Lend America, the Official Mortgage Source of NHRA, outpaced the competition all day in qualifying, being the only driver to run in the four-second range during the first round at 4.887/308.71. In the night session, Ashley blasted to the No. 1 spot with a 4.833/324.98 - nearly eight mph faster than the next fastest Funny Car and a fraction of a second faster than the more aerodynamic Top Fuel Dragsters.
"It was really a difficult week in the mortgage industry that saw some of the largest players in the industry fail and the federal government jump in to try to balance the playing field. Our company, Lend America, is positioned well to turn the catastrophe into opportunity, just like our team is well positioned heading into the Countdown to the Championship," the 42-year-old Ashley said.
"It was great, coming up here to Brainerd to race. And with the support of Torco and Evan, along with an incredible car tuned by Brian Corradi, everyone on the Gotham City team will have a well deserved good night sleep heading into qualifying tomorrow," he said.
If Ashley holds onto the top spot, it will be his sixth of the year, including the past two races he has attended, the NHRA event in Sonoma, Calif., and the IHRA event in Martin, Mich. It will also help assure his spot in the 'playoffs' where the top eight drivers will compete in the POWERade Championship race.
"I'm extremely confident about the business as well as the racing, and I am really looking forward to the rest of this weekend. When you work so hard on things, it gives you a great feeling inside when it all comes together," he said.
Qualifying is scheduled to continue at noon and 2:45 p.m. Saturday, August 11. Eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday, August 12.
Ashley takes provisional No. 1 in Brainerd with a little help from his friends
BRAINERD, Minn. (August 10, 2007) - After a tough week in the mortgage industry, Mike Ashley, driver of the Torco Race Fuels Dodge Charger R/T nitro Funny Car, took the provisional pole position at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn. with the help of two of his closest friends: Evan Knoll and Brian Corradi.
The New York mortgage banker and Vice President of Lend America, the Official Mortgage Source of NHRA, outpaced the competition all day in qualifying, being the only driver to run in the four-second range during the first round at 4.887/308.71. In the night session, Ashley blasted to the No. 1 spot with a 4.833/324.98 - nearly eight mph faster than the next fastest Funny Car and a fraction of a second faster than the more aerodynamic Top Fuel Dragsters.
"It was really a difficult week in the mortgage industry that saw some of the largest players in the industry fail and the federal government jump in to try to balance the playing field. Our company, Lend America, is positioned well to turn the catastrophe into opportunity, just like our team is well positioned heading into the Countdown to the Championship," the 42-year-old Ashley said.
"It was great, coming up here to Brainerd to race. And with the support of Torco and Evan, along with an incredible car tuned by Brian Corradi, everyone on the Gotham City team will have a well deserved good night sleep heading into qualifying tomorrow," he said.
If Ashley holds onto the top spot, it will be his sixth of the year, including the past two races he has attended, the NHRA event in Sonoma, Calif., and the IHRA event in Martin, Mich. It will also help assure his spot in the 'playoffs' where the top eight drivers will compete in the POWERade Championship race.
"I'm extremely confident about the business as well as the racing, and I am really looking forward to the rest of this weekend. When you work so hard on things, it gives you a great feeling inside when it all comes together," he said.
Qualifying is scheduled to continue at noon and 2:45 p.m. Saturday, August 11. Eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday, August 12.
