<img src="http://gallery.nitromater.com/files/6/5/M_Ashley.jpg" alt="M_Ashley" align="left"borders="0"/>
READING, Pa. – When rain wiped out qualifying sessions and forced the postponement of the TOYO Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, Knoll Gas/ TORCO Racing Fuels Funny Car driver Mike Ashley was disappointed. Not so much by the inconvenience of having to return to the site two weeks later to run the event, but more because he knew a secret. The secret that his team had one of the best cars in the field, and he was ready to come off the line at full speed.
What a difference two weeks makes: Mike Ashley is fresh off his best performance ever, running the slate at the O'Reilly Fall Nationals in Dallas, Texas until the last round when his new Dodge Charger lost traction in a battle he was leading against Robert Height, costing him the race and forcing him to settle for the runner-up position.
The secret is out and Ashley is no longer disappointed. He said he is on cloud nine.
"I knew this team had what it takes to go rounds, and I have always had confidence that we would be in the final round," Ashley said.
"There's only one more round to win to make the weekend perfect, and that's exactly what we are going to attempt this weekend in Reading - win the finals and get that Wally.
"Brian Corradi has this car running incredibly, and with the awesome support of Evan Knoll and TORCO, our whole team has come together so well - we're like a high-precision machine. Everyone, including me, has worked on improving with every round, and our hard work is finally paying off.
"I told people that I felt that we were under-rated before Dallas, and now, I think people definitely see us as team to be watched. They definitely know who we are - and I couldn't be happier," he said.
Ashley's schedule has been packed both on the road as well as at work, and the extra days away from his Lend America desk to make up the race will be costly to his schedule, but he said it's all worth it.
"The two days before Dallas, I had been training my sales force, and I gave each of them a wrist-band that said 'Let's make a strong finish to 2006,' so when I got to Texas, I had the focus that I was going to give things all I had. I think the results speak for themselves - I was number one all the way through the third qualifying session and finished qualifying at number three, and went on to win all the way to the finals.
"Being so busy is exhausting, but the results have been worth it. I'm looking forward to this weekend," he said with a knowing smile. Nitro qualifying for the $1.5 million event in the POWERade Drag Racing Series is scheduled for 2 and 5 p.m. Friday and noon and 3 p.m. Saturday. Eliminations are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, October 1.
Nitro qualifying for the $1.5 million event in the POWERade Drag Racing Series is scheduled for 2 and 5 p.m. Friday and 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
Dallas Runner-up Mike Ashley Anxious to Keep Momentum Heading into Reading
READING, Pa. – When rain wiped out qualifying sessions and forced the postponement of the TOYO Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, Knoll Gas/ TORCO Racing Fuels Funny Car driver Mike Ashley was disappointed. Not so much by the inconvenience of having to return to the site two weeks later to run the event, but more because he knew a secret. The secret that his team had one of the best cars in the field, and he was ready to come off the line at full speed.
What a difference two weeks makes: Mike Ashley is fresh off his best performance ever, running the slate at the O'Reilly Fall Nationals in Dallas, Texas until the last round when his new Dodge Charger lost traction in a battle he was leading against Robert Height, costing him the race and forcing him to settle for the runner-up position.
The secret is out and Ashley is no longer disappointed. He said he is on cloud nine.
"I knew this team had what it takes to go rounds, and I have always had confidence that we would be in the final round," Ashley said.
"There's only one more round to win to make the weekend perfect, and that's exactly what we are going to attempt this weekend in Reading - win the finals and get that Wally.
"Brian Corradi has this car running incredibly, and with the awesome support of Evan Knoll and TORCO, our whole team has come together so well - we're like a high-precision machine. Everyone, including me, has worked on improving with every round, and our hard work is finally paying off.
"I told people that I felt that we were under-rated before Dallas, and now, I think people definitely see us as team to be watched. They definitely know who we are - and I couldn't be happier," he said.
Ashley's schedule has been packed both on the road as well as at work, and the extra days away from his Lend America desk to make up the race will be costly to his schedule, but he said it's all worth it.
"The two days before Dallas, I had been training my sales force, and I gave each of them a wrist-band that said 'Let's make a strong finish to 2006,' so when I got to Texas, I had the focus that I was going to give things all I had. I think the results speak for themselves - I was number one all the way through the third qualifying session and finished qualifying at number three, and went on to win all the way to the finals.
"Being so busy is exhausting, but the results have been worth it. I'm looking forward to this weekend," he said with a knowing smile. Nitro qualifying for the $1.5 million event in the POWERade Drag Racing Series is scheduled for 2 and 5 p.m. Friday and noon and 3 p.m. Saturday. Eliminations are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, October 1.
Nitro qualifying for the $1.5 million event in the POWERade Drag Racing Series is scheduled for 2 and 5 p.m. Friday and 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
