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PHOENIX (February 23, 2007) - For nearly 100 elementary students in Deer Valley, the world just got a whole lot faster - 331.85 mph, to be exact. When NHRA driver Mike Ashley visited their classes on Friday, he explained that in the amount of time it takes them to count to four, his nitromethane-powered Funny Car reaches that speed - and the children were amazed.
Ashley, a father of two from Long Island, New York, made it a point to spend time with the students at Stetson Hills Elementary School as a part of his visit this weekend as a participant in the 23rd annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler.
Along with a positive message of determination and accomplishment, Ashley handed out T-shirts, autographed hero cards, and even a die cast model of one of his cars for display in each classroom.
"These kids are a lot of fun," said Ashley. "They asked some good questions, too, like what kind of safety equipment we use in the cars and what it takes to be a driver."
Ashley knows well what it takes, aside from working his own way to the pinnacle of drag racing, he encourages his 12-year-old son, Justin, to pursue his own dream of driving by fielding a Jr. Dragster, a scaled down and slower version of the nitro-burning cars.
"I love visiting schools because I get to hear kids laugh and listen to their dreams, and that's always important. I believe anyone can make their dreams come true, and I'm living proof," he said.
"When I was a kid, I loved drag racing, and I always wanted to be a racer myself, so I did everything I could to learn about the sport and what it took to be a driver. Now, at 41, I'm going 330 in 4.6 seconds in a nitro Funny Car. It's pretty amazing," Ashley said.
Or, awesome, as one wide-eyed second grader put it. "Mr. Awesome," to be exact.
Ashley laughed and said, "I don't know about that, but I do think it's awesome the way these kids grab a concept and think through things. They definitely are sharp, and have the head start to achieve anything they put their minds to.
"I always tell my kids to expect to win, and it will happen," he said, and for Ashley, he is hoping it will happen this weekend.
Ashley, a two-time world champion in the Pro Modified class, drives his Torco Race Fuels Dodge Charger Funny Car as a regular part of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing series, in Phoenix for its second of 23 events in the 2007 season. Qualifying for the 23rd annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals is scheduled for 2 and 4:30 p.m. on Friday, February 23 and 12:30 and 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Ariz. Eliminations are scheduled to begin in the second stop on the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series at 11 a.m. Sunday, February 25.
TELEVISION: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise one hour of qualifying at 10 p.m. (Mountain Time) Saturday night. On Sunday, Feb. 25, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will broadcast NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at 9 a.m. and televise three hours of eliminations at 5 p.m. (Mountain Time).
Deer Valley Second and Third Grade classes welcome NHRA driver Mike Ashley
PHOENIX (February 23, 2007) - For nearly 100 elementary students in Deer Valley, the world just got a whole lot faster - 331.85 mph, to be exact. When NHRA driver Mike Ashley visited their classes on Friday, he explained that in the amount of time it takes them to count to four, his nitromethane-powered Funny Car reaches that speed - and the children were amazed.
Ashley, a father of two from Long Island, New York, made it a point to spend time with the students at Stetson Hills Elementary School as a part of his visit this weekend as a participant in the 23rd annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler.
Along with a positive message of determination and accomplishment, Ashley handed out T-shirts, autographed hero cards, and even a die cast model of one of his cars for display in each classroom.
"These kids are a lot of fun," said Ashley. "They asked some good questions, too, like what kind of safety equipment we use in the cars and what it takes to be a driver."
Ashley knows well what it takes, aside from working his own way to the pinnacle of drag racing, he encourages his 12-year-old son, Justin, to pursue his own dream of driving by fielding a Jr. Dragster, a scaled down and slower version of the nitro-burning cars.
"I love visiting schools because I get to hear kids laugh and listen to their dreams, and that's always important. I believe anyone can make their dreams come true, and I'm living proof," he said.
"When I was a kid, I loved drag racing, and I always wanted to be a racer myself, so I did everything I could to learn about the sport and what it took to be a driver. Now, at 41, I'm going 330 in 4.6 seconds in a nitro Funny Car. It's pretty amazing," Ashley said.
Or, awesome, as one wide-eyed second grader put it. "Mr. Awesome," to be exact.
Ashley laughed and said, "I don't know about that, but I do think it's awesome the way these kids grab a concept and think through things. They definitely are sharp, and have the head start to achieve anything they put their minds to.
"I always tell my kids to expect to win, and it will happen," he said, and for Ashley, he is hoping it will happen this weekend.
Ashley, a two-time world champion in the Pro Modified class, drives his Torco Race Fuels Dodge Charger Funny Car as a regular part of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing series, in Phoenix for its second of 23 events in the 2007 season. Qualifying for the 23rd annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals is scheduled for 2 and 4:30 p.m. on Friday, February 23 and 12:30 and 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Ariz. Eliminations are scheduled to begin in the second stop on the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series at 11 a.m. Sunday, February 25.
TELEVISION: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise one hour of qualifying at 10 p.m. (Mountain Time) Saturday night. On Sunday, Feb. 25, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will broadcast NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at 9 a.m. and televise three hours of eliminations at 5 p.m. (Mountain Time).
