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CHANDLER, Ariz. (February 19, 2007) - Mike Ashley, driver of the Knoll Gas - Torco Race Fuels, Inc. Dodge Charger, fresh off a semifinal finish in the season opener in Pomona, Calif. and currently tied for third place in NRHA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car points, is anxious to take his '007 Bat with a Vengeance Tour' to the Arizona desert at the Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals in Chandler, Ariz.
"Chapter one of our 007 Tour is in the books and we have 22 more to write," Ashley said. "The second chapter is coming up at Phoenix, and the theme will be the same. Use our testing data, team commitment, plenty of horsepower and even more mind power to keep our program rolling toward the Top 8 Countdown to the Championship."
"I love racing in Phoenix," Ashley, a mortgage banker from New York, continued. "The air is crisp, the track should be tight, and the fans definitely love their nitro.
"We spent some time testing here in January, and had some really good laps. Brian [Corradi, crew chief] and the team are confident after Pomona, and with some time off and a trip home, we're all rested and ready to keep hitting it hard," he said.
At the Winternationals in Pomona, Ashley qualified for the quickest Funny Car field in history and dispatched Tim Wilkerson and Cruz Pedregon in the first two rounds of eliminations before falling to in the semifinals to eventual event-winner Gary Scelzi, 4.783/329.26 to 4.690/331.69.
"What some might not realize about that lap against Gary was that we were extremely limited by what the right lane would hold. We had the car dialed in to run a mid 4.70 - and that's exactly what it did. We had the power, we just needed the other lane," Ashley said.
Prior to qualifying on Friday, Ashley is scheduled to visit second and third-grade classes at Stetson Hills Elementary School in Deer Valley. A father of two himself, Ashley said he loves spending time with kids, talking about racing and encouraging their self-confidence.
"While the racing and competition is fun, it's almost more fun to talk with kids about having a dream and making it happen. Whatever it is - dancing, soccer, baseball, or even drag racing - they can do it, and just getting to have some fun with them keeps life in perspective for me. I love it," he said.
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 12 midnight (ET) Saturday night. On Sunday, Feb. 25, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will broadcast NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at 11 a.m. (ET) and televise three hours of eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
Notable:
For more information about Mike Ashley and Gotham City Racing, visit the team website: MIKEASHLEY.COM.
About Mike Ashley's Gotham City Racing:
Gotham City Racing is fully sponsored by Torco Race Fuels, Inc., the world's largest independently owned race fuel manufacturer. Torco Race Fuels has a full line of racing gasoline in addition to methanol, nitromethane and fuel additives. Torco's fuel product line is complimented by SKULL Shine -- a complete line of car care appearance products and SKULL Gear -- an innovative and trendy clothing line. Products can be purchased by calling 1-800-67-TORCO or by visiting their website: Torco Racing Fuels
Mike Ashley's Gotham City Racing is also sponsored by:
Mike Ashley's 007 Tour Rolls into Phoenix,
Plans visit to local elementary school
CHANDLER, Ariz. (February 19, 2007) - Mike Ashley, driver of the Knoll Gas - Torco Race Fuels, Inc. Dodge Charger, fresh off a semifinal finish in the season opener in Pomona, Calif. and currently tied for third place in NRHA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car points, is anxious to take his '007 Bat with a Vengeance Tour' to the Arizona desert at the Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals in Chandler, Ariz.
"Chapter one of our 007 Tour is in the books and we have 22 more to write," Ashley said. "The second chapter is coming up at Phoenix, and the theme will be the same. Use our testing data, team commitment, plenty of horsepower and even more mind power to keep our program rolling toward the Top 8 Countdown to the Championship."
"I love racing in Phoenix," Ashley, a mortgage banker from New York, continued. "The air is crisp, the track should be tight, and the fans definitely love their nitro.
"We spent some time testing here in January, and had some really good laps. Brian [Corradi, crew chief] and the team are confident after Pomona, and with some time off and a trip home, we're all rested and ready to keep hitting it hard," he said.
At the Winternationals in Pomona, Ashley qualified for the quickest Funny Car field in history and dispatched Tim Wilkerson and Cruz Pedregon in the first two rounds of eliminations before falling to in the semifinals to eventual event-winner Gary Scelzi, 4.783/329.26 to 4.690/331.69.
"What some might not realize about that lap against Gary was that we were extremely limited by what the right lane would hold. We had the car dialed in to run a mid 4.70 - and that's exactly what it did. We had the power, we just needed the other lane," Ashley said.
Prior to qualifying on Friday, Ashley is scheduled to visit second and third-grade classes at Stetson Hills Elementary School in Deer Valley. A father of two himself, Ashley said he loves spending time with kids, talking about racing and encouraging their self-confidence.
"While the racing and competition is fun, it's almost more fun to talk with kids about having a dream and making it happen. Whatever it is - dancing, soccer, baseball, or even drag racing - they can do it, and just getting to have some fun with them keeps life in perspective for me. I love it," he said.
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 12 midnight (ET) Saturday night. On Sunday, Feb. 25, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will broadcast NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at 11 a.m. (ET) and televise three hours of eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
Notable:
- Ashley is currently tied with Jeff Arend for third place with 72 POWERade points, just behind Robert Hight and Gary Scelzi.
- Ashley is fifth in the Skoal Showdown Points standings. The eight-car Skoal Showdown, held at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, is reserved for the racers who qualify the best at the NHRA POWERade Series events completed since the previous year's Showdown. Drivers compete for a $100,000 grand prize.
- Mike Ashley's speed of 331.85 in the final round of qualifying at the Winternationals in Pomona on February 10, 2007 was the 10th fastest in NHRA history.
- Ashley ran 4.744/331.12 in testing on January 27 at Firebird, shutting off before crossing the finish line.
- At the Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals in 2006, Ashley qualified No. 14 with a 4.800/323.35, going out first round to Del Worsham.
- Track Records at Firebird International Raceway in Funny Car: E.T. - 4.703 seconds by Tony Pedregon February 2005; MPH - 329.99 mph by Robert Hight February 2005.
For more information about Mike Ashley and Gotham City Racing, visit the team website: MIKEASHLEY.COM.
About Mike Ashley's Gotham City Racing:
Gotham City Racing is fully sponsored by Torco Race Fuels, Inc., the world's largest independently owned race fuel manufacturer. Torco Race Fuels has a full line of racing gasoline in addition to methanol, nitromethane and fuel additives. Torco's fuel product line is complimented by SKULL Shine -- a complete line of car care appearance products and SKULL Gear -- an innovative and trendy clothing line. Products can be purchased by calling 1-800-67-TORCO or by visiting their website: Torco Racing Fuels
Mike Ashley's Gotham City Racing is also sponsored by:
- Knoll Gas Motorsports - Torco Racing Fuels
- Lucas Oil Products - Lucas Oil
- Dixie Chopper - Dixie Chopper
- Oakley - Oakley - The Official Site
- Lend America - Lend America
