<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/175.jpg" alt="Mike Ashley" align="left"borders="0"/>
There's an old adage which suggests numbers don't lie. In Mike Ashley's case maybe they don't tell the whole story.
The two-time NHRA Pro Modified world champion from Long Island, New York, wrestled a possessed race car all the way to the finish line before losing a tough match opposite seasoned drag racer Tony Pontieri during the quarter-finals.
Wild rides are commonplace in Pro Modified and then there are those with Ashley behind the wheel.
"This is a brand new car and there's some technology in this chassis that we're struggling with to get a handle on," Ashley said. "This is a big factor in the car being inconsistent."
Ashley's 1968 Camaro shook the tires throughout low gear and at one time slid sideways in a move reminiscent of the nitro Funny Car he once drove.
"The car was sideways and I pulled second gear," Ashley explained. "Then the car headed for the centerline and you have to realize all of this was going on in six seconds. The objective in drag racing is to go straight."
Lost in the excitement was Ashley's 6.069 elapsed time at 238.05, which lost to Pontieri's slightly quicker 6.060, 236.46.
"We still almost won the race," Ashley said, smiling broadly. "On the outside, it's tough to lose - but most importantly you must keep your eye on the prize. The prize for us is getting the complete package working in unison.
"We have the horsepower where we want it, we just need to bring the chassis around. If you look at my partner Roger Burgess's car, they have the complete package and it showed this weekend. We'll have that same package very soon with this car."
In the end, Ashley was able to put the day into perspective.
"You don't mind losing a race as long as you put up a good fight and that's what this was," Ashley explained.
WILD RIDE ENDS ASHLEY'S DAY IN HOUSTON
Ashley reaches quarter-finals
There's an old adage which suggests numbers don't lie. In Mike Ashley's case maybe they don't tell the whole story.
The two-time NHRA Pro Modified world champion from Long Island, New York, wrestled a possessed race car all the way to the finish line before losing a tough match opposite seasoned drag racer Tony Pontieri during the quarter-finals.
Wild rides are commonplace in Pro Modified and then there are those with Ashley behind the wheel.
"This is a brand new car and there's some technology in this chassis that we're struggling with to get a handle on," Ashley said. "This is a big factor in the car being inconsistent."
Ashley's 1968 Camaro shook the tires throughout low gear and at one time slid sideways in a move reminiscent of the nitro Funny Car he once drove.
"The car was sideways and I pulled second gear," Ashley explained. "Then the car headed for the centerline and you have to realize all of this was going on in six seconds. The objective in drag racing is to go straight."
Lost in the excitement was Ashley's 6.069 elapsed time at 238.05, which lost to Pontieri's slightly quicker 6.060, 236.46.
"We still almost won the race," Ashley said, smiling broadly. "On the outside, it's tough to lose - but most importantly you must keep your eye on the prize. The prize for us is getting the complete package working in unison.
"We have the horsepower where we want it, we just need to bring the chassis around. If you look at my partner Roger Burgess's car, they have the complete package and it showed this weekend. We'll have that same package very soon with this car."
In the end, Ashley was able to put the day into perspective.
"You don't mind losing a race as long as you put up a good fight and that's what this was," Ashley explained.
