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Topeka: Mike Ashley preview

Ashley Intent Maintaining Momentum in Topeka TOPEKA, Kan. - With three number one qualifying performances in a row at NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events, New York mortgage banker Mike Ashley, driver of the Torco Race Fuels Dodge Charger nitro ...

Published: May 30, 2007, 6:45 PM

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Ashley Intent Maintaining Momentum in Topeka

TOPEKA, Kan. - With three number one qualifying performances in a row at NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events, New York mortgage banker Mike Ashley, driver of the Torco Race Fuels Dodge Charger nitro Funny Car, is intent on maintaining his momentum with hopes to land in the winner's circle at the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals, June 1-3 at Heartland Park Topeka. Ashley currently shares the No. 4 spot in POWERade points with Gary Scelzi.

Ashley, the vice president and founder of Lend America, the official mortgage source of NHRA, said he has used the unexpected time off due to the re-scheduled Bristol, Tenn. to get ahead with his projects and is ready to get back on the quarter-mile.

"We've been running so well, I'm really anxious to go racing again," Ashley said. "Brian [Corradi, crew chief] and the guys got some extra time at home, and then got ahead on some of their development projects, too."

Ashley's Gotham City Racing team has been consistently moving up in the POWERade points race and is a scant 19 points out of third place. A two-time Pro Modified World Champion, his formula for success has been proven by stellar results.

"It's all about consistency and focus," he said. "We decided as a team to go for it on every run, push our limits and really be a leader, not just trying to be safe and 'just get in the field.' Since Houston, we've had the fastest and quickest Funny Car at the track, and that really shows just how much focus the guys have.

"They've made my job as a driver a lot easier, that's for sure. I'm so proud of all of them," Ashley said. "Now we just have to win one more round on Sunday to make the package complete."

In the past four events, Ashley has delivered a runner-up finish, a semifinal finish, a quarterfinal finish and a first round finish - everything except win - which is exactly what he hopes to do this year in Topeka. At Topeka 2006, Ashley qualified 14th with a 4.988/301.00 and lost first round to Eric Medlen: 4.977 to 4.972.

-credit: mar

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