Ashley Makes Progress at Charlotte Four-Wide Nationals

CONCORD, NC (April 30, 2023) — Justin Ashley wrapped up a two race swing of four-wide national events with a strong showing at the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals today at zMax Dragway. As the No. 2 qualifier Ashley and the Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel dragster earned qualifying bonus points with a strong pass on Saturday and went into race day with momentum. His first round quad featured three tough competitors including Mike Salinas, Austin Prock and rookie Jacob McNeal.

In a wild opening round Ashley and Prock took win lights to advance to the next quad. NHRA rookie McNeal jumped the start for a red-light disqualification while Salinas led the remaining trio off the starting line with a strong .028 reaction time. Prock flew down the track with the quickest run of the session, an impressive 3.686 second run while Ashley and Salinas both lost power and began a coasting battle as they each tried to reel in the finish line. It was Ashley getting to the line just ahead of a slow rolling Salinas to pick up just his second win light in the four-wide format.

“When you are racing four-wide anything can happen,” said Ashley, who has two Top Fuel wins already in 2023. “When we say that we mean it because to be honest with you I didn’t even know that we won that first round until we turned the corner. That was a pleasant surprise. There was so much craziness that went on, but we’ll take a win anywhere that we can get one.  Coasting to the finish line isn’t something that we have done before.”

Heading into the second quad Ashley and the Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel team squared off with Prock, Leah Pruett and veteran Pat Dakin. Ashley flexed his starting line muscle jumping off the line with a stellar .028 reaction time and as his 12,000-horsepower land rocket started to take off his Goodyear slicks lost traction. The 2020 Rookie of the Year was forced to watch Prock and Pruett pull away for the win lights.

“We qualified really well and we stole one in round one so we felt good going into round two,” said Ashley. “We couldn’t capitalize on that round, but we’ll learn from it and will move on to Chicago. I enjoy the four-wides, but I’m looking forward to getting back to the more traditional style of racing. We’ll go back to the shop and look at everything to continue to find ways to improve just like everyone else out here. I feel good about having a fast and consistent race car at this point in the year. We’re happy with where we are right now and there is going to be a lot of shuffling in the points between now and when the countdown starts.”

Ashley and the Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel team will leave zMax Dragway sitting No. 2 in the Camping World Top Fuel point standings.

Qualifying Results

Q1: 3.738 sec, 331.28 mph; Qual. 4

Q2: 3.733 sec; 284.09 mph; Qual. 8

Q3: 3.662 sec, 332.84 mph; Qual. 2

Q4: 7.020 sec, 83.10 mph; Qual. 2

Bonus Points: +2 (2^nd quickest of Q3)

Race Results

First Round

Win: Austin Prock, Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain dragster, (.049), 3.686, 331.53 mph

R/U: Justin Ashley, Phillips Connect Toyota dragster, (.044), 5.820, 115.89 mph

Mike Salinas, Gerber dragster, (.028), 5.853, 117.82 mph

Jacob McNeal, Marck Recycling dragster, DQ – Redlight

Second Round

Win: Austin Prock, Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain dragster, (.062), 3.715, 328.78 mph

R/U: Leah Pruett, Dodge SRT/Direct Connect dragster, (.066), 3.753, 326.40 mph

Pat Dakin, Commercial Metal Fabrications dragster, (.066), 3.774, 325.30 mph

Justin Ashley, Phillips Connect Toyota dragster, (.028), 4.224, 200.68 mph

Camping World Drag Racing Series Top Ten – Top Fuel

1. Steve Torrence           404
2. Justin Ashley              369
3. Leah Pruett                 351
4. Austin Prock                349
5. Brittany Force             348
6. Antron Brown             307
7. Mike Salinas               307
8. Shawn Langdon          262
9. Josh Hart                     250
10. Doug Kalitta                234

About Justin Ashley Racing
Justin Ashley Racing in partnership with Davis Motorsports fields the Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel dragster in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Ashley has finished in the Top Five the past two seasons and has won seven Top Fuel national events and raced to thirteen final rounds. During his Top Fuel rookie season in 2020 Justin won the NHRA Summer nationals, finished in the Top Ten and was recognized as the 2020 NHRA Rookie of the Year.  Prior to his professional debut Ashley had three wins in Top Alcohol Dragster on the Lucas Oil Series. He is the son of multi-time NHRA national event winner Mike Ashley. In 2017, he was named to the Drag Illustrated magazine’s 30 under 30 list, highlighting some of racing’s most promising young individuals on and off the racetrack. To learn more about Justin Ashley Racing, visit JustinAshley.com.