<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/175.jpg" alt="Mike Ashley" align="left"borders="0"/>
HOUSTON, Texas - Mike Ashley has experienced the thrills of winning as a professional drag racer many times. During the first round of the NHRA O'Reilly Springnationals in Houston, Texas, his first round victory felt like the first time all over again.
The mortgage banker from Long Island, New York scored his first round victory since stepping away to concentrate on the challenge of driving and owning an NHRA POWERade Funny Car team. The two-time NHRA World Champion quickly learned his crew hadn't lost a step in his absence.
"I was real excited to get that first round win in," said Ashley, who entered today's eliminations as 13th qualifier. "I was even more excited how the car responded to the changes the team made. I know I have the best team in drag racing and these guys have been working hard day and night to get this car right where we have the proper window to work within."
Ashley admittedly faced a complex challenge of finding the proper combination and put in many test laps in pursuit of this objective. Not only did he knock off the third quickest car in the field during today's first round, Ashley also laid down his quickest run of the weekend - a 6.045 elapsed time with a speed of 240.34 miles per hour.
"We've changed so many bars and positions on the suspension to make it work like we wanted it to," added Ashley. "Getting out there and making a good lap was a tremendous relief."
Not only did Ashley find the right combination for his first round win, he's confident there's room for improvement as he faces Tony Pontieri in the second round.
"[Crewchief] Chuck [Ford] is convinced we left some on the table with that run," Ashley said. "This round win is about the team, all I did was get in the car and drive. I'm getting comfortable quickly in this car."
Pro Modified fans will recall the last time Ashley got comfortable in doorslammer that he went on to win back-to-back world championships and when he'd stepped away to drive a nitro Funny Car on the NHRA POWERade series, he returned for one Pro Modified event and won the 2006 NHRA event in St. Louis.
"Today, the car went real well - we shook the tires a little and the car went a little to the left," Ashley admitted. "The car drove right back into the groove and from there the car went straight. That's a testament to this Gotham City Racing team. This team doesn't know the meaning of the word quit."
ASHLEY SCORES FIRST ROUND WIN IN TWO YEARS
Two-time world champion advances to Sunday's quarter-finals
HOUSTON, Texas - Mike Ashley has experienced the thrills of winning as a professional drag racer many times. During the first round of the NHRA O'Reilly Springnationals in Houston, Texas, his first round victory felt like the first time all over again.
The mortgage banker from Long Island, New York scored his first round victory since stepping away to concentrate on the challenge of driving and owning an NHRA POWERade Funny Car team. The two-time NHRA World Champion quickly learned his crew hadn't lost a step in his absence.
"I was real excited to get that first round win in," said Ashley, who entered today's eliminations as 13th qualifier. "I was even more excited how the car responded to the changes the team made. I know I have the best team in drag racing and these guys have been working hard day and night to get this car right where we have the proper window to work within."
Ashley admittedly faced a complex challenge of finding the proper combination and put in many test laps in pursuit of this objective. Not only did he knock off the third quickest car in the field during today's first round, Ashley also laid down his quickest run of the weekend - a 6.045 elapsed time with a speed of 240.34 miles per hour.
"We've changed so many bars and positions on the suspension to make it work like we wanted it to," added Ashley. "Getting out there and making a good lap was a tremendous relief."
Not only did Ashley find the right combination for his first round win, he's confident there's room for improvement as he faces Tony Pontieri in the second round.
"[Crewchief] Chuck [Ford] is convinced we left some on the table with that run," Ashley said. "This round win is about the team, all I did was get in the car and drive. I'm getting comfortable quickly in this car."
Pro Modified fans will recall the last time Ashley got comfortable in doorslammer that he went on to win back-to-back world championships and when he'd stepped away to drive a nitro Funny Car on the NHRA POWERade series, he returned for one Pro Modified event and won the 2006 NHRA event in St. Louis.
"Today, the car went real well - we shook the tires a little and the car went a little to the left," Ashley admitted. "The car drove right back into the groove and from there the car went straight. That's a testament to this Gotham City Racing team. This team doesn't know the meaning of the word quit."
