<img src="https://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/1/M_Ashley_185144.jpg" alt="M_Ashley_185144" align="left"borders="0"/>
Pomona - The morale in Mike Ashley's Gotham City Racing pit is high, albeit frustrated. By the numbers, the Torco Race Fuels Dodge Charger improved greatly from its aborted pass yesterday at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals: a solid 4.869/318.09 today versus a 10.511/82.27 yesterday. But the numbers don't lie, and for Ashley, it's not quite enough.
Ashley is provisionally qualified in the number 17 position - just shy of qualifying for Sunday's main event.
"We've got some gremlin, and we just haven't found it," Ashley said.
"It really felt like a dog on that run," he explained. "It started losing pistons from the hit, and it never felt good. I know we got it down the track and got a baseline, but number seventeen just isn't good enough."
Crew chief Brian Corradi plans to completely re-test every part to find the problems and get the car into the show for Sunday. And, with all eyes glued to weather reports forecasting showers for Saturday, he is keenly aware of the importance of the next run.
Corradi said, "I know we'll find the problem and get it fixed, I'm not worried about that. And, really, I am confident we'll get at least one run in tomorrow so we can qualify.
"It's just frustrating, knowing you have the very best of everything, and a bunch of guys who put their entire soul into what they do - and we're not in the show. At this point, though, Mike is a calming force for the team. His confidence and positive attitude keep things moving forward on an even keel.
"When he says he expects to win, he really believes it - and we all do too. Now, I just have to get the car down the track and let him do his job," Corradi said.
Ashley said, "We're all on the same page, focused on our goal of winning. Tomorrow will be a great day, and I'm confident we'll be in the show."
Ashley's Confidence Unaffected By The Numbers
Pomona - The morale in Mike Ashley's Gotham City Racing pit is high, albeit frustrated. By the numbers, the Torco Race Fuels Dodge Charger improved greatly from its aborted pass yesterday at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals: a solid 4.869/318.09 today versus a 10.511/82.27 yesterday. But the numbers don't lie, and for Ashley, it's not quite enough.
Ashley is provisionally qualified in the number 17 position - just shy of qualifying for Sunday's main event.
"We've got some gremlin, and we just haven't found it," Ashley said.
"It really felt like a dog on that run," he explained. "It started losing pistons from the hit, and it never felt good. I know we got it down the track and got a baseline, but number seventeen just isn't good enough."
Crew chief Brian Corradi plans to completely re-test every part to find the problems and get the car into the show for Sunday. And, with all eyes glued to weather reports forecasting showers for Saturday, he is keenly aware of the importance of the next run.
Corradi said, "I know we'll find the problem and get it fixed, I'm not worried about that. And, really, I am confident we'll get at least one run in tomorrow so we can qualify.
"It's just frustrating, knowing you have the very best of everything, and a bunch of guys who put their entire soul into what they do - and we're not in the show. At this point, though, Mike is a calming force for the team. His confidence and positive attitude keep things moving forward on an even keel.
"When he says he expects to win, he really believes it - and we all do too. Now, I just have to get the car down the track and let him do his job," Corradi said.
Ashley said, "We're all on the same page, focused on our goal of winning. Tomorrow will be a great day, and I'm confident we'll be in the show."
