NHRA Nevada Nationals
Event 20 of 21
Countdown Event 5 of 6
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas
Oct. 27-29, 2023
Top Fuel:
JUSTIN ASHLEY: Driver of the Leatherwood Distillery Toyota Top Fuel Dragster powered by Phillips Connect
Countdown to the Championship Ranking: 4th (-108)
2022 NHRA Nevada Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified third; First round exit (defeated by Clay Millican in E1)
Last Event (Dallas):
Qualified sixth; First round exit (defeated by Clay Millican in E1)
2023 Statistics:
19 races; six wins, one runner-up finish, three No. 1 qualifiers
Career Statistics:
74 races, 11 wins, five No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:JUSTIN ASHLEY: Driver of the Leatherwood Distillery Toyota Top Fuel Dragster powered by Phillips Connect
Countdown to the Championship Ranking: 4th (-108)
2022 NHRA Nevada Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified third; First round exit (defeated by Clay Millican in E1)
Last Event (Dallas):
Qualified sixth; First round exit (defeated by Clay Millican in E1)
2023 Statistics:
19 races; six wins, one runner-up finish, three No. 1 qualifiers
Career Statistics:
74 races, 11 wins, five No. 1 qualifiers
After winning the NHRA’s ‘regular season’ championship, Ashley is seeking his first Top Fuel world title. He begins the weekend ranked fourth and with a 108-point deficit separating him from current top-ranked driver.
Fan Events:
Thursday, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., NHRA Nevada Nationals Fanfest driver autograph session, Fremont Street Experience
Saturday, 10:30 -11:30 a.m., Team Toyota autograph session at Toyota midway display.
Quotable:
“Last year we were in and out of the points lead during the Countdown and there were always several teams grouped together trying to take the top spot. The field is more competitive than it’s ever been, and it’s shown throughout the first four races of the Countdown. If we can find success in Las Vegas, I believe we’ll have an opportunity for the championship in Pomona.
“Our goal from the start of the season was to win the world championship for this team and all our sponsors including Phillips Connect, Toyota, Mac Tools, KATO Fastening Systems, Lucas Oil, Impact, Strutmasters and now Leatherwood Distillery. We know what we need to do, and that begins by taking it one lap at a time in Las Vegas. Every opportunity for points is critical whether its qualifying or raceday.
“We all know you have to perform in the playoffs and we haven’t been able to capitalize on as many opportunities as we did in the regular season. But we have two more races and remain right in the thick of things. We just need to get back to our routine of stacking round wins on top of one another and let the points take care of themselves. Vegas is a city where fortunes can turn around in an instant and that is what we are going to be looking for. It will be exciting and I can’t wait to get to The Strip.”
TONY SCHUMACHER: Driver of the SCAG Power Equipment Top Fuel Dragster
Countdown to the Championship Ranking: 9th (-219)
NHRA Nevada Nationals Event Highlights:
Four-time event champion (2005, 2006, 2008, 2010)
Three-time runner-up (2002, 2003, 2012)
Seven-time No. 1 qualifier (2003, 2006 - 2008, 2010, 2012, 2017)
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Overall Highlights:
Eight-time event champion
Five-time runner-up
Four-time No. 1 qualifier
2022 NHRA Nevada Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified fourth; Semifinal finish (defeated Rob Passey in E1, Shawn Langdon in E2; defeated by Brittany Force in E3)
Last Event (Dallas):
Qualified 12th; First round exit (defeated by Billy Torrence in E1)
2023 Statistics:
19 races; one runner-up finish
Career Statistics:
553 races; 86 wins, 88 No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:Countdown to the Championship Ranking: 9th (-219)
NHRA Nevada Nationals Event Highlights:
Four-time event champion (2005, 2006, 2008, 2010)
Three-time runner-up (2002, 2003, 2012)
Seven-time No. 1 qualifier (2003, 2006 - 2008, 2010, 2012, 2017)
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Overall Highlights:
Eight-time event champion
Five-time runner-up
Four-time No. 1 qualifier
2022 NHRA Nevada Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified fourth; Semifinal finish (defeated Rob Passey in E1, Shawn Langdon in E2; defeated by Brittany Force in E3)
Last Event (Dallas):
Qualified 12th; First round exit (defeated by Billy Torrence in E1)
2023 Statistics:
19 races; one runner-up finish
Career Statistics:
553 races; 86 wins, 88 No. 1 qualifiers
After winning the NHRA’s ‘regular season’ championship, Ashley is seeking his first Top Fuel world title. He begins the weekend ranked fourth and with a 108-point deficit separating him from current top-ranked driver
Fan Events:
Thursday, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., NHRA Nevada Nationals Fanfest driver autograph session, Fremont Street Experience
Saturday, 10:30 -11:30 a.m., Team Toyota autograph session at Toyota midway display
Quotable:
“Last year we were in and out of the points lead during the Countdown and there were always several teams grouped together trying to take the top spot. The field is more competitive than it’s ever been, and it’s shown throughout the first four races of the Countdown. If we can find success in Las Vegas, I believe we’ll have an opportunity for the championship in Pomona.
“Our goal from the start of the season was to win the world championship for this team and all our sponsors including Phillips Connect, Toyota, Mac Tools, KATO Fastening Systems, Lucas Oil, Impact, Strutmasters and now Leatherwood Distillery. We know what we need to do, and that begins by taking it one lap at a time in Las Vegas. Every opportunity for points is critical whether its qualifying or raceday.
“We all know you have to perform in the playoffs and we haven’t been able to capitalize on as many opportunities as we did in the regular season. But we have two more races and remain right in the thick of things. We just need to get back to our routine of stacking round wins on top of one another and let the points take care of themselves. Vegas is a city where fortunes can turn around in an instant and that is what we are going to be looking for. It will be exciting and I can’t wait to get to The Strip.”
Funny Car:
TIM WILKERSON: Driver of the SCAG Power Equipment/Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang
Countdown to the Championship Ranking: 8th (-225)
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Overall Highlights:
2008 event champion (Spring race)
2022 event runner-up (Spring race)
2019 No. 1 qualifier (Spring race)
2022 NHRA Nevada Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified seventh; First round exit (defeated by Chad Green in E1)
Last Event (Dallas):
Qualified ninth; Semifinal finish (defeated Alexis DeJoria in E1, Bob Tasca in E2; defeated by Matt Hagan in E3)
2023 Statistics:
19 races; two wins, one runner-up finish
Career Statistics:
589 races; four wins, 20 No. 1 qualifiers
Fan Events:TIM WILKERSON: Driver of the SCAG Power Equipment/Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang
Countdown to the Championship Ranking: 8th (-225)
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Overall Highlights:
2008 event champion (Spring race)
2022 event runner-up (Spring race)
2019 No. 1 qualifier (Spring race)
2022 NHRA Nevada Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified seventh; First round exit (defeated by Chad Green in E1)
Last Event (Dallas):
Qualified ninth; Semifinal finish (defeated Alexis DeJoria in E1, Bob Tasca in E2; defeated by Matt Hagan in E3)
2023 Statistics:
19 races; two wins, one runner-up finish
Career Statistics:
589 races; four wins, 20 No. 1 qualifiers
Thursday, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., NHRA Nevada Nationals Fanfest driver autograph session, Fremont Street Experience
Quotable:
“We’ve only got two races left in the Countdown and I’m pretty excited about how my car’s been running as of late. Not to mention, we were runner-up at the Spring race in Vegas earlier this year, so we’ve got some good momentum heading into this weekend. Our SCAG/LRS Ford has been quick and consistent. I’ve lost a lot of really close races at these last three events, so hopefully, this will be our time when we can bring home the Wally and really start racking up points for the season’s end.”
About JCM Racing:
Established in 2022, the Maynard family’s JCM Racing organization is a multi-car NHRA team owned by Joe and Cathi Maynard, along with their minority partners Eric and Kim Lehman. JCM Racing takes pride in operating as a family unit with son Joe C. Maynard and daughter-in-law, Andrea Maynard, also having an ownership stake and leading the team in executive roles. The executive staff operates out of Clarksville, Tenn., while the racing headquarters are located in Brownsburg, Ind.Headliners for the JCM Racing team are the SCAG Power Equipment Top Fuel dragster driven by Tony Schumacher, the SCAG Power Equipment/Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang Funny Car piloted by Tim Wilkerson, and the Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel dragster campaigned by Justin Ashley. As an eight-time world champion and 86-time event winner, Schumacher is the most decorated Top Fuel driver in the history of the sport. Wilkerson is a 24-time Funny Car winner and an industry anomaly as he serves as both the driver and tuner of his 11,000-horsepower machine. While still considered a newcomer to the Camping World Series, Ashley, the 2020 Rookie of the Year recipient, has already earned a reputation as one of the best 'leavers' in the Top Fuel category. NHRA Hall of Famer Don Schumacher, father of Tony Schumacher, is a minority owner of the SCAG dragster, while Tim Wilkerson Racing (TWR) co-owns the SCAG/LRS Mustang with JCM Racing. The Maynard Ashley Racing (MAR) operation is co-owned by JCM Racing and Max Out Motorsports. Between the three entities, JCM Racing owns seven national event wins to date.
JCM Racing also operates a driver development program, which currently lends support to three entries in NHRA’s Sportsman categories. Wyatt Wagner competes in Super Stock, Kayleigh Hill is a Super Comp racer, and Waylon Bennett tears it up in the Jr. Drag Racing League. Through the driver development program, JCM offers young talent the opportunity to hone in and perfect their driving skills as they work toward a career competing in NHRA’s professional ranks.
For more information, visit @jcmnitro on Twitter and Instagram, @JCMNitro on Facebook,
