JUSTIN ASHLEY WIN LUCAS OIL NHRA NATIONALS

BRAINERD, Minn. – Justin Ashley and the SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel dragster team picked up their third victory of the season Sunday at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.

Facing Shawn Langdon in the finals, Ashley handled the Cheetah II and Turf Tiger II adorned SCAG Toyota dragster to a 3.745-second pass at 329.34 mph to hold off Langdon who had a cylinder out to finish in 4.020 seconds at 261.32 mph.

“We broke out a new car this weekend and kudos to Mike Green and Tommy DeLago, they did an amazing job. There’s just something about a new chassis that feels great. It’s nice to get a win on the board, especially after the struggles that we had,” Ashley said. “We also know that at the same time that’s what racing is all about. There’s going to be ups and downs, it’s about staying level-headed. I’m just glad all the SCAG Toyota team’s hard work has come to fruition and they get a reward.”

En route to the 24th final round of his career, fifth this season, Justin Ashley and the SCAG team picked up a first-round victory against Billy Torrence laying down a 3.747-second run at 328.30 mph while B. Torrence smoked the tires for just an 8.055 at 116.88.

In the quarterfinals, Ashley faced off with motorsports legend Tony Stewart. Ashley would up his record against the titan to 3-1 with a 3.763 run at 328.30 while Stewart’s dragster ran into tire smoke early for a 9.435 pass at 78.54. The semifinal berth earned Ashely a spot in the final Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge of the season happening at the Toyota U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis in just 10 days.

Ashley lined up against Josh Hart in the semifinals and the SCAG Toyota dragster’s performance would maintain with a 3.754 second run at 330.39 mph bettering Hart’s 4.135 at 225.82.

“This class is so difficult, it’s so tough. It’s a 14-car field and I think that’s harder than a full field because no matter who you line up against, it’s going to be a full-time car,” Ashley said. “The margin of error is so small, so when you’re able to be consistent like that, it just increases your chances of winning. It’s one of those sports that any given Sunday, anything can happen. It’s so hard to run in such a tight window like that, but this team came through and got it done.”

Ashley has now moved into third in the points standings with one event left before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s six race playoffs.

“Everything that we’ve done throughout the entire regular season so far has been done with intent and purpose,” Ashley said. “We want to win each and every race that we go to, but ultimately, it’s about positioning ourselves well for Indy and beyond.”

SCAG Racing has one regular Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series event left, the Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park Aug. 30-Sept. 2 before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship kicks off for the final six races of the season