April 17, 2023

Four-Wide Continues to Challenge Justin Ashley

LAS VEGAS, NV (April 16, 2023) — The four-wide format has been a work in progress for Justin Ashley and the Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel dragster. The four-year pro rolled into The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with the points lead and a two-race win streak. Through two days of qualifying Ashley made four runs with the final three positioning the 2020 Rookie of the Year as the No. 4 qualifier coming into race day.

In the opening quad Ashley faced Leah Pruett, Austin Prock and Rob Passey. It was another head-to-head race between Ashley and Prock who last met in the final round of the Winternationals and the foursome was featured during the opening ceremonies as the day’s marquee match-up. Ashley was first off the starting line with a .051 reaction time but his Phillips Connect Toyota dragster smoked the tires. In a veteran move Ashley was off the throttle and right back under power, charging after Pruett, Passey and Prock. He was able to start making up a power deficit but ran out of real estate to Pruett and Passey who were on clean passes.

 

 

“We just fell short in a tough quad,” said Ashley. “We ran great during qualifying and felt confident in our plan going into Sunday. But these things happen. Our Phillips Connect Toyota Racing team is very much looking forward to Charlotte.”

 

Ashley will leave Las Vegas sitting in second place in the point standings less than a round out of first place behind today’s runner-up finisher Toyota teammate Steve Torrence. Ashley’s other Toyota teammate Antron Brown secured his first win of the season at The Strip.

 

“This was a great day for Toyota and our teammate Antron Brown. I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with Antron, team Toyota, Phillips Connect, Mac Tools, KATO Fastening Systems, Lucas Oil and all of our partners. said Ashley. “We have turned on a lot of win lights already this season and can’t wait to get back to work.”

 

The Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals will be contested May 19-21 and Ashley secured his first career No. 1 qualifier at the track last year. Since that time Ashley has earned two more No. 1s including the historic NHRA Winternationals.

Qualifying Results

Q1: 12.555 sec, 66.74 mph; Qual. 14

Q2: 3.749 sec; 330.47 mph; Qual. 4

Q3: 3.730 sec, 330.63 mph; Qual. 3

Q4: 3.735 sec, 330.88 mph; Qual. 4

Bonus Points: +7 (2^nd quickest of Q2, quickest of Q3 and 2^nd quickest of Q4)

 

Race Results

 

First Round

First: Leah Pruett, Code 3 Associates dragster, (.076) 3.779, 319.60 mph

Second: Rob Passey, Seven 23 dragster, (.111), 4.074, 276.69 mph

Austin Prock, Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain dragster, (.052) 4.172, 258.96 mph

Justin Ashley, Phillips Connect Toyota dragster, (.051) 4.211, 313.22 mph

 

Camping World Drag Racing Series Top Ten – Top Fuel

1. Steve Torrence           323
2. Justin Ashley         310
3. Brittany Force            287
4. Antron Brown            274
5. Mike Salinas               274
6. Leah Pruett                 252
7. Shawn Langdon          235
8. Austin Prock                233
9. Doug Kalitta                199
10. Josh Hart                     171

 

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 winning five Top Fuel national events and raced to eleven 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.