Dave Richards Racing
DAVE RICHARDS AND BLUEBIRD / VERSATRAN TEAM LOOK TO TURN A CORNER AT NHRA MIDWEST NATIONALS
MADISON, IL – Dave Richards and the BlueBird Turf / Versatran team enter this weekend’s NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide 
Technology Raceway feeling more capable than ever as they fight to get into the top ten of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship.
Richards and the BlueBird Turf team sit 13th out of the 13-championship eligible Funny Car teams. It is their first time racing in the Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s six race playoffs, an opportunity they were granted for racing their first full Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season. To reach the top 10 currently, Richards needs to make up 68 points. With four races remaining, their goal is not out of reach.
“We’ve enjoyed racing these three back-to-back events. We wish they would have been a little better to us, but, and I know I keep saying it, I know that we’re so close to turning the corner and running with the rest of the pack,” Richards said. “I’m excited to get back in the BlueBird Turf car after the last pass we made Sunday at the Carolina Nationals. I feel the most comfortable I’ve been in a longtime inside the car. Even though I’ve only been to World Wide Technology Raceway once, I’m feeling good and I’m really looking forward to a longer Sunday this weekend.” Continue reading
SCAG RACING WRAPS NHRA CAROLINA NATIONALS, RACE TWO OF SIX IN NHRA COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP
CONCORD, NC – Daniel Wilkerson and Justin Ashley take SCAG Power Equipment to the quarterfinals at the NHRA Carolina Nationals at 
zMAX Dragway while Dave Richards and the BlueBird Turf / Versatran team had a strong first round showing.
Daniel Wilkerson and the SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang Funny Car team had a bit of a breakthrough at the Carolina Nationals. Coming into the day qualified No. 9, Wilkerson had a first-round matchup against former champion J.R. Todd. Wilkerson would get the job done on a holeshot leaving in .017 seconds and finishing with a 3.984 at 314.46 while Todd had a .066 reaction time and 3.945 at 321.50.
In the second round, Wilkerson had a solid drag race against veteran Jack Beckman. The SCAG Mustang would leave the starting line first but a 4.004-second pass at 317.64 mph couldn’t catch Beckman’s 3.937 at 323.35.
“I told my SCAG guys when we got back I would have paid for that package. That was nothing to hang our heads about. We got our race car back this weekend,” Wilkerson said. “It wnet down the track every run, the guys are putting it together correctly, and we have something we can tune on. So, I am very proud of these SCAG Ford boys and I’m excited for St. Louis in just a few days. Thank you to SCAG, Metalcraft of Mayville, Ford, Summit, all our partners, hopefully we keep this rolling.” Continue reading
DAVE RICHARDS AND BLUEBIRD / VERSATRAN TEAM LOOKING TO BUILD ON PAST EXPERIENCE AT zMAX DRAGWAY
CONCORD, NC – Dave Richards and the BlueBird Turf / Versatran Funny Car team enter this weekend’s NHRA Carolina Nationals hoping 
their familiarity with zMAX Dragway will play to their favor as they try to break into the top 10 in points in the Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series.
During the season’s first visit to zMAX Dragway for the spring Four-Wide Nationals, Richards and the BlueBird Turf team qualified 14th before defeating Blake Alexander and current points leader Austin Prock for their first round-win of the 2024 season.
Between the two events that take place at zMAX Dragway, the spring Four-Wide Nationals and fall Carolina Nationals, Richards will be making his 15th appearance at zMAX Dragway. He’s qualified for race day 12 out of his previous 14 visits to the facility now with round wins at both the spring Four-Wide Nationals and fall Carolina Nationals.
“I love Charlotte and zMAX Dragway. It’s a great place to race and we’ve had some success there,” said Richards. “I’m excited to get there, I think the whole BlueBird Turf team is. We are looking to make some good runs in qualifying and get ready for race day. I’m feeling really confident we’ll be able to compete with the best of them. We’ve been putting in the work and I know it’s going to pay off.” Continue reading
DAVE RICHARDS AND BLUEBIRD / VERSATRAN READY TO MIX THINGS UP AT MAPLE GROVE RACEWAY
READING, PA – Dave Richards and the BlueBird Turf / Versatran SCAG Racing team enter this weekend’s Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at 
Maple Grove Raceway, race one of the Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s six race playoffs, feeling more confident than ever.
Racing a full Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season for the first time, Richards and his Bluebird team ended the regular season with plenty of growth qualifying for 11 of the 14 races while also laying down Richards’ career best speed (319.60 mph) at the Charlotte Four-Wide event where they also raced to a quarterfinal finish. The BlueBird team earned their bid into the Countdown to the Championship by having participated at every race on schedule. Sitting 13th, they are only 30 points out of the top 10.
“I’m still just very thankful for this opportunity, I think this whole BlueBird / Versatran team is. Being in the Countdown is just so cool. It’s exciting to know we still have a shot at getting in the top 10,” Richards said. “We just need to hit our stride. We have the want, we just need to get it done! We’re planning on coming out swinging and I’m not going down without a fight. We stayed after Indy and made test runs that were very productive so I’m looking forward to hitting the gas Friday at Maple Grove. It’s a cool track with lots of history. I’ve raced there before and our pops used to race there.” Continue reading
DAVE RICHARDS AND BLUEBIRD TURF / VERSATRAN TEAM LOOKING FORWARD TO U.S. NATIONALS
INDIANAPOLIS – Dave Richards and the BlueBird Turf / Versatran team head into this weekend’s Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil 
Indianapolis Raceway Park excited by the opportunity the prestigious race presents.
Knowing they are qualified for the NHRA Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s six race playoffs, because they have competed at every event in the regular season and that the U.S. Nationals is a points-and-a-half race, Richards and the BlueBird Turf team understand they have an opportunity to make some moves in the points standings.
“It’s Indy baby. The Big Go. All the history at this track is special so I’m really looking forward to this weekend,” said Richards who sits 14th in points. “It’s exciting to know this is our chance to creep up on the points. And I feel we are on the right track to really start laying down some good laps. We’re due to start turning on some win lights. This is our time to shine. All the hard work my team has put in is going to pay off.” Continue reading
JUSTIN ASHLEY AND SCAG TOYOTA WIN LUCAS OIL NHRA NATIONALS
BRAINERD, MN – 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. Continue reading
DAVE RICHARDS AND BLUEBIRD / VERSATRAN TEAM EAGER TO HIT THE TRACK AT BRAINERD INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
BRAINERD, MN – Rocking a specialty BlueBird Turf paint scheme on their Funny Car, Dave Richards and his team are looking for a solid 
weekend at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway (BIR) to set the tone for the remainder of their 2024 Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season.
“There are only eight races left this year and I’m pumped to start making some moves,” Richards said. “The car is improving each lap, and we are excited to give it 110% and start going some rounds on race day.”
Richards will be looking to improve on his 2023 performance at BIR where he qualified No. 14 and defeated reigning world champion Matt Hagan in the first round before coming up short to three-time world champion Robert Hight in the quarterfinals.
“I raced in Brainerd last year. It was a good weekend. We had a good race taking out Hagan in the first round,” Richards said. “We’ll have a big group of supporters there as almost all of our crew guys live in the area so lots of family and friends will be in attendance with us. Brainerd International Raceway is a really cool place and ‘The Zoo’ is always fun. It’s going to be a great weekend.” Continue reading
SCAG RACING LEAVES SONOMA NATIONALS ON A POSITIVE NOTE
SONOMA, CA – The three-car SCAG Racing team wrapped up the two-race Western Swing Sunday at the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals 
at Sonoma Raceway with a pair of quarterfinal exits and a first-round finish.
Daniel Wilkerson and the SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang team earned their No. 5 qualifying position off a 3.887-second run at 334.82 mph during the third qualifying session on Saturday. They’d have to line up against SCAG Racing teammate Dave Richards and the Versatran / BlueBird team. This was the first time the teammates have faced each other in eliminations.
Wilkerson would have the starting line advantage and hold on for the round win at 3.890 seconds and 329.83 mph to Richards’ 4.069 at 314.53. Wilkerson would match up with points leader Austin Prock in the quarterfinals. Wilkerson would go 3.914 at 330.39 but it wasn’t enough for Prock’s 3.904 at 328.70. Continue reading
DAVE RICHARDS AND VERSATRAN / BLUEBIRD READY TO BOUNCE BACK FOR SONOMA NATIONALS
SONOMA, CA – Dave Richards and the Versatran / BlueBird Funny Car team have made a quick turnaround to be ready for this weekend’s 
DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway.
After suffering a sudden mechanical failure in the first round of eliminations at the NHRA Northwest Nationals just outside of Seattle, the Versatran / BlueBird car shook the tires and then took a hard right turn into the wall, causing damage to the chassis and body. Fortunately, the racing community rallied around Richards and his team.
“We don’t have a backup car yet, so it was stressful, and we thought at one point we weren’t going to make it this weekend. But the racing community is the best,” Richards said. “Randy and Kim Parker, they have an Alcohol Funny Car team and a chassis shop in Washington, they moved their schedules around to get our car in immediately. Our whole team was there trying to make it happen. Just goes to show you, never give up and things can come together! We’re more than excited to be racing in Sonoma this weekend.” Continue reading
SCAG RACING WRAPS UP NHRA NORTHWEST NATIONALS
KENT, WA – The three-car factory SCAG Racing team ended competition at the NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways in the first 
round of eliminations.
Fresh off winning the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, Justin Ashley, in the SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel dragster, pedaled his way to a 4.685-second pass at just 174.14 mph. Langdon would have his quickest and fastest pass of the weekend at 3.743 and 327.74 to take the win. Ashley leaves heads to the Sonoma Nationals sitting fourth in points.
“It was certainly disappointing to exit early here in Washington. We expected to perform better for SCAG, Toyota, Phillips, KATO and all of our partners, but it’s important to put things in perspective. We all are very blessed and appreciative that we get to do what we love with people that we love,” Ashley said. “We picked up an important Mission Foods Challenge win and some much needed championship points on Saturday so that’s a major positive. All our focus and energy now shifts to Sonoma in just a few days.” Continue reading
