Dave Richards Racing
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
JUSTIN ASHLEY AND SCAG TOYOTA WIN #2FAST2TASTY CHALLENGE IN SEATTLE
KENT, WA – Justin Ashley and the SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel dragster team won their third Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty 
NHRA Challenge Saturday during qualifying at the NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways.
Ashley picked up the specialty race victory with a 3.890-second pass at 315.49 mph to defeat reigning world champion Doug Kalitta’s 3.953 at 286.44. Ashley reached the final after coming out on the other side of a rematch of the Norwalk, Ohio semifinals against Antron Brown. Ashley would go 3.903 at 315.49 to take down Brown’s 3.906 at 303.98.
“This is really meaningful, especially this time of the year because we’re getting closer and closer to the Countdown to the Championship. The way the points are, they get added after the Countdown points reset, so these points are super important. Any time this SCAG Phillips Toyota team can get a win in competition, whether it’s on race day, or the Mission Foods Challenge, I think it’s really beneficial for us,” Ashley said. “There was a stretch recently over the last four or five races where we’ve been struggling, We had a good bounce back in Norwalk, then we ended up qualifying No. 2 here. We’re working on some things, testing out some things, just adjusting the tune up, so I’m pretty happy with where we’re at, and a win like this is good for the team.” Continue reading
DAVE RICHARDS AND VERSATRAN / BLUEBIRD LOOK TO MAKE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION AT PACIFIC RACEWAYS
KENT, WA – In their first full Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season, Dave Richards and the Versatran / BlueBird Funny Car team 
have had a lot of “firsts”, they’ll add to that list this weekend when they make their Pacific Raceways debut for the NHRA Northwest Nationals.
“We’re doing a lot of things for the first time with this Versatran / BlueBird team,” said Richards. “I haven’t been to Pacific Raceways, but I can tell you that I’m looking forward to it. It’s in a beautiful part of the country, the perfect spot to turn on some Sunday win lights.”
Richards and the Versatran team have had some growing pains through the first 10 races of the year, but a decision to front half the car before the Richmond, Virginia event has been showing signs of success with the team making clean passes down the track.
“We’re optimistic, we have to be, but our optimism is being backed by improved performance,” Richards said. “If we can get some momentum, I think we could really start to turn things around. It starts with that first run Friday afternoon.” Continue reading
DAVE RICHARDS AND VERSATRAN / BLUEBIRD TEAM LOOKING FOR HARD WORK TO PAYOFF IN OHIO
NORWALK, OH – Dave Richards and the Versatran / BlueBird Funny Car team have been working around the clock to improve their on-
track performance entering this weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park.
Richards and his Versatran / BlueBird team have had a busy couple of weeks doing everything they can to get their hot rod to perform at its best. After front-halving their Funny Car ahead of the last weekend’s Virginia Nationals, Richards qualified the Versatran / Bluebird entry in the No. 16 spot before having a first-round exit to Bob Tasca III. The team then stayed Monday to test at Virginia Motorsports Park.
“Coming into Norwalk this weekend, we’re feeling pretty good. We front halved the car ahead of Richmond and we took some time to get a handle on it. Qualifying was a struggle, but we left competition on a good note. We lost first round, but we made a clean pass,” Richards said. “At testing on Monday, it went really well. We’re happy with the work we’ve done. It’s got us excited for this weekend. I’m glad it was a quick turnaround. I’m excited to get back in the car.” Continue reading
