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Maynard Family Racing

JCM Racing Announces the Addition of New ‘Champions Club’ to Trackside Presence

BROWNSBURG, IN – JCM Racing is excited to announce the addition of the JCM Racing ‘Champions Club,’ a 3,200-square foot pit-side hospitality pavilion, to its trackside presence in 2024. The Champions Club will be on-site at all 21 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series events and will be strategically located between the JCM Racing and Ron Capps Motorsports race pits, providing guests a front-row view of the action from eight-time Top Fuel world champion Tony Schumacher’s pit, and three-time world champ Ron Capps’ Funny Car team.

The Champions Club will be made available to all JCM Racing and Ron Capps Motorsports partners and their guests. Non-sponsor guests will have the opportunity to purchase entry into the Champions Club at several tracks along the NHRA circuit.

Champions Club guests will be treated to a daily chef-prepared meal, cooked on-site in JCM Racing’s state-of-the-art mobile kitchen, as well as unlimited snacks and refreshments. In addition to meet-and-greets with Schumacher and Capps, guests will also have the opportunity to meet JCM Racing’s newest driver, Ida Zetterström, the 2023 European FIA Top Fuel world champion. Other Champions Club perks include guided pit tours, ‘swag’ bags, and multiple TVs located throughout the structure, which will stream live sporting events in addition to the venue’s on-track action.

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JCM Racing Returns to its Roots with Organizational Restructure

Tony Schumacher and Ida Zetterström will Represent JCM Racing in the NHRA Mission Foods Series in 2024

BROWNSBURG, IN – The Maynard family’s JCM Racing team will have a new but familiar look when the organization hits the track in 2024 for the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. JCM Racing will operate as a two-car Top Fuel team with eight-time world champ Tony Schumacher continuing to lead the charge as the pilot of JCM’s flagship entry. The second car will be driven by Ida Zetterström, the 2023 European FIA Top Fuel champion, who recently announced at the Performance Racing Industry show that she was moving to the United States to pursue her dreams of competing for an NHRA world championship as a member of the JCM Racing organization.

Led by crew chiefs Mike Neff and Jon Schaffer, Schumacher will be seeking his ninth series title and a first for JCM Racing when the season kicks off at the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway in Florida, March 8 – 10. Zetterström, who is in the process of relocating from the Åland Islands of Finland to the Indianapolis area to be near the JCM racing shop, is expected to make her NHRA debut in the late Spring and will be battling for the honors of NHRA’s 2024 Rookie of the Year. The eventual goal is for the FIA Top Fuel E.T. and speed record holder to compete on a full schedule in 2025 as a teammate to Schumacher. Both Schumacher and Zetterström will represent Okuma and Leatherwood Distillery, with additional partners to be announced at a later date.

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JCM Racing Welcomed Inaugural Class of Jr. Developmental Drivers During PRI Show

BROWNSBURG, IN – On Friday at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show in Indianapolis, Joe C. Maynard and the JCM Racing team officially welcomed seven NHRA Jr. Drag Racers into the organization’s driver development program, now in its second year.

Waylon Bennett (Division 2), Jeffrey Garner (Division 7), Albert Gouveia (Division 1), Katy Gunter (Division 4), Ty Jackson (Division 5), Maleah Mosley (Division 3), and Shadyn Parvati (Division 6) make up the inaugural JCM Racing Jr. Drag Racer class. The young racers were recognized on-stage in front of a packed PRI crowd ahead of Drag Illustrated’s ’30 Under 30’ commemoration.

The JCM Racing driver development program was founded in 2023 as a way for the multi-car team to help young racers with aspirations of one day competing in the NHRA’s professional ranks. The program launched with three rising NHRA upstarts on its roster, lending support to Kayleigh Hill, who made her Super Comp debut on the Division 5 circuit last season, and Wyatt Wagner, who recently clinched his third Division 5 Super Stock title en route to becoming the category’s world champion. Waylon Bennett, who returns to the program as one of the seven newly inducted Jr. racers, rounded out the 2023 trio of nitro hopefuls.

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European Top Fuel Champion Ida Zetterström to Make NHRA Debut with JCM Racing

INDIANAPOLIS – Newly crowned FIA Top Fuel champion Ida Zetterström is on the move. Zetterström announced today her plans to make her NHRA Top Fuel debut with JCM Racing during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. The Finnish driver is making a major commitment to her NHRA goals by moving to the United States to pursue her dreams of competing for an NHRA world championship. She plans to run a limited schedule in 2024 with the goal of running a full-time campaign in 2025.

“This is truly a dream come true,” said Zetterström, the FIA Top Fuel record holder for elapsed time and speed. “I’ve been working towards this goal for years now, and to have Joe Maynard and the JCM Racing organization recognize my efforts and potential means so much. I’m so thankful for everyone who has helped me reach this point, including all the NHRA drivers who have offered tips and guidance.

“The plan for now is to run at least five events next year starting in the second half of the season, but we are actively pursuing partners in hopes of running as many races as possible, as soon as possible. I’m ready to hit the ground running!” added Zetterström, who in addition to competing for NHRA Wally trophies, will also be battling for the title of NHRA’s 2024 Rookie of the Year.

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JUSTIN ASHLEY HEADS TO PRI WITH FULL SCHEDULE

PLAINVIEW, NY – Justin Ashley wrapped up to the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series with another Top Fuel Top Five finish after winning the most races in the regular season (6), appearing in the most finals (8) and winning the most rounds (40). As the focus shifts again to the pursuit of his first Top Fuel world championship Ashley will be attending the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show, December 6-8, at the Indianapolis Convention Center. The 2020 Rookie of the Year and fan favorite will start the show with an appearance at a local Menards, a long-time supporter of the Phillips Connect Toyota team driver, to introduce Chipoys snacks to their over 300 stores across the upper Midwest. Ashley and the Maynard Ashley Racing team were instrumental in adding Chipoys to the ever-growing line of snack products Menards offers to their loyal customers.

“The PRI Show is a great opportunity to announce Chipoys snack foods are joining the lineup at Menards stores across the upper Midwest,” said Ashley, an 11-time Top Fuel national event winner. “This was a program we have been working on throughout the season and it came together just in time to announce before PRI. I am excited to meet fans on Wednesday night and introduce them to all the great Chipoys snack foods.”

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Tony Schumacher Scores 22nd Top 10 NHRA Top Fuel Finish

Pomona, CA – It’s no secret that Tony Schumacher and the SCAG Power Equipment Top Fuel team struggled to get their footing in the earlier part of the 2023 NHRA Camping World Series season, but by the time the new team led by Mike ‘Zippy’ Neff and Jon Shaffer reached the back half of the year, they started to see the fruits of their labor pay off. The recent uptick in performance led to two semifinal finishes and a quarterfinal appearance for the SCAG team during the six-race playoffs, and helped to propel Schumacher to his 22nd top 10 finish.

At the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals, the last event of the season, Schumacher qualified his machine 11th on the strength of his 3.703-second pass, which he clocked during the second qualifying session. Despite the strong Q2 run, the team faced traction issues throughout the remaining qualifying rounds and found themselves facing championship contender Leah Pruett as their first-round competitor. While there weren’t any title implications on the line for the eight-time Top Fuel world champ this time around, he had the opportunity to play spoiler for Pruett who was chasing her first title. Unfortunately, Schumacher’s traction issues continued into eliminations on Sunday morning, and he was sidelined after the first round when his machine smoked the tires while Pruett made a clean pass to advance.

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Tim Wilkerson Races to Father-Son Funny Car Final Round at NHRA Finals

POMONA, CA – Tim Wilkerson wrapped up the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season just one win light short of a victory at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals, and it was a car tuned by his own son, Daniel Wilkerson, who stopped him in the final round Sunday afternoon. Wilkerson’s SCAG Power Equipment/Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang made a quicker pass than Chad Green’s Mustang, but Green got to the finish line first thanks to a holeshot advantage. It was the fourth final round of the season for Wilkerson and the Maynard Wilkerson Racing team.

Wilkerson missed the tune-up in the first qualifying session at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip before improving to a 4.148-second pass in the second session, but it still wasn’t where Wilkerson wanted to end Friday qualifying. The driver-tuner found what he was looking for in the third session, posting a 3.955 E.T. to move up to the middle of the pack. He stepped up again to a 3.928 E.T. in the final session to end up No. 10 in a nearly all-three-second field.

In the opening round of eliminations against outgoing world champion Ron Capps, Wilkerson posted a 3.978-second pass to beat his tire-smoking competitor. He lined the SCAG machine up against Funny Car icon John Force in the second round, where Force got the starting-line advantage, but Wilkerson made up the difference down-track and won with a 3.956 E.T. over Force’s 4.003 E.T. Wilkerson was first off the starting line in the semifinals against Cruz Pedregon and held the lead through the 1,000-foot finish line to win with a 3.92-second pass to Pedregon’s 3.953 E.T.

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ASHLEY FINISHES CAREER BEST SEASON IN POMONA

POMONA, CA – Justin Ashley and the Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel dragster capped one of the most dominant seasons in recent Top Fuel memory with a semifinal finish at the season-ending In-N-Out NHRA Finals. As a six-time national event winner this season Ashley was one of five drivers in contention for the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Top Fuel world champions coming into race day today at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip. Ashley entered eliminations Sunday as the No. 8 qualifier with his eye on his first Top Fuel championship. Ashley needed to win the race and for the drivers he was chasing to exit early.

In the opening round facing the reigning 2022 Top Fuel champion Brittany Force Ashley knew his path to victory was not going to be an easy one. Ashley and Force were the first two Top Fuel dragsters to hit the track and it was Ashley turning on the first win light of the day. He was first off the line and never trailed in the drag race. His winning time of 3.715 seconds at 333.74 mph gave him lane choice over No. 1 qualifier Austin Prock in the quarterfinals.

“I always try and do my best to stay even keel,” said Ashley. “Our team does the same and I think that’s what helps to give us the best chance to win. We could certainly feel the intensity because it’s the final day and you never know when it’s going to be your last lap of that season. Seeing that win light turn on being the first pair out of first round was really relief more so than anything else.”

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Ashley to Honor Veterans with Wyakin Foundation at NHRA Finals

PLAINVIEW, NY – For the past two NHRA seasons Justin Ashley and the Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel team have supported and honored veterans through a partnership with the Wyakin Foundation. This weekend at the NHRA Finals Ashley, Phillips Connect and the Wyakin Foundation will be hosting three veterans on Saturday, November 11, to celebrate Veterans Day. The Wyakin Foundation’s mission is to serve as a conduit, connecting wounded and injured veterans to their successful and fulfilling civilian futures through education, development, and guidance. Each year Ashley and the Phillips Connect Top Fuel team have raised awareness and honored the commitment and success stories of veterans.

“This is one of the most powerful opportunities I have as part of my relationship with Phillips Connect,” said Ashley, an 11-time Top Fuel national event winner. “Bringing awareness to the Wyakin Foundation and getting to meet and spend time with veterans is so important. Helping in a small way to get these men and women veterans back into society and supporting their education and professional goals is truly an honor. They have sacrificed so much for our freedoms and although we can never fully repay them, I hope this serves as a small token of our gratitude.  I am looking forward to meeting with George, Brandon and Patrick this weekend.”

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JUSTIN ASHLEY HAS PATH TO CHAMPIONSHIP IN POMONA

PLAINVIEW, NY – As his most dominant season as a Top Fuel driver and team owner comes down to the final race of the season, the NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, Justin Ashley has a clear path to his first NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series world championship. It is not an easy road by any means but sitting just 82 points behind point leader Steve Torrence and having 30 points per round available, plus possible qualifying bonus points a strong qualifying effort and a cooperative competition ladder could give Ashley and his Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel team a legitimate shot at the world title.

“At the beginning of the season everyone says they just want to have a shot at the championship coming into the NHRA Finals at Pomona in November,” said Ashley, a six-time winner in 2023. “We have our shot and now it’s all about capitalizing on the opportunities that are ahead. We’re focused on taking it one round at a time and letting the points take care of themselves. Our best chance to win this championship is by taking care of our business and not being concerned with the variables around us.”

The past year years at the NHRA Finals Ashley has suffered first round exits at the hands of Toyota teammate and strategic technology partner Antron Brown. Conversely over the past three years at the NHRA Winternationals at the same track Ashley has raced to three consecutive final rounds winning the past two events including the 2023 edition when he was No. 1 qualifier. A weekend like that in Pomona would set Ashley and the Phillips Connect Toyota team for major success. Over the past three Winternationals Ashley has qualified No. 7, No. 2, and No. 1.

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