SCAG Racing
DANIEL WILKERSON AND SCAG FORD FUNNY CAR TEAM FOCUSED ON LAS VEGAS FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS
LAS VEGAS – Daniel Wilkerson and the SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang Funny Car team can’t deny the progress they’ve made just 
three races into the Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season. They head to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals determined to keep it going.
Wilkerson and the SCAG team, led by Daniel’s father, Tim, are coming of a quarterfinal finish at the NHRA Arizona Nationals where they qualified in the top half of the field for the second consecutive time. Sitting 10th in the points standings, Wilkerson is looking for his first Funny Car victory in his first season racing the full NHRA Mission Foods Series schedule.
“I’m excited to get to Vegas. Coming off a weekend in Phoenix where we learned a lot and made progress, I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of the SCAG Summit Ford Mustang,” Wilkerson said. “Four-wide is a little different. I have pretty limited experience racing in the four-wide format, but I think, as long as nothing crazy happens, I should be fine. We get four qualifying runs, which will help our progress continue so we can turn on a few more win lights on Sunday.” Continue reading
DAVE RICHARDS AND VERSATRAN/BLUEBIRD PREPARED FOR FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS
LAS VEGAS – Dave Richards and the Versatran / BlueBird Funny Car team enter this weekend’s NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at The Strip at 
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the third of 20 events on tour and first of two in the four-wide format, with some renewed optimism.
Competing the full NHRA Mission Foods Series schedule for the first time, Richards and his team stayed and tested at Firebird Motorsports Park following the NHRA Arizona Nationals, the second event at which the young team qualified 17th, just shy of making the 16-car field for race day.
“This whole Versatran / BlueBird team is looking forward to Vegas. We had some disappointment in Phoenix with not qualifying, but we stayed and tested, and we’re feeling really good,” Richards said. “We made two runs and learned a lot. The car is getting happy. We’re figuring it out.” Continue reading
JUSTIN ASHLEY AND SCAG RUNNER-UP AT NHRA ARIZONA NATIONALS
CHANDLER, AZ – Justin Ashley and the SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel dragster team raced their way to their second 
consecutive final round of the year, 20th of Ashley’s Top Fuel career Sunday at the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park.
Ashley, who entered race day as the No. 11 qualifier, began his road to the finals with a rematch from the Winternationals finals against Tony Schumacher. Ashley would come up with the holeshot win again with a 3.804-second pass at 328.22 mph and a .039 reaction time to Schumacher’s 3.791 at 325.69 and .067 reaction time.
In the semifinals, Ashely would face reigning world champion Doug Kalitta and pull off a 3.825 second run at 326 mph to defeat Kalitta’s 3.866 at 307.37. The win would line Ashley up with motorsports legend Tony Stewart for the second time. Ashley would improve to 2-0 against Stewart with a 3.844 at 323.74 bettering Stewart’s 3.885 at 316.45. The win would set Ashley up with a final round against veteran racer Shawn Langdon.
DAVE RICHARDS AND VERSATRAN / BLUEBIRD TEAM CONTINUING TO BUILD HEADING INTO FIRST NHRA ARIZONA NATIONALS
CHANDLER, AZ – Racing a full Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series schedule for the first time this season, Dave Richards and his 
Versatran / Bluebird Funny Car team will make their first attempt down Firebird Motorsports Park at this weekend’s NHRA Arizona Nationals.
Richards enters this weekend sitting 17th in points standings after qualifying No. 14 out of 21 cars and having a first-round exit at the weather worn NHRA Winternationals. Their performance was an improvement from the Versatran / Bluebird team’s season debut at the NHRA Gatornationals where they narrowly missed making the 16-car field as the No. 17 qualifiers.
“We’re improving, that’s what matters. And we’re improving in ways that don’t necessarily show up on the track. This Versatran / Bluebird team, the guys, they’re working hard and really getting into the groove of working together weekend after weekend,” Richards said. “We’re just reaching race number three. We have the time and resources to make changes on the car, see what works. I know that I appreciate being able to end a weekend, take a deep breath, evaluate and then be ready to move onto the next race.”
DANIEL WILKERSON TAKING ON FIREBIRD MOTORSPORTS PARK FOR FIRST TIME
CHANDLER, AZ – Behind the wheel of his SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang Funny Car, Daniel Wilkerson will make his first pass as a 
driver down Firebird Motorsports Park at this weekend’s NHRA Arizona Nationals, the third of 20 events on the Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season schedule.
Despite not having driven Firebird Motorsports Park, formerly Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, as a crew chief, Wilkerson led Chad Green to a No.5 qualifying position and ultimately a semifinal finish at the Arizona Nationals in 2023. He’s also watched his father and now crew chief of the SCAG Ford Funny Car, Tim, navigate the track wearing the hat of both crew chief and driver on numerous occasions.
“It’s cool to be coming back to Arizona. You know last year they said it was going to be the final event, the ‘final pass’ so I’m happy that circumstances changed, and a new opportunity came up that allows us to be racing back at the facility,” Wilkerson said. “I’m excited to get my first lap in on Friday. I’ve been to Phoenix plenty, I know the track, but I’ve never driven it.”
JUSTIN ASHLEY AND SCAG TEAM READY TO MAKE EVERY RUN COUNT AT NHRA ARIZONA NATIONALS
CHANDLER, AZ – Justin Ashley and the SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel dragster team will have a busy weekend as they head into 
NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsport Park. Not only will they be looking for a Wally on Sunday but throughout qualifying they’ll be competing in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and contest the finals of the weather delayed NHRA Winternationals.
Ashley will start his weekend competing in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge racing against his semifinal opponent, Brittany Force, from the Winternationals during the first qualifying session. If all goes well, Ashley will race in the finals of the Challenge Saturday during the second session. In what will also count as his final qualifying attempt, Ashley will face Tony Schumacher in his fourth consecutive Winternationals final round as he chases his third straight victory of the event.
“Under normal circumstances, you’re in a very particular mindset for the first round on Sunday because it’s the first eliminations race of the weekend. In 2023 that changed a bit when we had the opportunity to get into that mindset on Saturday with the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. This weekend, that starts in Q1, so we’ll have our work cut out for us immediately but cannot wait to get started,” Ashley said. “We did well in the #2Fast2Tasty Challenges last year. It was a great experience, and we enjoyed the format. It’s exciting for the both the fans and teams to see high levels of racing throughout qualifying and race day.”
JUSTIN ASHLEY REACHES ANOTHER WINTERNATIONALS FINAL ROUND BEFORE RAIN POSTPONES COMPETITION
POMONA, CA – Justin Ashley and the SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel dragster team rallied to their fourth consecutive final round 
at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip on Sunday. The finals were postponed due to inclement weather and will be contested at the NHRA Arizona Nationals the weekend of April 5-7.
Ashley, who has won the Winternationals the last two consecutive years and finished runner-up in 2021, is set to face eight-time world champion and winningest Top Fuel driver Tony Schumacher in his 20th Top Fuel final round.
“We were looking forward to racing in the final round in front of all the great fans that stuck it out through the rain,” Ashley said. “I’m disappointed we couldn’t get it done, but grateful that we have an opportunity to finish things up in just a few short weeks.”
DAVE RICHARDS AND VERSATRAN / BLUEBIRD READY TO START FULL SEASON CAMPAIGN AT GATORNATIONALS
POMONA, CA – Dave Richards and the Versatran/BlueBird Funny Car team enter this weekend’s Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-
Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip with growing confidence.
“One race under our belt and we’re feeling really optimistic. Gainesville didn’t go quite the way we wanted but we’re putting in the work and we’re learning,” Richards said. “I have no doubt we’ll make quick progress. We’re feeling confident we’ll perform well this weekend.”
Richards, who is competing in his first full season since getting his Funny Car license in 2013, had his qualifying efforts at the Gatornationals cut short due to weather, leaving him outside of the top 16 and unable to compete on race day. With 21 Funny Car entries for the Winternationals, Richards and his team will be putting their best foot forward to ensure their spot in eliminations on Sunday.
JUSTIN ASHLEY LEADS SCAG RACING WITH QUARTERFINAL FINISH AT NHRA GATORNATIONALS
GAINESVILLE, FL – Justin Ashley and his SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel dragster rallied to a quarterfinal finish Sunday at the 
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season-opening Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.
After qualifying No. 8 on his 3.719 second pass at 325.37 mph from Saturday evening, Ashley would match-up with motorsports legend Tony Stewart, who made his professional Top Fuel debut, in the first round of eliminations. Both dragsters would have tire shake forcing the drivers to pedal their way to the finish line. Ashley would get his Toyota hot rod to hook up for a 4.414 at 297.94 taking the win over Stewart’s 4.453 at 267.80.
Ashley wouldn’t be as lucky in the next round against No. 1 qualifier and eventual event winner Shawn Langdon. After leaving the starting line first, the SCAG dragster would lose traction and have to shutoff for only a 4.890 run at 157.12 while Langdon had a clean pass at 3.709 at 334.40.
DAVE RICHARDS AND VERSATRAN / BLUEBIRD READY TO START FULL SEASON CAMPAIGN AT GATORNATIONALS
GAINESVILLE, FL – Dave Richards and the Versatran / BlueBird Funny Car team head into the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing 
Series season-opening Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway with nothing but optimism.
After racing part-time for 10 years, Richards will be taking on the full NHRA Mission Foods schedule. Knowing he has the full season ahead of him keeps everything in perspective for the Florida native.
“I couldn’t be more excited to get the season started. Coming into Gainesville, the season opener, knowing that we are racing the full season, it’s a different feeling,” Richards said. “I’m anxious, I think the whole team is. But we’ve put in the work, the long hours, I think there will be a sigh of relief once we finally get going on Friday.”
