PLAINVIEW, NY – At the halfway point of the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Justin Ashley and the Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel powered by Okuma team have experienced the best of times and the worst of times. There has been almost zero middle ground for the 2020 NHRA Rookie of the Year. Through ten races the team has five final round appearances and four first round losses. In those five final round Ashley has collected four Top Fuel wins, already a season career high, and he has competed in five Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenges and is undefeated collecting $50,000 and 15 championship points for the effort. He has the Top Fuel point lead and is looking to bounce back from a tough first round loss in Denver this weekend at Pacific Raceways.

“This season has been a rollercoaster for sure. It has been a little bit of feast or famine,” said Ashley. “But the ups and downs are to be expected with a Top Fuel field that’s so competitive. The most important thing is that we remain singularly focused on becoming the best team that we can be. All things considered, we’ve had a lot of success and that’s a tremendous testament to the teamwork, dedication and commitment from each one of our guys.”

During the first ten races of the season Ashley’s skill behind the wheel contributed to several critical wins with his reaction time prowess turning on win lights for the Phillips Connect Toyota powered by Okuma team. Ashley leads the Top Fuel category with best reaction time and also it is a rare occasion when the young driver is not first off the starting line.

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