WINNING U.S. NATIONALS ONLY THING ON JUSTIN ASHLEY’S MIND
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Winning the prestigious Dodge SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals is an accomplishment every professional racer knows is a 
career defining event. Hoisting the Wally at Indy for many drivers is on the same level as winning a world championship. Second-year Top Fuel driver Justin Ashley knows the history and for this year’s race he is ready to drive the Smart Sanitizer Top Fuel dragster powered by Strutmasters.com, with complete focus on seeing four win lights on Sunday. Even though this is his second U.S. Nationals, this year the second-generation driver is feeling the draw and importance of Indy for the first time.
“It definitely feels like the U.S. Nationals is a big deal this year,” said Ashley, on Monday leading up to the race weekend. “The way last season played out was a little funky with having three races at Indianapolis Raceway Park before the official U.S. Nationals. In a lot of ways last year felt like another race in Indy. This year feels like a real stand alone, big deal U.S. Nationals. Once you pull around the front of the staging lanes, roll under the walk-over bridge and see the packed grandstands, that is when you say to yourself ‘Wow! I am at Indy!’”
In his debut U.S. Nationals Ashley picked up his first career win on the Saturday night before the race when he defeated TJ Zizzo to win the postponed NHRA Summernationals. It was a unique way to start his first U.S. Nationals when you consider it was the fourth race in a row at the track as the NHRA was rebooting their season after a nearly three-month layoff. The win set him up for success on race day as he powered to the semifinals and lost one of the most memorable rounds of racing in years. Ashley and Shawn Langdon exchanged the lead numerous times as each of their Top Fuel dragsters belched tire smoke lurching down the track in a classic pedal fest.
“I do feel a comfort level coming back to Indianapolis because I have raced here a number of times before and I have had race day experience at the U.S. Nationals,” said Ashley. “I have a better understanding of the emotions that are involved and that go into racing at Indy. I think that helps a little bit but nonetheless, racing at Indy last year was a great experience. It was a learning experience especially that pedal fest in the semifinal round. That is in the past and we are all about moving forward.”
As this season has unfolded Ashley and his Davis Motorsports team, which also enjoys significant support from Auto Shocker and KATO Fastening Systems have raced at a number of new tracks for the young team and a runner-up finish at the Winternationals. Returning to Indianapolis Raceway Park will have the team hitting a track where they have the most collective experience and data along with the knowledge from new crew chief Mike Green.
“I have spent a lot of time racing at tracks that are new since this is my first full-time season with a traditional schedule,” said Ashley. “This weekend will have a familiar feeling but also some added excitement. Besides winning a world championship, winning Indy is the next best thing. You want to win the U.S. Nationals during your career.”
While the Indy win is a career achievement, racing for the Camping World Drag Racing Series world championship was an early season goal for the team. They clinched their spot in the Countdown last weekend at the Brainerd Nationals and now Ashley can focus on the upcoming race knowing that the following weekend his first NHRA Countdown will begin.
“We want to improve our position heading into the playoffs,” said Ashley, who currently sits in the No. 8 spot in points. “It is nice that we have already clinched a spot in the playoffs. Now we can just focus on racing the U.S. Nationals. We have no distractions and nothing else to worry about except taking it one round at a time. It is going to be a full field and it will be tough with over 20 cars trying to get one of those 16 spots. I think that is great for the sport and we are excited for the opportunity.”
Qualifying for the Dodge SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals will get underway Friday with two additional qualifiers on Saturday. Final eliminations will start on Sunday at 10 a.m. with the race broadcast on FS1 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET with the broadcast shifting to Fox from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET
