In the first round of eliminations for the Showdown, the Torco Race Fuels-sponsored Ashley dispatched Tony Pedregon in the heat of the day with an impressive 4.880/317.19 to Pedregon's 5.270/209.65. The semifinals paired Ashley with Ron Capps, and the two battled in a classic side-by-side race, with Capps the eventual winner 4.893/318.77 to Ashley's 4.943/316.75.
"I tell you what, I really would like to have won that $100,000 prize for the Showdown, but, it wasn't my primary focus for the weekend," Ashley explained. "It was a great drag race with Ron, and, if you're going to go down, I much prefer putting up a great number and making it close like we did today.
"I'm so proud of Brian Corradi and this team, for all they have done this past year. Just the fact that we made the Showdown in our first year together as a team means so much to me, and, I know there will be many more opportunities to win that prize," he said.
Ashley will enter eliminations as the No. 6 seeded driver on the strength of his Saturday night qualifying pass of 4.779/327.35, and will face Gary Densham in the first round of eliminations Sunday morning. "Our goal, as a team, right now is to make the next cut in the playoffs, and to do that, we have to win rounds. Tomorrow, we will take each round as it comes, and work on advancing. We learn on every run, and the added competition of the Showdown gives us an advantage, really, because we're already in 'race mode.'
"I think the weather conditions will be similar to today, with a lot of sunshine and a really hot track. Everyone will have their hands full, but we've proven that we can get down the track in the heat of the day, and I'm very confident heading into tomorrow," he said.
Eliminations are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Monday morning, September 3. The special edition car Ashley is driving this weekend is part of a fund-raising campaign for the Eric Blake Faulkner Foundation whose mission is to support families who lose a child at or just before birth. After this weekend, the car will be auctioned off at the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction held in January in Scottsdale, Ariz.
About Mike Ashley's Gotham City Racing
Gotham City Racing is fully sponsored by Torco Race Fuels, Inc., the world's largest independently owned race fuel manufacturer. Torco Race Fuels, Inc. has a full line of racing gasoline including methanol and nitromethane. Their full product line of fuels and additives is complimented by SKULL Shine -- a complete line of automotive care and appearance products and SKULL Gear -- an innovative and trendy clothing line. Product can be purchased by calling 1-800-67-TORCO or by visiting their website: www.torcoracefuels.com
Mike Ashley's Gotham City Racing is also sponsored by:
Knoll Gas Motorsports: www.torcoracefuels.com
Lucas Oil Products: www.lucasoil.com
Dixie Chopper: www.dixiechopper.com
A&R Transport: www.artransport.com
Oakley: www.oakley.com
The Hyperbaric Therapy Center: www.hypertc.com
Lend America: www.lendamerica.com
Lend America is a nationwide direct lender, specializing in residential financing for one to four family homes. Lend America combines a flexible, common sense loan review process with hundreds of loan programs to provide exceptional service for its clients. Lend America's Motto "Don't take NO for an answer" is in direct relation to its commitment to service borrowers with "lending or credit challenges." Contact Lend America today, (877) 4-RACE-LOAN.
Mike Ashley and Gotham City Racing support Autism Awareness through their support of the Hyperbaric Therapy Center. A 2007 Centers for Disease Control report found that 1 in 150 children in America today have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and an estimated 1.5 million Americans and their families are now affected. Autism is a national health crisis, and Gotham City Racing is working to help educate the public about ways they can get involved.
Visit the Heal Autism Now website for more information about how you can get involved: www.healautis mnow.org
