Story By: SARA SLAUGHTER / SCAG RACING – KENT, WA – Justin Ashley and the SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel team sit No. 2 in points as they kick off the second half of the Mission Foods NRHA Drag Racing Series season with race 11 of 20, the NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways just outside of Seattle.
Ashley is coming off a semifinal finish at the most recent event, the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals that took place in Norwalk, Ohio. As the No. 2 qualifier, Ashley worked his way through Tony Schumacher and Tripp Tatum before coming up short to eventual race winner Antron Brown. Reaching the semifinals was a welcome result after three consecutive first round losses. Ashley is looking to reach his fourth final round of the season and pick up his third win of 2024 as the NHRA Countdown to the Championship quickly approaches.
“I am proud of what we’ve accomplished at SCAG Racing during the first half of the year. That includes working closely with the Metalcraft of Mayville family, SCAG Power Equipment dealers and distributors, and of course great teammates like Daniel Wilkerson and Dave Richards,” said Ashley who will compete in the Mission Foods NHRA #2Fast2Tasty Challenge with a rematch against Brown. “Now that’s all behind us and we want to kick off the second half of the season in style with a successful weekend in Seattle. Every point is critical for our SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Phillips team and we take that in stride.”
In his fourth full-time season, the 2020 Rookie of the Year has is competing at Pacific Raceways for the third time. In 2022, Ashley qualified seventh at the Northwest Nationals and made his way to the semifinals, a result that moved him into third in points. Last year, Ashley earned the No. 3 qualifying position and had a quarterfinal exit.
“I am super excited to race in Seattle this weekend. I’ve only had the pleasure of racing at Pacific Raceways two times before, but this one feels different,” Ashley said. “There will be a FanFest on Thursday to promote the event, a Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday and nighttime qualifying on Friday for the first time at this facility. All of that in conjunction with each other is sure to create a competitive atmosphere and an especially eager fanbase.”
The NHRA Northwest Nationals at pacific Raceways kicks off with four rounds of qualifying Friday at 4:30 and 9:15 p.m. and Saturday at 2:30 and 4:45 p.m. The top 16 will compete in eliminations Sunday with first round at 10:30 a.m. Television coverage of the event will start on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with qualifying shows Friday at 10:30 p.m. ET and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET. The eliminations will air on FOX Broadcasting Network (FOX) Sunday at 4:00 p.m. ET.