Story By: SARA SLAUGHTER / SCAG RACING – CONCORD, NC – Justin Ashley and the SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel team enter this weekend’s NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway with a chance to win twice in one season at the beloved Bruton Smith facility.
When NHRA last visited zMAX Dragway in the spring for the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, Ashley and his SCAG Toyota team turned a No. 3 qualifying position into their second win of the season. Now, with three wins in five final round appearances to finish the regular season and a No. 1 qualifier and semifinal finish at the first of six races in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship, Ashley leads the Top Fuel points standings.
“Coming into the Carolina Nationals with the points lead is a testament to our team. It’s taken a huge organizational effort from everyone both on and off the racetrack at SCAG Racing to be in this position. I am proud of that,” Ashley said. “But the championship battle has just begun. The points are very tight and the competition in Top Fuel may be the deepest in NHRA history. Nothing will be handed to us. We’ll have to earn each and every win light. That’s the plan, one day and one race at a time.”
Ashely is in the lead of the Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series Top Fuel points by just one over three-time world champion and most recent event winner Antron Brown. The top three are separated by only six points with Shawn Langdon behind Brown by only five.
Ashley has yet to win the Carolina Nationals, but he made his debut at the event in 2019 and has since raced to a No. 1 qualifying position and runner-up finish in 2022.His win earlier this year was his first at zMAX.
The NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway, race two of the Countdown to the Championship, will begin competition with four rounds of qualifying Friday at 5:00 and 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 1:30 and 4:00 p.m. Eliminations will be Sunday at noon. Television coverage of the event will air on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with qualifying shows Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET. Eliminations will air Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET.