NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Justin Ashley heads to this weekend’s Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by Peak at Route 66 Raceway feeling good about the path his Scag Racing team is on.

There have been adjustments with new crew chiefs and new team members, but the Top Fuel standout continues to thrive, especially over the past three races.

After a slow start to the year, Ashley has picked up steam in his dragster, advancing to two semifinals and a final round in the loaded Top Fuel category. This weekend’s race in Chicago also marks a massive event for the Scag team, as hundreds of employees will be on hand at Route 66 Raceway.

Ashley loves the opportunity to put on a show for them as he seeks his first win of the season at the fan-favorite facility.

“I think we’re on a good path,” Ashley said. “Tommy [Delago, crew chief] and Jason [McCullouch, co-crew chief] have a plan, and I love the plan they’re following. It’s like building a new house. It’s a brand-new combination, and we started everything from scratch. We’re laying that foundation, and I think you’ll see more of it start to come to fruition in the next few races.

“I’m happy with how we’re doing, and I know there’s areas where we’ll continue to improve. It’s been a lot of fun, and I’ve really enjoyed this whole process through the first five races. We’ve got a championship group, and we have a lot of fun together. We enjoy being around each other, and it’s a great culture with this team.”

Ashley will also get to take part in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday, taking on reigning world champion Doug Kalitta in a semifinal rematch from the most recent event at South Georgia Motorsports Park.

Ashley will try to avenge that defeat and then parlay that into a victory against a field that features a host of standouts, including points leader Shawn Langdon, who won in Georgia and made the fastest run in NHRA history with an incredible blast of 345.00 mph. Others to watch include Leah Pruett, defending event winner Stewart, Gainesville winner Josh Hart, four-time world champion Antron Brown, rookie Maddi Gordon, Clay Millican, and Chicago native Tony Schumacher.

But this is an important race for Ashley and Scag Racing, with their headquarters not far from Route 66 Raceway. That means a great deal of their employees will be in attendance, which is something Ashley treasures, especially if he can bring them a victory.

“It’s definitely an honor,” Ashley said. “We’re out here representing this company, and this is the first real opportunity to express our gratitude. There’s hundreds of employees at Metalcraft of Mayville who work hard and diligently at their jobs, and we’re looking forward to spending time with them.”

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will feature two rounds of qualifying at 1:30 and 4:00 p.m. CT on Friday, May 15, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, May 16, at 12:00 and 2:30 p.m. CT. Eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. CT on Sunday, May 17. Television coverage includes qualifying action at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday and Saturday at 11:30 p.m. before eliminations coverage at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday.

To purchase tickets to the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by Peak on May 14-17 at Route 66 Raceway, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult.