Justin Ashley is the only driver who will have three opportunities to visit the winner’s circle during the April 5-7 NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park.
How is that possible?
Well, the final round of the Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona (Calif.) Dragstrip last Sunday was rained out — as was Saturday’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge.
Since Ashley was slated to run both of those events, as well as the pre-scheduled Arizona Nationals, the SCAG Racing driver will have three chances to triumph at the Chandler, Ariz., drag strip, should everything go right for the New York native.
“All we have to do is turn seven straight win lights,” Ashley said, cracking a smile.
His final-round opponent during the conclusion of the Winternationals will be eight-time Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher, who advanced to the finals for the first time in 15 races at Pomona.
Twenty-nine-year-old Ashley has plenty of reasons to hope for the best, especially considering he went through a similar situation last year and came out on top.
When unfavorable weather forced the NHRA to postpone the New England Nationals eliminations at New Hampshire’s New England Dragway to Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway the following weekend, Ashley attempted to pull off the double.
Ironically, it ended with Ashley outrunning Schumacher in the final round.
Despite his past experience with the unusual setup, Ashley views the upcoming weekend at Firebird Motorsports Park as a unique challenge for his team.
“When you’re going along through race day and you’re fortunate enough to turn on win lights, you as a team get into a routine and you have your adrenaline all the way up. And then all of a sudden in Pomona, when it rains or starts to hail, all of that just comes to a sudden stop,” Ashley described.
Not only is the adrenaline gone, but the team is also facing new weather conditions, a different track surface and a new time and temperature.
Will it play out in Ashley’s favor once again? Time will tell.
Winternationals Wrap-Up
Along with Ashley and Schumacher, there are two additional sets of drivers who will face-off for the Winternationals Wally ahead of the Arizona Nationals on Sunday.
Reigning Funny Car champion Matt Hagan will line up against 16-time world titlist John Force, who is chasing his first win in nearly two years.
“I’ve got a real good hot rod,” Force said. “I think we’re on to something and I’m excited about it. I’ve done well at Phoenix over the years. I love racing Hagan, he’s a great racer and a great champion.”
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Elite Motorsports driver Erica Enders and KB Titan Racing’s Dallas Glenn will compete in the final Pro Stock elimination round, with Enders looking to collect her 50th career victory.
“I wish we could have turned on one more beacon here in Pomona, but we’ll look to get the job done in Phoenix and hopefully double up,” Enders said.
Points Update
No matter what driver wins the Winternationals in any of the pairings, the points leaders are unofficially set heading into the Arizona Nationals — race three of 20 on the NHRA schedule.
Due to their victories at the season-opening Gatornationals, Kalitta Motorsports teammates Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel) and J.R. Todd (Funny Car) continue to lead in their respective classes.
“The weather made track conditions a little tricky for our GR Supra, but everybody was in the same boat. We made some good runs out there, and it’s nice to leave Pomona with the points lead,” said Todd, who made his exit in the semifinals.
Langdon lost to Schumacher in the second round.
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Meanwhile, Enders remains atop the board in Pro Stock.
News Nugget
Last year, it was announced that the Wild Horse Motorsports Park drag strip would close, with the 450-acre plot of land set to become part of a new overpass and roadway for the Interstate 10 extension.
However, due to support from the local community, the Chandler, Ariz., facility will remain on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule for the near future. There’s only one change — it’s been renamed to Firebird Motorsports Park, which was the original name of the drag strip when it opened 40 years ago.