| SONOMA, Calif. (July 25, 2023) – Justin Ashley and the SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel dragster team enter this weekend’s DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway in Northern California as the defending event champions and hope a second victory will give them a jump in the Mission Foods NHRA points standings. In 2023, Ashley qualified seventh for the Sonoma Nationals and battled his way past Doug Kalitta, Austin Prock, Josh Hart and Antron Brown to pick up his fifth win of the season. Sonoma Raceway is somewhat of a home race for the SCAG / Phillips Toyota team with team manager Dustin Davis and some of the crew calling Northern California home. “Sonoma has a special place in our hearts. Many of our team members are from the area and grew up at this racetrack. It’s tough to win a race and it seems tougher to win it at your home track, but we were fortunate enough to do it last year. Now we get to return as the defending event champions with an opportunity to win two years in a row,” said Ashley who ahead of competition will be participating in the Speedway Children’s Charities Karting for a Cause along with teammate Dave Richards. “Dustin Davis has worked closely with Speedway Children’s Charities over the last few years to create an amazing day of events prior to the race. We’ll be go-karting with fans on Thursday morning and attending the 16th annual Eric Medlen Nitro Night later that evening. I’m honored to participate and help support a great cause.” Most recently in Seattle, Ashley and the SCAG team came away from the NHRA Northwest Nationals with their third Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge victory of the season at Pacific Raceways while also qualifying No. 2 for the event. Unfortunately, the SCAG Toyota team had an early exit in the first round. At the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Ohio, Ashley was also the No. 2 qualifier and reached the semifinals. The recent results were a welcomed respite 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. Competition at the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway kicks off with four rounds of qualifying Friday at 5:30 and 8:15 p.m. and Saturday at 12:30 and 3:00 p.m. Eliminations will begin Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Television coverage of qualifying will be Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) while eliminations will be on FOX Broadcasting Network (FOX) Sunday at 4:00 p.m. ET. |
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