By: SCAG Racing
MADISON, Ill. (Sept. 29, 2024) – Justin Ashley and the SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel dragster team led SCAG Racing with a semifinal finish at the NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway. In Funny Car, Daniel Wilkerson had the SCAG Ford Mustang in the quarterfinals while Dave Richards and the BlueBird / Versatran team found consistency despite a first-round exit.
Justin Ashley started his Midwest Nationals Raceway from the No. 13 qualifying position off a 3.784-second run at 321.96 mph. The SCAG Toyota team’s first round match-up would be with Clay Millican, who just won the prestigious U.S. Nationals a handful of weeks ago. Ashley would get the win on a holeshot thanks to a .034 second reaction time and 3.733-second pass at 325.53 mph that was enough o take down Millican’s .056 reaction time and 3.712 run at 330.96. In the quarterfinals, it would be another tough match up against former world champion Shawn Langdon.
Ashley stayed consistent going 3.721 at 327.43 to better Langdon’s 3.731 at 320.81 setting Ashley up with a semifinal race against four-time champion Steve Torrence. Torrence had a clean 3.785-second pass at 321.50 mph while Ashley’s SCAG Toyota dragster suffered an electrical failure resulting in a 5.618 pass at 126.52 mph.
“I thought we did a lot of really good things throughout this weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway. When there’s only two qualifying sessions the first step is to ensure that we get to race on Sunday and that’s what we did. Raceday was an absolute battle every lap and that’s what we’ve come to expect as of late. As we get closer to and into the Countdown everyone is on their A-game, ourselves included,” Ashley said. “An electrical issue caused cylinders to go out and ultimately slowed our car down enough to come up short against Steve. But leaving second in points after picking up two round wins against some stout teams feels great. I am incredibly thankful for SCAG Power Equipment, Metalcraft of Mayville, Phillips, Toyota, KATO, Mac Tools, Lucas Oil and Impact. Looking forward to Dallas.”
Daniel Wilkerson and the SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang team landed themselves another quarterfinal finish, their sixth of the season. Wilkerson started race day from the No. 5 qualifying position after laying down a 3.894 second pass at 316.15 mph. The SCAG Mustang would have a solid first round showing going 3.901 at 327.51 to defeat Alexis DeJoria’s 3.940 at 325.22. In the second round, the SCAG machine would be up in tire smoke at the hit and have to watch veteran racer and eventual event winner Jack Beckman drive around him. Wilkerson coasted to an 8.392 at 84.04 while Beckman had a 3.887 at 326.00.
“I’m super proud of the SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang we have. It did exactly what it was supposed to in round one against Alexis,” Wilkerson said. “We tuned it up a bit and it was just a little too much in the second round. That SCAG Mustang was so close to making it, it’s not even funny. Disappointing for SCAG, Ford, Summit and all our dealers and customers we had out this weekend, including a local guy, Scooter Lawn Care, sorry we let them all down. Definitely looking forward to the next one, though.”
Dave Richards and the BlueBird Turf / Versatran team entered race day from the No. 11 qualifying position after running a 4.045-second pass at 311.41 mph. Their No. 11 spot matched the team’s best race day start of the year; they were also No. 11 in Seattle during the month of July. The BlueBird Turf machine stayed consistent in their round one matchup against Bobby Bode running a 4.045 at 313.80 but unfortunately it wasn’t enough for Bode’s 3.995 at 322.50.
“It was a good weekend overall for our BlueBird Turf team. We made consistent runs and improved each time and I’m get more and more comfortable in the car,” Richards said. “My team is ready to keep this momentum rolling for the last three races of the Countdown. It’s going to be a great rest of the year, I can feel it.”
The Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship continues with the Stampeded of Speed week leading up to the Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex just outside of Dallas in Ennis, Texas Oct. 11-13.
