NHRA News: Pro Mod racer Ashley excited about home race (6/15/2004)

Pro Mod racer Ashley excited about home race

6/15/2004

New York mortgage banker Mike Ashley holds steadfast to a principle that mandates positive thinking and energy will inspire an individual to reach goals they previously had only considered unattainable. That's the philosophy that has inspired Ashley from the time that he began racing at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park almost two decades ago.

The executive for one of Long Island's largest mortgage banking firms has reached the pinnacle of his drag racing career at age 39 and continues to reach beyond. Up next, the 35th annual K&N Filters NHRA SuperNationals presented by Strauss Discount Auto at his home track in Englishtown, N.J.

Ashley first gained national notoriety in Englishtown by helping to pioneer the Pro Modified class back in the early-Nineties. Now, he's an icon of the class and spokesman for a major team that features two Pro Modified entries and a Pro Stock Bike.

Ashley's philosophy is to treat racing as a business and in time the investment will yield rewards.

Mike Ashley's 1967 Shelby GT500E.
Racers Edge Photography

"You absolutely have to treat it like a business," said Ashley, a two-time winner on the NHRA AMS Pro Modified Challenge tour. "It's all about the marketing aspect of the sport. There used to be a day when drag racers would pull alongside one another and just race. Now, you have sponsors and they supplement a large portion of the expenses we incur. The competition end of things sometimes takes a back seat.

"Sponsors expect a return on their investment and that's up to us to deliver the maximum television time. We have provided a lot of opportunities for our sponsors to be seen. We are always looking for ways to refine our approach and I think we've instilled that same philosophy in everyone involved with our team."

Ashley runs as part of the 10-race NHRA AMS Pro Modified Challenge, which is currently an exhibition division. Through sponsorship from Unique Performance and InfiNet Insurance, Ashley's Gotham City Racing team is able to field two cars in the class as well as a Pro Stock Bike on the NHRA POWERade tour, a 15-race series.

Ashley's personal race vehicle is an interesting entity of its own. Based on the classic muscle car movie Gone in 60 Seconds, Ashley's 1967 Shelby GT500E is a direct replica of the feature vehicle used in the motion picture. Credit Ashley's sponsor Unique Performance for making that connection happen. Unique Performance is a high-end muscle car restoration company whose line of automobiles has been endorsed by automotive legend Carroll Shelby.

Last year in Englishtown, Ashley campaigned one car and reached the final round in quickest-ever field in the history of the class. The expansion of his team with west coast runner Danny Rowe will now give him two shots at conquering the tough eight-car fields. Taking it one step further, Ashley aligned himself with the winningest Pro Modified driver ever, Scotty Cannon, in a research and development sharing scenario.

After those key moves within his class, Ashley welcomed Brooklyn-based rider Lloyd Straus and his potent Pro Stock Suzuki under the expanding Gotham City umbrella. The former was to improve his performance. The latter was to give his sponsor a better value for their investment.

Ashley is providing an excellent return thus far in 2004. He's gained one major victory this year thus far, winning an event in Houston from the pole position. He's currently ranked second in the world championship points standings and heads up the list for a special eight-car shootout to be staged later this year in Dallas.

The NHRA AMS Pro Modified Challenge Series will continue in Englishtown with the sixth stop on the tour. Qualifying will feature two sessions on Friday and two on Saturday. Final eliminations are slated for Sunday.

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