Just 18 months and 27 national events since his first pass in a nitro Funny Car, Mike Ashley is thrilled to be back as a team owner and driver. After having competed under the umbrellas of two of the top teams in drag racing, the two-time champion has broken out on his own to set a course for the top.
 
Since his announcement of his new role at the Finals in Pomona in November, Ashley has assembled an all-star team including crew chief Brian Corradi, veteran and world champion Mark Oswald, "blower wiz" Chuck Ford (crew chief on Ashley's championship-winning Pro Mod), even  past champion Frank Hawley, known for his mentoring and training to the sport’s top stars.
 
"It takes more than horsepower to get down the track," Ashley said. "I'm incredibly excited about what we've been able to do in such a short time. I just know that this will be an awesome year."
 
In a new shop in Brownsburg, Indiana just outside of Indianapolis, the Gotham City Race Team's headquarters was literally four bare walls just 60 days ago. Now bustling with employees and full of race equipment and a machine shop, a spirit of creative confidence has emerged.
 
A new Murf McKinney Funny Car is undergoing final preparations for its opening salvo at the Time Trials in Phoenix and is flanked by a race-ready backup car and motors and heads lined up like soldiers prepared for battle. Corradi said the team is set to take delivery of a third car within the next month that will be used exclusively for testing on Mondays following National Events.
 
"Mike has planned a lot of testing for the season to experiment with the things we develop in our R&D area," Corradi said. "Chuck Ford is working on the blowers at our other shop in Alabama - Gotham City South - and Mark Oswald is here developing custom clutch fingers. These guys are so incredibly skilled - I love working with them.
 
"It really is amazing how much we have accomplished in such a short amount of time. Things are coming together so fast - I'm really excited," he said.
 
True to Ashley form, a new paint scheme will debut in Pomona on one of two new Dodge Charger bodies.
 
Ashley said, "So much is wrapped up in the appearance of the car - I want it to look incredible. It's not too different from the red car we ran last year, but I think fans will like the new look."
 
The recently announced Research and Development Alliance with the teams of Morgan Lucas, Melanie Troxell, Gary Densham, and Jim Dunn just adds to mix. Starting with the test session in Phoenix the teams will be working together and sharing tune-up and run information.
 
The Alliance will be housed out of a new technology trailer and will have all the equipment to be a 'shop away from home.'
 
"When you assemble years of experience and combine that with funding, commitment and leadership, you give yourself the best chance for success," Ashley said. "You can't be out there on your own island, calling all of the shots. It just takes too long to acquire, analyze, and respond to information.
 
"Ultimately, our goal is to deliver championship programs for our sponsors," he said.
 
"I'm taking the only approach I know how to take with a project like this: I refuse to compete. When you compete you allow your competition to set the bar. I prefer to create. A creative mindset is the only process for success where your limitations are the one's you place on yourself and I don't believe in limits.
 
"I know it sounds silly, but I refuse to look at Force or Schumacher cars as what's possible performance-wise. Hey, let's face it, they are hugely successful and I have a great respect for both organizations. However, is it possible to reset that performance bar? You bet, and my goal is to assemble the equipment and talent to do just that."
 
Ashley’s been living up to his reputation of taking care of his talented team, too. From a beautiful six-bedroom house in Brownsburg to an all-expense paid trip to Frank Hawley's school in Florida where every team member earned an NHRA competition license, Ashley has spent just as much time developing the team's vision and camaraderie as the hardware and equipment.
 
"People are what put things together, and that's what is most important to me. More than personal motivation that can rise and fall depending on circumstances, we've all had a transformation of the way we think - and that will take us down the track. I have always felt that when a team works together, they can accomplish so much more than when they are independent. I think that's why our Alliance with Lucas Oil and Torco will be so powerful.
 
"I appreciate and respect both of these companies. Forest, Charlotte and Morgan are great people, and heck, Evan Knoll is one of my closest friends. Working together, the Alliance will be strong," he said.
 
If history is any indicator of future results, and if hindsight is 20/20, Ashley's vision is focused and will be right on target for 2007 and beyond.