Mike Ashley is definitely adept at interpreting numbers, and the New York mortgage banker says the numbers look good. On the heels of his dramatic win at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, Ashley enters the 20th annual O'Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals presented by Pennzoil firmly ensconced in second place with his Torco Race Fuels Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car and said his goal is to stay on top of the wave.

"Brian Corradi, Mark Oswald [crew chiefs], and the guys are really hitting their stride, and their timing couldn't be more perfect," Ashley said. "Winning Indy was a great way to start the playoffs, and I honestly think we've put enough things into place so we can make it to the Countdown to One."

A self-proclaimed personal-development student, Ashley has spent countless hours planning his ascent up the POWERade world championship ladder and has worked hard to bring his team along for the journey. Before his Indy win, Ashley outlined for his team the steps to success, starting with the energy of life and working through the difference between positive thinking and action.

Mike Ashley is definitely adept at interpreting numbers, and the New York mortgage banker says the numbers look good. On the heels of his dramatic win at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, Ashley enters the 20th annual O'Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals presented by Pennzoil firmly ensconced in second place with his Torco Race Fuels Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car and said his goal is to stay on top of the wave.

"Brian Corradi, Mark Oswald [crew chiefs], and the guys are really hitting their stride, and their timing couldn't be more perfect," Ashley said. "Winning Indy was a great way to start the playoffs, and I honestly think we've put enough things into place so we can make it to the Countdown to One."

A self-proclaimed personal-development student, Ashley has spent countless hours planning his ascent up the POWERade world championship ladder and has worked hard to bring his team along for the journey. Before his Indy win, Ashley outlined for his team the steps to success, starting with the energy of life and working through the difference between positive thinking and action.

"It's more than just positive thinking," he said. "Positive thinking is good, but if you don't believe what you're thinking, you're just lying to yourself, and that's self-defeating. It's power thinking -- unconditionally believing we will win and then taking the steps necessary to make that happen.

"This might be our first year together as a team and my first year as owner, but I'd definitely say we've come incredibly far, especially compared to the other teams in the Countdown and those who didn't make it in."

Ashley became team owner less than 10 months ago, but the results for the two-time Pro Mod champion and business executive are nothing less than stellar.

"Think about it," he said. "You've got [John] Force with his multiple championships, [Don] Schumacher and his dominating teams, Tony Pedregon, who has been in the championship hunt before, even Jim Head. He's been racing for what, 20-something years? And then there's me. Logic says there's no chance a first-year owner should be where I am, and yet we're number two in the points and looking forward to the Countdown to One."

To keep the team focused on its goal, Ashley has again produced rubber bracelets for each team member to wear, just as he did at the beginning of the year when the goal was to make the playoffs. The message inscribed in bold: "Final 4 Commitment -- Team Gotham: Unconditional Belief -- One Team, One Vision, One Goal."

"These guys are like brothers," Ashley said. "We've been through so much, and I count them as some of my closest friends. We're all just keeping our heads down now, staying focused on doing what we've learned all year long and ultimately believing in our hearts our plans to come out on top."