JUSTIN ASHLEY WINS 2020 NHRA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Sun, 2020-11-01 17:00

 

In a departure from tradition, the NHRA awarded the 2020 Rookie of the Year trophy to Top Fuel racer Justin Ashley during a break Saturday from qualifying for the Dodge Finals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Saying, he was “just really excited and going to cherish this moment,” Ashley, 25, Plainview, N.Y., insisted that “I'm fortunate enough to win rookie of the year, but it's far from an individual award. It's a team award. It's because of Aaron Brooks, Dustin Davis, all the team members, top to bottom, who contribute daily to get us out here doing this.

The Strutmasters.com / Auto Shocker Dragster driver said he has experienced “so many high points” but that “the first step is just being out here in and of itself . . . it's just amazing.”

Ashley, who won the postponed final round of the Lucas Oil Summernationals in September at Indianapolis, said he is “really just grateful to be here, grateful for my sponsors.”

It was a red-letter day for Ashley, who announced during the surprise presentation ceremony that “Chip Lofton and Strutmasters.com have renewed for next year. Auto Shocker / Got Stink have renewed for next year, too. We're just proud to represent all our sponsors. Proud of this team, and in a crazy year, NHRA stood tall and they really did an awesome job.”

Ashley qualified for every national event during the 11-race season, led the Top Fuel class in reaction-time advantage and registered secured 10 elimination-round victories.

Second-generation Pro Stock racers Mason McGaha and Kyle Koretsky also were eligible for the award.

“This is a huge honor,” Ashley said, “and I have to thank my family, my sponsors and the NHRA for giving me the chance to chase my dream of being a professional Top Fuel racer.  Thank you to Davis Motorsports, Chip Lofton at Strutmasters.com, MANSCAPED, Auto Shocker, Kato, Lucas Oil, King Engine Bearings, Justice Brothers, Sanit, Guardlab, Hero Soap Company, Menards, and Impact.

“I also want to thank Mason and Kyle for having awesome rookie seasons in a tough class like Pro Stock. I know we will all have fantastic careers,” Ashley, son of former driver Mike Ashley.  

Justin Ashley began the season with quarterfinal finishes in February at the Winternationals at Pomona, Calif., and the Arizona Nationals at Chandler, near Phoenix] before the coronavirus pandemic put racing on hold. The shortened schedule turned out to be an advantage for Ashley, who had planned to enter selected races. It allowed him to attend the full season and provided him more seat time.

Consequently, Ashley became more comfortable in his dragster and continued to win rounds and finally the showdown between another first-time finalist, T.J. Zizzo. The delayed final round took place during the U.S. Nationals, during Saturday qualifying. The next day, he was involved in a wild pedal-fest in his semifinal race against eventual race winner Shawn Langdon.

NHRA President Glen Cromwell said, “The NHRA is very proud of Justin Ashley and his accomplishments throughout the 2020 season. Justin has proven himself as a force to be reckoned with in the very competitive Camping World Drag Racing Series Top Fuel class.”  

Mechanical issues beset Ashley through the tough run of back-to-back race weekends. Throughout the season, Ashley relied on support and guidance from his father Mike, a three-time Funny Car national event winner and former Pro Modified racer.

“I am so thankful to share this season and this Rookie of the Year award with my father,” Justin Ashley said. “He has been by my side the whole season, and I owe all my success to him. He helped me build an amazing team, led by crew chief Aaron Brooks, and we accomplished a lot. But there is a lot more I want to accomplish in my career. This is just the beginning, and I can’t wait to get the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season started.”  

Ashley becomes the 15th NHRA Rookie of the Year recipient from the Top Fuel category. Since 1990, 15 previous winners of the honor have gone on to win NHRA championships.

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

Categories: 
:::::: News ::::::