When Justin Ashley climbed behind the wheel of a Top Dragster in 2016 with his goals of Top Fuel racing, those around him knew he would be something special. Since graduating to Top Fuel in 2019, Ashley has reached at least the semi-finals 35 times in his first 75 races, winning 11. He has also finished no lower than fifth in NHRA’s championship point standings. 

With stats like this, it’s no surprise he’s considered a frontrunner in the bid to be the champion at the SCAG Power Equipment PRO Superstar Shootout presented by Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage, Feb. 8-10, at Bradenton Motorsports Park. Ashley’s Phillips-Connect sponsored team could pocket $250,000 if he can pull off the feat.
 
“This is an opportunity for us as a group to do something special,” Ashley said. “The message is clear, and it’s one that I firmly stand behind. This race is being held because it’s in the best interest of drag racing. Our hope is that it helps to elevate the sport we all love and appreciate so much. That includes the challenges of racing at a new facility, track entertainment, streaming, and taking fans behind the scenes so they can connect with teams and drivers on a more personal level.”

Ashley is only three years into his professional drag racing career but has quickly noted the complete community effort to make this event a success on all fronts. 

 
“It’s a chance to race for one of the biggest monetary prizes in the history of professional drag racing,” Ashley explained. “We are racing for something critically important because those winnings can be put directly back into the program in an effort to improve as we race during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. This purse adds a lot of anticipation and excitement to the entirety of the event, and teams will do everything they can to leave with the big check. It’s taken a true team effort to make racing under these circumstances a reality and one for which everyone is very proud.”  
 
Ashley is coming off a championship season in all aspects except the final points tally. He completed the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series as the regular season champion as well as the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge champion on the strength of six wins. A lackluster Countdown to the Championship cost him what could have been a championship run for the ages. 

A win at the PRO Superstar Shootout would definitely start the ball rolling for a 2024 NHRA Top Fuel championship run. 
 
“It would be huge to win this race. Momentum is important,” Ashley said. “You never want to discredit how important it is to get the season started off on the right foot. In addition, winning this race will have meant we made more laps down the racetrack, which gives us more data to use moving forward. Regardless of the outcome, we will learn from the experience, but we want to perform well and make sure we’re at the top of our game.”
 
The Scag Power Equipment PRO Superstar Shootout, also featuring $250,000-to-win Funny Car and $125,000-to-win Pro Stock, will take place Feb. 8-10 at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton, Fla.