betway NHRA Carolina Nationals
Event 17 of 21
Countdown Event 2 of 6
zMAX Dragway
Concord, N.C.
Sept. 22-24, 2023
Noteworthy:
Mike Lewis, Vice President of JCM Racing, will compete in the Top Alcohol Dragster category at the NHRA Carolina Nationals where he will campaign the JCM SCAG Power Equipment/Versatran Transport Equipment A/Fuel Dragster
Lewis’ entry is owned and operated by Randy Meyer Racing
Lewis is a three-time finalist and two-time No. 1 qualifier in the TAD category. He enters the Charlotte event after having competed last in Reading, Pa. where he took his No. 6 qualified SCAG/Versatran machine to a quarterfinal finish
Top Fuel:
JUSTIN ASHLEY
Driver of the Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel Dragster
Countdown to the Championship Ranking: 2nd
NHRA Carolina Nationals Event Highlights:
2022 No. 1 qualifier and event runner-up
Overall zMAX Dragway stats:
One-time runner-up
Two-time No. 1 qualifier
2022 NHRA Carolina Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified No. 1; Event runner-up (defeated Alex Laughlin in E1, Steve Torrence in E2, Doug Kalitta in E3; defeated by Antron Brown in E4)
Last Event (Reading):
Qualified No. 1; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Scott Farley in E1; defeated by Tony Schumacher in E2)
2023 Statistics:
16 races; six wins, one runner-up finish, three No. 1 qualifiers
Career Statistics:
71 races; 11 wins, five No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:
With five races remaining in the 2023 NHRA Countdown, Ashley and the Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel team are in a tight battle for their first world championship
Throughout the season, Ashley held either the No. 1 or No. 2 position in the Top Fuel point standings and heading into the Betway NHRA Carolina Nationals, the 2020 NHRA Rookie of the Year, is just seven points out of the lead
Fan Events:
Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Team Toyota autograph session at Toyota midway display
Quotable:
“Our Phillips Connect Toyota team performed very well at the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals in Reading last weekend. We came up just short in a close race but gathered a lot of data and information that we can apply in Charlotte. We’re looking at each round in its own sphere and trying to regain our number one position in points as a result.
“Our approach is going to stay the same throughout the entirety of the Countdown regardless of the results. We are in this position for a reason. We have a process and routine that works well for us. Mike Green, Tommy Delago and the team are focused and eager to get back to zMax Dragway. We have had a quick and fast race car at zMax Dragway the past two years and I feel confident that we can continue that trend. Everyone on this team works really well together and it shows on the racetrack. We are going to continue concentrating on ourselves and finding ways to improve.”
TONY SCHUMACHER
Driver of the SCAG Power Equipment Top Fuel Dragster
Countdown to the Championship Ranking: 9th
NHRA Carolina Nationals Event Highlights:
Two-time event champion (2008, 2014)
Two-time runner-up (2012, 2013)
2011 No. 1 qualifier
Overall zMAX Dragway stats:
Two-time event champion
Four-time runner-up
One No. 1 qualifier
2022 NHRA Carolina Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified 11th; First round exit (defeated by Josh Hart in E1)
Last Event (Reading):
Qualified ninth; Semifinal finish (defeated Austin Prock in E1, Justin Ashley in E2; defeated by Steve Torrence in E3)
2023 Statistics:
16 races; one runner-up finish
Career Statistics:
550 races; 86 wins, 88 No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:
Launched from 12th place into ninth during the Reading, Pa. event after a get-healthy weekend which saw Schumacher post four representative qualifying passes before advancing to the semifinals during the first of six Countdown to the Championship events
One year ago, at the 2022 Carolina Nationals, Schumacher and the JCM Racing team announced that SCAG Power Equipment had signed on to back Schumacher as his primary marketing partner through 2025
Quotable:
“Love Charlotte. We’re getting down to cutthroat time with just five races left in the season. Right now, we’ve got to make moves but our SCAG dragster performed so great last weekend in Reading. I’ve been saying all year long, we’re going to get it figured out; it’s not a matter of if but when. We have a lot of confidence going into this weekend and we all feel really good about these last few races of the year.”
Funny Car:
TIM WILKERSON
Driver of the SCAG Power Equipment/Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang
Countdown to the Championship Ranking: 8th
NHRA Carolina Nationals Event Highlights:
2021 event champion
2012 No. 1 qualifier
Overall zMAX Dragway stats:
Two-time event champion
One-time No. 1 qualifier
2022 NHRA Carolina Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified eighth; First round exit (defeated by Chad Green in E1)
Last Event (Reading):
Qualified fourth; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Alex Laughlin in E1; defeated by Chad Green in E2)
2023 Statistics:
16 races; two wins, one runner-up finish
Career Statistics:
586 races; 24 wins, 20 No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:
Making his 15th Countdown appearance, the driver/tuner of the SCAG/LRS Ford Funny Car began the playoffs from the No. 8 seed and maintained his position after advancing to the quarterfinals at the first of six Countdown events last weekend in Reading, Pa.
So far in 2023, Wilkerson has two event wins in three final round appearances
Quotable:
“We’ve run good in Charlotte every year so hopefully, if the sun stays up and the temperatures stay mild like they normally do, and not like how they were on race day in Reading where you’ve got to run the car like you’re trying to murder it, we should be alright. But, I feel confident that we’ll have something for ‘em everywhere we go for the rest of the season, regardless of the conditions, so I’m looking forward to going to the next race and getting some redemption for our SCAG/LRS team after last week’s second-round exit.”
