Ashley Eager For New Top Fuel Journey With SCAG

Justin Ashley will pilot a Top Fuel dragster for the new SCAG Racing factory team this year. (Toyota Racing photo)

MAYVILLE, Wis. – Second-generation drag racer Justin Ashley is gearing up for the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and his ride aboard the Top Fuel dragster for the new SCAG Racing team.

Ashley has brought his full team into the SCAG Racing fold, with crew chiefs Mike Green and Tommy DeLago at the helm of the SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel dragster and Dustin Davis overseeing the day-to-day operations.

Last year, Green and DeLago led Ashley to a career best six wins and three No. 1 qualifying positions.

Ashley led the points for nine races before ultimately finishing the season fourth in points for the third consecutive year.

“I’d like to thank Randy Gloede [President and CEO of SCAG Power Equipment] and his team for the opportunity to represent Scag Power Equipment and all of their distributors, dealers, owners and users all across the country.” Ashley said. “Being chosen to join the first NHRA professional factory team is an honor and comes with great responsibility. I’m a firm believer in mastering your position and becoming the very best you can be within that role.

“As part of the SCAG Racing family, I can now be laser focused on finding success both on and off the racetrack, which includes both the driving and business sides of racing,” Ashley added. “This is a classic one plus one equals 10 [formula].”

SCAG Power Equipment, a division of Metalcraft of Mayville, has steadily grown its involvement in NHRA drag racing, from its debut in 2022 as a partner for a Top Fuel team that became a primary sponsorship.

SCAG quickly ramped up its presence last year with sponsorship of Tim Wilkerson’s Funny Car team and associate sponsorship of Erica Enders’ Pro Stock team, as well as becoming the Official Outdoor Power Equipment Provider of the NHRA, before taking on team ownership this year.

“SCAG has invested a lot of time, energy and effort into the sport and the new organization. Our guys have the resources and stability they deserve,” Ashley said. “Randy’s ideology of love, service, and care for all of SCAG Nation and the importance of family, respect, and culture, aligns with our own. In my opinion, NHRA Drag Racing is the best sport in the world. I’m getting to do what I love with a team, ownership group and sponsors that I love.

“We are proud to represent SCAG Nation and our goal is to make them proud of us.”

Ashley began his professional drag racing career in 2020, earning the NHRA Rookie of the Year Award after picking up his first win along with two semifinal appearances and a seventh place points finish.

In his four years behind the wheel, Ashley has tallied 11 wins in 19 final rounds and five No. 1 qualifying positions, with a career best elapsed time of 3.661 seconds and speed of 338.40 mph at Texas Motorplex last season.

Toyota, Phillips, Impact, Mac Tools, Lucas Oil, and KATO will also back Ashley and SCAG Racing this year.

Ashley will kick off the new season in Florida with the SCAG Power Equipment PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton Motorsports Park, Feb. 8-10, before beginning the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series campaign with the NHRA Gatornationals at historic Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway March 8-10.