Chuck Ford has been Mike Ashley’s crew chief long enough to expect a vision of the absurd from time to time. In 2008, Ford will get a re-run of the 2005 season when his driver would make a blazing run in his Evan Knoll-sponsored nitro Funny Car only to hop on a scooter and race back to the staging lanes at breakneck speed in order to strap into a supercharged, alcohol-burning Pro Modified entry.

Yes, Mike Ashley plans to run a 24-race NHRA POWERade schedule in Funny Car but he also plans to run 10 events on the NHRA Pro Modified tour behind the wheel of a new 1968 Camaro.

Contrary to published reports elsewhere, Ashley has confirmed that he will be a partner in a three-car team with Roger Burgess.

The game plan is totally different than when Ashley ran as a single team en route to winning his second consecutive championship in 2005. The focus is certainly on the present, but Ford adds this plan goes well beyond the present.

Third-year Funny Car driver Mike Ashley will return to familiar stomping grounds in 2008

Chuck Ford has been Mike Ashley’s crew chief long enough to expect a vision of the absurd from time to time. In 2008, Ford will get a re-run of the 2005 season when his driver would make a blazing run in his Evan Knoll-sponsored nitro Funny Car only to hop on a scooter and race back to the staging lanes at breakneck speed in order to strap into a supercharged, alcohol-burning Pro Modified entry.

Yes, Mike Ashley plans to run a 24-race NHRA POWERade schedule in Funny Car but he also plans to run 10 events on the NHRA Pro Modified tour behind the wheel of a new 1968 Camaro. Contrary to published reports elsewhere, Ashley has confirmed that he will be a partner in a three-car team with Roger Burgess.

The game plan is totally different than when Ashley ran as a single team en route to winning his second consecutive championship in 2005. The focus is certainly on the present, but Ford adds this plan goes well beyond the present.

“We are going to focus a lot on research and development for the future,” Ford said. “That will include the two Roger Burgess cars and Mike’s car. We want to build a solid plan for the future.”

We’re looking for a few people that will work within our five-year plan. We want to bring a few people up to speed on making the right calls in certain situations. That’s the long term plan. – Chuck Ford, Mike Ashley Pro Modified Crew Chief

Ford said the research and development objective will not be his primary focus in the early going of this new venture, he will still reign over the crew chief duties. He did add that he’ll work towards cultivating talent within his current organization to fill that position as well as evaluating and recruiting established talent.

“We’re looking for a few people that will work within our five-year plan,” Ford said. “We want to bring a few people up to speed on making the right calls in certain situations. That’s the long term plan.”

Ashley also posted on a Pro Modified oriented message board seeking interested parties to join in on the five-year plan.

What might not be common knowledge is that Ford also assists on supercharger development for Ashley’s nitro-burning Funny Car.

“They are two totally different recipes, that’s for sure,” Ford said. “We’re still learning and hopefully we will be for years to come. That means we’re not dead.”

There’s a misnomer that suggests nitro technology can be easily cross-pollinated over to alcohol racing. Ford suggests this practice is similar to mixing oil and water.

“The demands for each are totally different,” said Ford. “Just because you are efficient at one, doesn’t guarantee you excel in the other.”