Second-year driver and 2020 NHRA Rookie of the Year Justin Ashley defeated three tough competitors Buddy Hull, Brittany Force and Antron Brown, on the way to his second career final round during the NHRA Winternationals. Unfortunately, extreme heat forced Ashley to climb out of his Smart Sanitizer Top Fuel dragster powered by Strutmasters.com before his final round race with Leah Pruett. With track temperatures soaring over 140 degrees and conditions at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona well over 90 degrees Ashley’s team felt it was prudent to not compete in the final round as Ashley was battling heat exhaustion bordering on heatstroke.

“These race cars are too powerful to drive if you aren’t 100 percent,” said Ashley, from his hauler after the event. “I was drinking water throughout the day but before the final round I just didn’t feel right. I talked with my crew chief Mike Green and my father (Mike Ashley) and they encouraged me to do what was in my personal best interest. There will be more races and I take this as a learning experience. I congratulate Leah and look forward to racing her in a final very soon.”

“I want to thank the entire racing community and especially my sponsors Smart Sanitizer, Strutmasters.com, Auto Shocker and KATO Fastening Systems for the outpouring of support I received today,” added Ashley. “I especially want to thank Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett for their concern and interest in my health. I have known NHRA as my racing family for a long time but today it really showed how special our sport is and I thank everyone that stopped by, texted or posted well wishes on social media. I will be ready to go for Topeka."