Attitude’s CompetitionPlus.com, through the assistance of a key group of Pro Modified historians and enthusiasts, has compiled a list of the Top 20 all-time drivers based on their contribution to the class, historic achievements, statistics and fan appeal.

Starting on Friday, January 8, 2010, the electronic magazine began revealing those names on the list, and will announce two drivers per week, until the No. 1 driver is unveiled on Saturday, Mar. 20, during the ADRL Dragpalooza in Houston, Texas.

Attitude’s CompetitionPlus.com narrowed the list from hundreds of drivers down to 20. Today, we reveal No. 7 on the list.

Melville, NY

NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
•    2-time NHRA PM Champion
•    Qualified No. 1 at first-ever IHRA event
•    Nine-time national event winner [NHRA, IHRA]


In 1989, a young Mike Ashley had three key racing attributes going for him.

He wasn’t shy.

He was confident.

And, the kid from Long Island, New York, could drive the wheels off of any full-bodied car he drove.

Those three traits came into play when United States Super Circuit promoter Duane Nichols fielded a call from Ashley prior to his first event at Maryland International Raceway in Budds Creek, Md.

Ashley had the top of the line equipment of the time, ranging from a Jerry Haas-built Trans-Am to a nitrous-injected engine built by hometown engine wiz Scott Shafiroff. His team lacked for nothing.

In fact, the only thing Ashley was lacking was a reputation in the Top Sportsman circles.

“I called and asked if I could run with them, and he asked, 'Who are you?'” Ashley recalled of that initial introduction. “He told me he had enough cars and didn’t need me. I told him that even though he wouldn’t let me run I was coming anyway and I’d just enter the sportsman classes and make his cars look foolish.”

Ashley backed up his words as he not only set low elapsed time of the first event, but also returned the next day in Englishtown and posted the fastest speed of the event at 211.26 miles per hour – a world record at the time for this style of racing. He went on to win the Englishtown USSC event and ensured he’d have the reputation he was lacking.

When you drive a doorslammer 211 miles per hour with one tire in the grass, without lifting, people take notice.

Ashley became a regular player in the IHRA’s Top Sportsman Quick Eight program in 1989 and scored two final rounds including a win at the prestigious Ram Top Performer Shootout.

When Pro Modified came around, he was ready for the challenge with a futuristic new Beretta from Jerry Haas Race Cars complete with a rear wing large enough to land an airplane.

The new configuration for Ashley was potent enough to earn No. 1 qualifier honors during Pro Modified’s debut in Darlington, SC. He also scored three final round appearances, winning once. Twice Ashley fouled in the finals opposite of Ronnie Sox. A win in either one of those races would have crowned Ashley as the world champion.

Ashley took a sabbatical after the 1991 season and returned in 2000 where he didn’t take long to re-establish his competitive nature.

Ashley became a fixture on the NHRA AMS Pro Modified Challenge where he won two world championships and reached 13 final rounds, winning eight times.

He eventually graduated from Pro Modified to the Nitro Funny Car ranks, but not before leaving an indelible mark on a class that many believed his participation took to higher levels than anticipated.

Pat Norcia, a sponsor and influential figure in the formative years of Pro Modified, believes Ashley was always looking for the “next” level.

“Mike had such a positive attitude and brought a lot of energy to the class,” said Norcia. “He was willing to go out and do what he needed to be good, but also get the parts and pieces required to be at the top of the game. I will always believe that he set the tone for what it was going to take to win in Pro Modified.”

But, then again, maybe it was Ashley’s passion to win that inspired this level of commitment.

“I hate to think most of those memories happened twenty years ago because it makes me feel old, but when you look at it, I have been blessed to get older,” Ashley said. “Twenty years ago I loved racing so much that I remember sitting down with my dad and telling him he’ll never understand it. You’ll never know how it feels to love something as much as I love to race.”

For the complete list visit: ATTITUDE'S COMPETITIONPLUS.COM'S ALL-TIME TOP 20 HOMEPAGE