Mike Ashley retired a two-time NHRA Pro Modified championship-winning driver in order to pursue a career as an NHRA POWERade Funny Car competitor. Somehow, one just couldn’t believe he’d stay away from the class that made him a superstar.

Ashley proclaimed his return to the popular fast doorslammer division with a top qualifying 5.945 elapsed time at 239.61 miles per hour. So much for the competition thinking the mortgage banker had lost his momentum by focusing his attention on the nitro divisions for the last two seasons.

“I don't think I lost any momentum,” Ashley said. “The bottom line is that driving a Funny Car helped me to become a better driver all around because you've got to be really aware with those cars. The truth of the matter is that racing is racing. Going four seconds or going six seconds is still fast. Mike Ashley retired a two-time NHRA Pro Modified championship-winning driver in order to pursue a career as an NHRA POWERade Funny Car competitor. Somehow, one just couldn’t believe he’d stay away from the class that made him a superstar.

Ashley proclaimed his return to the popular fast doorslammer division with a top qualifying 5.945 elapsed time at 239.61 miles per hour. So much for the competition thinking the mortgage banker had lost his momentum by focusing his attention on the nitro divisions for the last two seasons.

“I don't think I lost any momentum,” Ashley said. “The bottom line is that driving a Funny Car helped me to become a better driver all around because you've got to be really aware with those cars. The truth of the matter is that racing is racing. Going four seconds or going six seconds is still fast.

“We won back to back world championships when I feel Pro Modified was the toughest series ever with eight-car fields and thirty cars trying to qualify. It was real rough and we won it through the roughest time. We came back and we kind of dominated the season before that. I don't think it messed up my momentum at all because you know why because I had momentum towards a different goal.”

Ashley’s objective was to become a successful team owner and he was convinced the driving upgrade would follow naturally. Forty-six NHRA national events and a ten-event schedule running the Pro Modified tour suits his role as family man and successful executive better.

“At some point you have to stop to think about your priorities are in life,” said Ashley. “As much as I enjoy driving and all that, I love my family and it's hard for me to be away from them all that time. For them it's hard for me to be away from my business all that time.”

Ashley’s still adjusting to a different driving regimen than that of season’s past with the suspended chassis and left-hand drive.

“Let's face it, these cars handle totally different,” Ashley explained. “The starting line procedure is totally different. It's no question that it's something I'm going to have to get used to but I'm going to try to be on top of my game as best as I can. I think it's going to take me a couple of races to get back in the groove and get my system together. I'm looking forward to having a fun season.”

Ashley can thank the sponsorship of Jegs of the Pro Modified series for the fun. As recent as a month ago, the series was dead in the water with lack of sponsorship. Sponsorship had come from Dave Wood’s AMS Staff Leasing for the last five seasons.

“I think the series is in the right hands,” Ashley conveyed. “I think Dave Wood deserves a lot of credit for taking it as far as he did. We've got a bunch of guys who kind of chipped in to help out in the series. Some of them, myself included, are chipping in to help it out. I think having Jegs at the helm was an important decision for the future of the class because they've got the proper contacts, they've got the proper know how and management team in place to really take the entire series to the next level.

“I appreciate Troy [Coughlin] stepping in and doing that. I'm excited to race the series.”

Ashley races Joe Baker in the first round of eliminations on Sunday.