Never underestimate the power of Frank Hawley. 

 

In a last-minute driver substitution for Mike Ashley, Hawley landed in a provisional top-five position during the first day of qualifying for the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka.
 
Less than 30 minutes before he was supposed to make his first qualifying attempt of the day, Gotham City Racing co-owner and driver Ashley received an urgent telephone call from his office at Lend America in Melville, New York alerting him of a business-critical meeting which required his participation. Ashley was forced to remove himself from competition and substitute former World Champion and veteran drag racer Frank Hawley in his place and leave Topeka headed back to Long Island.
 
"Unfortunately, business has to come first, and I've been working on some pretty big things for Lend America, and literally at the last minute an opportunity came together that I had to attend to personally," a disappointed Ashley explained.

 

Never underestimate the power of Frank Hawley.  In a last-minute driver substitution for Mike Ashley, Hawley landed in a provisional top-five position during the first day of qualifying for the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka.
 
Less than 30 minutes before he was supposed to make his first qualifying attempt of the day, Gotham City Racing co-owner and driver Ashley received an urgent telephone call from his office at Lend America in Melville, New York alerting him of a business-critical meeting which required his participation. Ashley was forced to remove himself from competition and substitute former World Champion and veteran drag racer Frank Hawley in his place and leave Topeka headed back to Long Island.
 
"Unfortunately, business has to come first, and I've been working on some pretty big things for Lend America, and literally at the last minute an opportunity came together that I had to attend to personally," a disappointed Ashley explained.

 
"I had wanted to defend my title at the event, and while I'm bummed that I can't be there myself, I know that the team and our title is in very capable hands of Melanie Troxel, Frank Hawley, and [crew chiefs] Brian Corradi and Aaron Brooks," he said.
 
Very capable hands, indeed, so the qualifying results indicate.


Frank Hawley delivered a 4.907/311.63 pass in the second session to grab the provisional third spot as well as top speed honors for the day.
 
A noted drag racing instructor and owner of the first drag racing school, Hawley had been alerted to the possibility of driving in Topeka and was at least slightly prepared to race, but when the call went out with less than a half-hour before qualifying, a flurry of activity ensued to get ready for the driver swap.
 
"We had to get the car re-inspected, and I had to sign a waiver form before NHRA would let me run in Mike's place," Hawley said. "And, while all that was going on, I had to mentally prepare to drive a 300-mile-per-hour, 8,000 horsepower racecar. It was definitely a challenge, but I loved it.
 
"I really had the chance to practice what I teach my students about not letting everything that's happening around you affect how you do your job - and, I think it worked. Aaron had the car ready to go, and I just had to push the pedal and hang on. It all worked like it should because Mike and Roger [Burgess, team co-owner] have put together such a great team of talented people," he said.