Top Fuel points leader Justin Ashley extended his winning streak by claiming victory in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge for the fifth consecutive time. The specialty race, held as part of the 43rd and final Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, saw Ashley emerge as the champion, defeating Austin Prock in front of a sold-out crowd.

Joining Ashley in victory at the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge were Matt Hagan in Funny Car, Troy Coughlin Jr. in Pro Stock, and Matt Smith in Pro Stock Motorcycle. 

Ashley’s victory came after a thrilling final round, where he clocked a time of 3.883 seconds at 313.95 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Phillips Connect/Toyota dragster. This win marks his fifth triumph in the 2023 season, earning him 15 bonus points for the Countdown to the Championship. As the current points leader, Ashley now sets his sights on achieving a third double-up weekend this year.

Reflecting on his success, Ashley expressed his delight at the ongoing dream season he has been experiencing.

“It has been a dream season so far,” Ashley said. “It’s been unbelievable, and we’ll take a win any way we can get it. It’s such a fun event, and it really helps us get ready for raceday. It’s packed here, and the fans are excited.
 
“You try not to think about the championship this early in the year, but how can you not? These championship points are so critical. Now that we’re at 15, it really is like a dream come true. When they reset the points, everything starts from scratch, but those 15 points are critical. We’re ecstatic with all these Mission #2Fast2Tasty wins.”

Hagan became the fifth different Funny Car driver to secure a win in the specialty race, defeating Bob Tasca III in the finals.

“I think we’re putting on a pretty good show for Dodge – No. 1 qualifier, 50th No. 1 for me, and winning the (Mission) #2Fast2Tasty Challenge,” Hagan said. “It’s so much going on; it’s incredible. It’s just super special. It’s a real emotional day, and I’m proud of my guys, proud of (crew chief) Dickie Venables and all the work they put in. This cannot be done without the team that I have. We have a special team at (Tony Stewart Racing). They just do a great job.
 
“(Our combination) has proven itself again up here, and I feel like we have a great combo again for tomorrow. Rolling into race day, I feel very, very confident about tomorrow.”

Coughlin Jr. claimed his second victory in the specialty race category, achieving a perfect start with a .000 reaction time in his JEGS.com Chevrolet Camaro to beat a red-lighting Aaron Stanfield.

Coughlin won the first specialty race of the season in Phoenix and picked up the second in front of a capacity crowd in Denver, earning three playoff bonus points and the bonus purse. Coughlin beat points leader Dallas Glenn in the opening round and then got past his Elite Motorsports teammate to finish off a memorable day on the mountain.
 
“Being triple-zero, that’s not something I’m really set up to be,” Coughlin said. “It’s fun, don’t get me wrong – it’s a cool stat afterwards. But when it clouds up, you just get in there, and you can really crush the tree. 
 
“Winning this gets you into race mode. You win, and it’s exciting, but you almost have to get over it pretty quickly and get back into race mode just like you were this morning. You really have to know when to turn it on and turn it off. It’s mental toughness, but that’s exciting.”

Smith, the defending Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion, displayed his dominance on Thunder Mountain, triumphing over Steve Johnson to take home the victory.

Smith, reveling in his first appearance in the specialty race, took the opportunity to shine. Competing on a new Suzuki bike, he praised the performance improvements and expressed his satisfaction with the result. 

“We came up here with a new bike this year, a Suzuki, and I’ve never run one in my whole life up here,” Smith said. “But we made our best time of the weekend last run, and I’m very happy with everything. We’ve got it running better – still not where I want it to be, but we are close to where it needs to be. 
 
“It’s kind of been frustrating because I’ve had Angie in it, I’ve had Jianna (Evaristo) in it, I’ve had Chip Ellis in it, but I was never in it. I had everybody around me in it, but I never got to be in it. So for me to get in it and win it on the first time is pretty good.”

The elimination rounds for the 43rd and final Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals will begin on Sunday at 11 a.m. MT at Bandimere Speedway, promising an exciting conclusion to the event.

Final round-by-round results from the 43rd annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, the 10th of 21 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL CHALLENGE:

ROUND ONE -- Justin Ashley, 3.989, 307.02 def. Brittany Force, 4.461, 180.96; Austin Prock, 4.287, 294.95 def. Leah Pruett, 6.794, 98.69;

FINAL -- J. Ashley, 3.883, 313.95 def. A. Prock, 4.214, 241.24.

FUNNY CAR CHALLENGE:

ROUND ONE -- Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 4.117, 299.33 def. Ron Capps, Toyota Supra, 5.908, 126.36; Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.177, 281.36 def. J.R. Todd, Supra, 6.626, 98.59;

FINAL -- M. Hagan, 4.511, 192.82 def. B. Tasca III, 8.220, 79.91.

PRO STOCK CHALLENGE:

ROUND ONE -- Troy Coughlin Jr., Chevy Camaro, 6.954, 196.73 def. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.943, 195.00; Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.970, 196.22 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.961, 195.85;

FINAL -- T. Coughlin Jr., 6.949, 196.42 def. A. Stanfield, Foul - Red Light.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE CHALLENGE:

ROUND ONE -- Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.249, 184.70 def. Jianna Evaristo, Suzuki, 7.504, 155.51; Matt Smith, Suzuki, 7.157, 187.13 def. Hector Arana Jr, Foul - Red Light;

FINAL -- M. Smith, 7.150, 186.98 def. S. Johnson, 7.240, 184.04.