Top Fuel driver Justin Ashley had an NHRA regular season to remember in 2023: Six wins, and the points leader heading into the six-race Countdown to the Championship.

Unfortunately, Ashley’s momentum didn’t continue in the Countdown. He finished fourth in the points standings, 136 behind first-time world champion Doug Kalitta.

The script has been different this season, and Ashley’s team has had a more concentrated focus on the six-race Countdown to the Championship.

With that in mind, his team is seemingly picking up momentum at the right time on the strength of Sunday’s win at the Lucas Oil Nationals Sunday in Brainerd, Minn.

Ashley clocked a 3.745-second elapsed time at 329.34 mph to defeat Shawn Langdon, who was only hitting on seven cylinders off the starting line and slowed to 4.02, 261.32.

Ashley’s victory was quite impressive as it came in the debut of a new car at Brainerd International Raceway.

“Everything that we've done throughout the entirety of the regular season so far has been done with an intent and purpose. We want to win each and every race that we go to, but, ultimately, it's about positioning ourselves well for Indy and beyond,” Ashley said. “We broke out a new car this weekend for the first time, and kudos to (crew chiefs) Mike (Green) and Tommy (DeLago). Man, they did an amazing, amazing job with a brand-new car. It went up and down the racetrack every time – at least that's what it felt like. I know it did (Sunday). There's just something about a new chassis that feels great. So, just an awesome job all the way around.”

This was Ashley’s third win of the season, the 14th of his career and his first at Brainerd. Tacked onto wins at Pomona, Calif., and Charlotte, N.C., Ashley finds himself third in the season points standings, 105 behind Kalitta.

“It's nice to get a win on the board, especially after the struggles that we've had,” Ashley said. “But we also know at the same time that's what racing is about. There's going to be ups and downs, but it's about staying level-headed, and I'm just glad that all the team's hard work could come to fruition and they can get a win as a reward.”

On Sunday, Ashley sidelined Billy Torrence, Tony Stewart, Josh Hart before relegating Langdon to the runner-up spot.

“This class is so difficult, it's so tough. You have a 14-car field that I think a lot of times is actually harder than a full (16-car) field because no matter who you line up against, it's going to be a full-time car,” Ashley said. “That's why the margin for error is so small. So, when you're able to be consistent like that each and every time, it just increases your chances of winning. It's just one of those sports that any given Sunday anything could happen. I'm just so proud of this group. It's so hard to be able to run in such a tight window like that, but they came through and got it done.”

In Ashley’s relatively short Top Fuel career – he made his debut in the class in 2019 – he’s won 14 events thanks to 137 victories in elimination rounds. He’s also seen how the class has evolved into a dogfight every weekend just to notch a round win.

“I remember when we started, I think we raced the back end of 2019. It was the first time we started in Top Fuel, and the competition was amazing. Then you're like, ‘Well, I can't get much better in 2020, 2021,’” Ashley said. “Now, here we are in 2024, and it continues to get better. It was good back then, but it's just even better now. … Listen, you don't take anything for granted, but maybe in the first round, maybe even in the second round, we would test some stuff because we felt good about where we were positioned, but that is no longer the case.

“This class is lethal. Funny Car is the same way, but Top Fuel, top to bottom, I've never seen in an NHRA class with this kind of depth. The cool part about it is we're all bringing out the best in each other as drivers and teams, and I think it's helping to elevate the sport.”

Ashley also is quick to acknowledge he loves competing against the best drivers in the class.

“It's exciting. It's fun to race guys like Shawn, guys like Antron (Brown), Tony Stewart – some of the guys that I really look up to and that I try and learn from and model my driving style after,” Ashley said. “Some of these guys I've watched for a long time when I was in (Top) Alcohol and even before that. So, racing against Shawn, you always have to be on your ‘A’ game, especially in the final round. We did match up in Phoenix in the final round. He got us on the starting line and at the finish line, so I think that was maybe in the back of my head a little bit. So, just awesome. … You have to be on your ‘A’ game each and every time when you race anybody, but especially Shawn because he does some really amazing things behind the wheel.”

With the storied U.S. Nationals, the last race of the regular season, next on the schedule, Aug. 28-Sept. 2 in Indianapolis, Ashley is brimming with confidence as the Countdown to the Championship looms in the ensuing six events.

“It's huge. We're so focused on winning that championship. You can't get lost in all of that. You have to really do a good job of taking in one race at a time,” Ashley said. “It's tough to go through some of those struggles, but everybody stayed patient. And we knew that we were focused on the long term, and right now we're just working on our Countdown setup to position ourselves for a run at that championship. There were definitely some struggles there, but it is so critical in NHRA – but honestly in any professional sport now – to get hot at the right time.

“Look, it's one race by (Monday). We're still going to be smiling, but we got to put this behind us and focus on the next one, especially with the big one in Indy. It doesn't necessarily mean anything, but we want to try and take advantage of this momentum and carry it forward as long as we can.”

The importance of logging eight laps in Brainerd wasn’t lost on Ashley. 

“We made the four qualifying laps, then obviously the four race-day laps, and that's more data, more information for us,” said Ashley, who qualified No. 8 at 3.736, 332.75 mph. “It's so critical. Every time we go down the track we try and learn something and learn something new. It was super important. Kudos to the Safety Safari and all the track officials and everybody. Like (Saturday), for example, was a really tough day. It was a long day – some oil downs and whatnot – but they fought it out. They got the track right, and cars continue to run well and continue to run fast. They did an awesome job, and because of that we were able to make eight full laps. It's so important. Every lap is so important.”  

Ashley said that his first Brainerd victory is one he will long remember.

“I think this is probably the first place I think I've won in alcohol and in Top Fuel, which I think is pretty neat. To win someplace new I think is so cool,” Ashley said. “There's so much that goes on at this event with The Zoo (party zone) and everything in between. Then to have the special wrap designs that we had this weekend, we really wanted to put it in the winner's circle.

“It's so special to win Brainerd with The Zoo, but this time we like to say they always bring The Zoo to us; this time we brought it to them. Brainerd's a special place. It's a fun place. We've come close here a few times. Last year we made it to the semifinals … and won (it), but to be able to seal the deal, it's a special place to do it.”