The NHRA Top Fuel championship picture shifted last week when news broke that Mike Green, crew chief for title contender Justin Ashley, would leave the SCAG Power Equipment team to join Tony Stewart’s new Elite Motorsports Top Fuel operation for 2026.

 

For Ashley, the move was unexpected — and, in his words, a “gut punch.” But the driver known for his composure on the starting line showed the same poise off it, refusing to let the loss derail his title run with two races remaining.

 

“We’ve already left that in the past,” Ashley explained. “All we’re focused on is the things that we can control, which is everything now moving forward to put ourselves in a position to win the championship.”

 

Ashley and his crew are preparing for the NHRA Nevada Nationals in Las Vegas and the season finale in Pomona with newly appointed crew chief Tommy DeLago at the helm. The driver said the transition was unexpected but necessary to give the team stability heading into 2026.

 

“We have extreme confidence in Tommy, and we know that we’re going to be in a good position,” Ashley said. “We’re all calm, cool, and collected, and just focused on controlling what we can control.”

 

Ashley didn’t hide his disappointment over losing Green, who helped guide him to multiple event wins and top-tier qualifying performances over the past two seasons. But even as he acknowledged the sting, he showed the same mental strength that has become a signature part of his racing identity.

 

“It’s tough. It hurts. It’s a gut punch,” Ashley admitted. “You put your blood, sweat, and tears into everything together as a team and as a family. When there’s an immediate change from a leadership position like this, it definitely hurts.”

 

Still, Ashley emphasized that adversity often reveals true character — both his own and his team’s. “It’s very easy to get along when everybody’s winning and things are going well,” he said. “But when there’s a wrench thrown into things, that’s when you learn about the character of individuals and of the team. I think you’ll see that through the final two races of this year and into next season.”

 

Ashley said that when Green informed him and SCAG Racing ownership of his decision to move to Elite, it left the organization with a choice: finish the year together or make an immediate transition. The team opted to move forward, a decision Ashley said was rooted in practicality as much as principle.

 

“Mike decided, to my surprise and to the surprise of everybody, to move forward and go to Elite Motorsports,” Ashley explained. “We had to make a decision — what was in the best interest of the team? He had every intention of finishing out the year, but we decided it was best to move forward now.”

 

The timing, while difficult, was designed to give the group a head start. By handing the reins to DeLago immediately, Ashley’s team can use the remaining races and the post-Vegas test session to strengthen their chemistry before the 2026 season begins.

 

“Yes, it will give us change and transition, but that would’ve happened at the end of the year anyway,” he said. “Now we’ll have Las Vegas, the test session, and Pomona with the crew chief and team that will be here moving forward.”

 

For Ashley, the disruption does not change his focus on the championship chase. In fact, he believes the adjustment could sharpen his team’s performance rather than hinder it. “I also think we have just as good of a chance, if not a better chance, to win the championship this year than we did before,” Ashley said. “We still have the same intention to go after that world championship, but we think this gives us a head start on next year.”

 

Despite the shock of losing Green, Ashley spoke with genuine respect for his former crew chief, who has previously tuned championship-winning cars in both Top Fuel and Funny Car. “I have a lot of respect and admiration for Mike,” Ashley said. “He’s extremely talented. He’s won championships before. Nothing that’s worth it is ever easy, and this sport is difficult in general. Curveballs happen all the time.”

 

He added that losing Green doesn’t diminish his confidence in SCAG Racing’s long-term outlook or in DeLago’s ability to step up in the high-pressure environment. “For me, it’s more so, how do we take what we have, how do we adapt, and move forward?” he said. “We believe in the people around us and we’re not losing sight of what we can accomplish.”

 

When Ashley joined SCAG Racing in 2023, many assumed Green’s presence was a deciding factor. Ashley clarified that while Green was a vital piece, his decision to join the organization was based on unity and chemistry with the entire team.

 

“When I started talking with Randy and Maria [SCAG team owners], they gave me the opportunity to be a part of SCAG Racing, which to me is the best opportunity in all of motorsports,” Ashley said. “I wanted this. I wanted to be part of it more than anything else, but I would not go anywhere without the entire team — Mike, Tommy, and the rest of the guys.”

 

That group identity, he said, remains intact even after Green’s departure. “We have a really strong, good core that I believe will stay together,” he said. “We’re doing our very best to make sure that happens.”

 

Ashley’s perspective on the situation is rooted in maturity — a reflection of his upbringing in the sport and his understanding that racing is as much about managing people as managing horsepower. “This is business. This is the sport,” he said. “We are full steam ahead. You can’t drive looking in the rearview mirror. We’re just focused on what we can do now.”

 

The team has faced another challenge in the form of persistent “Silly Season” rumors that SCAG Power Equipment might scale back its involvement in NHRA racing. Ashley addressed the speculation directly, calling it completely unfounded. “It’s 100% false, completely not factual, and a typical part of the Silly Season rumors,” he said. “SCAG Power Equipment, SCAG Racing, their involvement in NHRA and our team is here to stay for years to come.”

 

For Ashley, the Silly Season no longer carries the same entertainment value it once did when he was just a fan of the sport. “No, I’m not a fan of the Silly Season at all,” he said with a laugh. “We’ve been fortunate to keep our core group of people together. This is really the first year that we’ve had a significant change, but I understand that it’s part of it.”

 

That composure has become Ashley’s calling card. Whether it’s the final round at Indianapolis or a sudden leadership change, he rarely lets emotion dictate his response. His calm demeanor has frustrated rivals on the starting line for years — now it may be what keeps him in the championship conversation through the final stretch of the season.

 

As the tour heads west for the Nevada Nationals, Ashley remains grounded in his outlook. He speaks more like a veteran than a young driver still building his legacy.

 

“Everything happens for a reason,” he said. “It’s how you respond that defines who you are.”

 

And with a wry smile that reflected his trademark calm, Ashley summed up his situation in one sentence that could easily double as his personal motto:

 

“Pressure doesn’t break me — it just reminds me what I’m built for.”

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JUSTIN ASHLEY RESPONDS TO CREW CHIEF SHAKEUP WITH CHARACTERISTIC CALM

The NHRA Top Fuel championship picture shifted last week when news broke that Mike Green, crew chief for title contender Justin Ashley, would leave the SCAG Power Equipment team to join Tony Stewart’s new Elite Motorsports Top Fuel operation for 2026.

 

For Ashley, the move was unexpected — and, in his words, a “gut punch.” But the driver known for his composure on the starting line showed the same poise off it, refusing to let the loss derail his title run with two races remaining.

 

“We’ve already left that in the past,” Ashley explained. “All we’re focused on is the things that we can control, which is everything now moving forward to put ourselves in a position to win the championship.”

 

Ashley and his crew are preparing for the NHRA Nevada Nationals in Las Vegas and the season finale in Pomona with newly appointed crew chief Tommy DeLago at the helm. The driver said the transition was unexpected but necessary to give the team stability heading into 2026.

 

“We have extreme confidence in Tommy, and we know that we’re going to be in a good position,” Ashley said. “We’re all calm, cool, and collected, and just focused on controlling what we can control.”

 

Ashley didn’t hide his disappointment over losing Green, who helped guide him to multiple event wins and top-tier qualifying performances over the past two seasons. But even as he acknowledged the sting, he showed the same mental strength that has become a signature part of his racing identity.

 

“It’s tough. It hurts. It’s a gut punch,” Ashley admitted. “You put your blood, sweat, and tears into everything together as a team and as a family. When there’s an immediate change from a leadership position like this, it definitely hurts.”

 

Still, Ashley emphasized that adversity often reveals true character — both his own and his team’s. “It’s very easy to get along when everybody’s winning and things are going well,” he said. “But when there’s a wrench thrown into things, that’s when you learn about the character of individuals and of the team. I think you’ll see that through the final two races of this year and into next season.”

 

Ashley said that when Green informed him and SCAG Racing ownership of his decision to move to Elite, it left the organization with a choice: finish the year together or make an immediate transition. The team opted to move forward, a decision Ashley said was rooted in practicality as much as principle.

 

“Mike decided, to my surprise and to the surprise of everybody, to move forward and go to Elite Motorsports,” Ashley explained. “We had to make a decision — what was in the best interest of the team? He had every intention of finishing out the year, but we decided it was best to move forward now.”

 

The timing, while difficult, was designed to give the group a head start. By handing the reins to DeLago immediately, Ashley’s team can use the remaining races and the post-Vegas test session to strengthen their chemistry before the 2026 season begins.

 

“Yes, it will give us change and transition, but that would’ve happened at the end of the year anyway,” he said. “Now we’ll have Las Vegas, the test session, and Pomona with the crew chief and team that will be here moving forward.”

 

For Ashley, the disruption does not change his focus on the championship chase. In fact, he believes the adjustment could sharpen his team’s performance rather than hinder it. “I also think we have just as good of a chance, if not a better chance, to win the championship this year than we did before,” Ashley said. “We still have the same intention to go after that world championship, but we think this gives us a head start on next year.”

 

Despite the shock of losing Green, Ashley spoke with genuine respect for his former crew chief, who has previously tuned championship-winning cars in both Top Fuel and Funny Car. “I have a lot of respect and admiration for Mike,” Ashley said. “He’s extremely talented. He’s won championships before. Nothing that’s worth it is ever easy, and this sport is difficult in general. Curveballs happen all the time.”

 

He added that losing Green doesn’t diminish his confidence in SCAG Racing’s long-term outlook or in DeLago’s ability to step up in the high-pressure environment. “For me, it’s more so, how do we take what we have, how do we adapt, and move forward?” he said. “We believe in the people around us and we’re not losing sight of what we can accomplish.”

 

When Ashley joined SCAG Racing in 2023, many assumed Green’s presence was a deciding factor. Ashley clarified that while Green was a vital piece, his decision to join the organization was based on unity and chemistry with the entire team.

 

“When I started talking with Randy and Maria [SCAG team owners], they gave me the opportunity to be a part of SCAG Racing, which to me is the best opportunity in all of motorsports,” Ashley said. “I wanted this. I wanted to be part of it more than anything else, but I would not go anywhere without the entire team — Mike, Tommy, and the rest of the guys.”

 

That group identity, he said, remains intact even after Green’s departure. “We have a really strong, good core that I believe will stay together,” he said. “We’re doing our very best to make sure that happens.”

 

Ashley’s perspective on the situation is rooted in maturity — a reflection of his upbringing in the sport and his understanding that racing is as much about managing people as managing horsepower. “This is business. This is the sport,” he said. “We are full steam ahead. You can’t drive looking in the rearview mirror. We’re just focused on what we can do now.”

 

The team has faced another challenge in the form of persistent “Silly Season” rumors that SCAG Power Equipment might scale back its involvement in NHRA racing. Ashley addressed the speculation directly, calling it completely unfounded. “It’s 100% false, completely not factual, and a typical part of the Silly Season rumors,” he said. “SCAG Power Equipment, SCAG Racing, their involvement in NHRA and our team is here to stay for years to come.”

 

For Ashley, the Silly Season no longer carries the same entertainment value it once did when he was just a fan of the sport. “No, I’m not a fan of the Silly Season at all,” he said with a laugh. “We’ve been fortunate to keep our core group of people together. This is really the first year that we’ve had a significant change, but I understand that it’s part of it.”

 

That composure has become Ashley’s calling card. Whether it’s the final round at Indianapolis or a sudden leadership change, he rarely lets emotion dictate his response. His calm demeanor has frustrated rivals on the starting line for years — now it may be what keeps him in the championship conversation through the final stretch of the season.

 

As the tour heads west for the Nevada Nationals, Ashley remains grounded in his outlook. He speaks more like a veteran than a young driver still building his legacy.

 

“Everything happens for a reason,” he said. “It’s how you respond that defines who you are.”

 

And with a wry smile that reflected his trademark calm, Ashley summed up his situation in one sentence that could easily double as his personal motto:

 

“Pressure doesn’t break me — it just reminds me what I’m built for.”

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