In a short period of time – Justin Ashley made his NHRA Top Fuel debut in 2019 – he has become a world championship contender.

Ashley confirmed that fact in the first race of the six-race Countdown to the Championship on Friday afternoon.

Ashley clocked a 3.703-seconnd elapsed time at 330.55 mph in the lone qualifying session at the Pep Boys Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa.

“I thought it was a great day overall,” said Ashley, 27. “We all thought the track would hold a 3.60 (second run) and we came up a little short of that. But (his crew chiefs) Mike Green and Tommy DeLago did a great job getting a run like that and this was just a great team effort. This will give us a baseline (for Saturday) and it is great to be the No. 1 qualifier.”

Ashley just edged Mike Salinas, who is No. 2 on the qualifying ladder, with a 3.705-second elapsed time at 330.96 mph.

If Ashley’s time holds through Saturday’s final two qualifying sessions it would be his second of the season – he was No. 1 at Charlotte’s first race of the season – and the second of his career.

“The mindset for (Saturday) is to go out there and try and run in the 3.60s,” Ashley said. “The qualifying sessions (Saturday) will be a lot like race day conditions (on Sunday). We want to go out there and make the best runs we can and hopefully get in the 3.60s. We definitely don’t want to throw away any runs. We want to collect as many bonus points as we can and go rounds on Sunday.”

The Koretsky family – veteran NHRA racer Kenny Koretsky and his family, which includes his sons Kenny Jr. and current Pro Stock driver Kyle, purchased Maple Grove Raceway, in April and Ashley for one noticed the difference in the appearance of the facility with the Koretsky’s in charge.

“I noticed how they have made a lot of small improvements that have added up to one big improvement to the facility as a whole,” Ashley said. “I know the rest of the racers really appreciate what they have done, and I know the fans do as well.”

Ashley, who finished fourth in the points standings a year ago, entered the 2022 Countdown in third place – just 30 points behind leader Brittany Force.

“We welcome the challenge to try and win a world championship,” Ashley said. “Winning a world championship is not easy and it is never easy. This is only my second (Countdown to the Championship) so there are a lot of drivers with more experience than me but I’m able to rely on the experience and support of Mike (Green) and Tommy (DeLago) to get us through the Countdown. I know we would love to get the first win of the Countdown (this season) and keep that momentum going for the final five races.”