DANIEL WILKERSON, SCAG POWER EQUIPMENT FORD MUSTANG FUNNY CAR – MOTORSPORT AMERICA PHOTO
NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals June 06-08
SCAG RACING MAKES POWERFUL STATEMENT AT THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 08, 2025) – In its second season, SCAG Racing had
their best on-track performance of the team’s history with Justin
Ashley, driver of the SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel dragster
finishing runner-up, while Daniel Wilkerson in the SCAG Power Equipment
Ford Mustang Funny Car and Dave Richards in the BlueBird Turf /
Versatran Funny Car both made semifinal appearances.
After a rain delay, Justin Ashley and the SCAG Toyota team faced
four-time world champion Steve Torrence in the 28th Top Fuel final round
of Ashley’s career. Ashley had the starting line advantage but both
dragsters would have tire smoke going over the tricky race track. Ashley
would pedal it, but it wasn’t enough for Torrence who was already
ahead and got his dragster hooked up and across the finish in 4.022
seconds and 325.37 mph while Ashley coasted to an 8.600 pass at just
82.60.
“It was a great weekend for SCAG Racing. I’m very happy with the
success we had as well as Daniel and Dave. Today was all about
consistency,” said Ashley. “The track presented a few unique challenges
that we were able to overcome until we got to the finals. We gave it
everything we had and will continue to do the same moving forward. It
was awesome watching Mike, Tommy, and our entire SCAG Power Equipment
Toyota team navigate the track so well. We’re knocking at the door now
we just have to knock it down.”
Ashley and the SCAG Toyota dragster started race day from the No. 2
qualifying with their 3.762-second pass at 330.80 mph. Their efforts
were rewarded with a first-round battle against reigning world champion
and Toyota teammate Antron Brown. Ashley and the SCAG team would put
together the quickest pass of the round at 3.783 seconds and 328.14 mph
for the win. Brown smoked the tires near half-track and shut off to
coast to a 4.403 at 199.11.
In the second round, the SCAG Toyota team faced two-time world champion
Brittany Force. Ashley was unfazed handling his dragster once again to
the quickest pass of the round at 3.839-seconds at 329.91 mph, Force
smoked the tires for a 4.925 at 160.40.
Lined up against multi-category champion and Toyota teammate Shawn
Langdon in the semifinals, Ashley was first off of the line and first to
the finish line with a 3.858-second run at 326.24 mph. Langdon smoked
the tired almost immediately and coasted to 9.785 at just 74.97.
Daniel Wilkerson and the SCAG Ford Mustang team started their race day
from the No. 5 qualifying spot thanks to 3.977-second pass at 325.30
mph, unfortunately that meant they had to face Ford Performance teammate
Bob Tasca III in the first round.
Wilkerson had the starting line advantage and never trailed for a
4.031-second run at 325.30 mph. Tasca started to smoke the tires near
half-track and had to shut off for a 5.566 pass at 133.17 setting
Wilkerson up for a second-round matchup against rookie Julie Nataas who
was making her Funny Car debut.
Nataas smoked the tires almost immediately and had to shut it off for a
6.638 pass at only 104.99. Wilkerson dropped a cylinder but held on for
a 4.058 at 313.22 for the win. In the semifinals, Wilkerson’s 4.078
pass at 318.77 came up short to veteran Paul Lee’s 3.995 at 289.26.
“This whole SCAG team is back in fighting shape, and I could not be
prouder this weekend,” Wilkerson said. “I told everyone our SCAG
Ford Mustang team is better than what it says and looks like on paper
and we proved it here at Bristol Dragway today. This weekend was a
much-needed morale boost, and we are excited to get to similar track
conditions in Richmond, Virginia and try again.”
Dave Richards and the BlueBird Turf / Versatran team made their first
two-wide semifinal appearance of his career. The Bluebird machine raced
their way to a final quad appearance at the Las Vegas Four-Wide
Nationals earlier this season where they earned semifinal points. The
career best weekend for Richards started from the No. 15 qualifying spot
off a 4.078-second pass at 315.78 mph.
In the first round, Richards lined up against No. 2 qualifier Alexis
DeJoria. Richards had the starting line advantage with a stout
.037-second reaction time. He would have a clean 4.098-second run at
316.90, enough for the win after DeJoria’s Funny Car lost traction and
slowed to a 4.134 at 250.18.
Moving into the quarterfinal finials, Richards managed to chase down
two-time world champion Cruz Pedregon. Pedregon left the starting line
first but dropped cylinders and lost traction before shutting his
machine off to cross the finish line in 4.233 seconds at 245.72 mph.
Richards’ 4.136 at 312.50 was enough for the win.
In the semifinals, the BlueBird machine smoked the tires at the hit
coasting to a 10.217 pass at 85.82. He watched Capps get the win with a
4.371 pass at 213.30 mph after dropping cylinders. Capps would go on to
win the event.
“It was a great day. A few more win lights would have been nice,
especially when Capps left it on the table for us, but the right lane
has been tough here all weekend,” Richards said. “We will leave with
our heads held high. I think this was the little boost we needed, a
little bit of confidence for myself in driving this BlueBird Turf
machine and confidence that we are going to continue to improve. The
whole team – each and every crew guy – did a perfect job this
weekend. The best is yet to come.
“I really have to mention how cool it was to get all the compliments
and high fives from other teams that were happy for us today. It’s a
big family out here,” Richards added.
SCAG Racing continues on the Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series tour
heading to Virginia Motorsports Park outside of Richmond, Virginia for
the American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals, June 20-22.
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JUSTIN ASHLEY, SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel Dragster
Qualifying: No. 02
3.762 seconds, 330.80 mph
Race Results: Beat Antron Brown, Brittany Force, Shawn Langdon; Lost to
Steve Torrence
DANIEL WILKERSON, SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang Funny Car
Qualifying: No. 05
3.977 seconds, 325.92 mph
Race Results: Beat Bob Tasca III, Julie Nataas; Lost to Paul Lee
DAVE RICHARDS, BlueBird Turf / Versatran Funny Car
Qualifying: No. 15
4.078 seconds, 315.78 mph
Race Results: Beat Alexis DeJoria, Cruz Pedregon; Lost to Ron Capps