Former champ Ashley shines in return to JEGS ProMod Challenge

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 15) -- Mike Ashley may have spent the last two years in a nitro Funny Car since winning back-to-back Pro Mod titles in 2004-2005, but he certainly hasn't forgotten how to drive the 2,500-horsepower hot rods.

Ashley opened the 10-race 2008 JEGS ProMod Challenge with a stellar 5.945 at 239.61 mph in his ProCare Rx Chevrolet Camaro Saturday evening to lead the field into Sunday's elimination action at the 39th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals. It was the only five-second run of the weekend and places him a full seven-hundredths of a second ahead of the chase pack.

"I can't say I'm surprised because when I look at the caliber of the race team I'm on I see a bunch of champions," Ashley said. "But I'm certainly not driving my best. I'm off, way off, on judging where the finish line is and I keep clicking it off early. The scoreboards come out you a lot quicker at 330 mph in a Funny Car than they do in a 230 mph Pro Mod car but I'll be alright after a few more runs, I hope.

"We added it up the other day and I've made something close to 200 runs in a Funny Car since I've driven a Pro Mod car so I need to re-train myself. I can't be the weak link on this team. There's too much talent over here."

Reigning series champion Josh Hernandez was the closest to Ashley with a 6.015 at 240.42 mph in his AMS Staff Leasing Camaro. Raymond Commisso is third with a 6.020 at 244.34 mph in his ProCare Rx machine, the fastest pass of the meet.

Joe Baker of Milton, Fla., will be the lone representative of the Sunshine State as he squeaked into the field with a 6.243 at 226.62 mph to earn the bump spot. He'll face Ashley in the opening round, slated to begin at noon.