Mike Ashley ready to set record straight

MELVILLE, N.Y. - There's an old saying that suggests that one should never let the facts get in the way of a good story. For Mike Ashley, he's discovered the downside to that adage, both on and off the track. On the track, he's discovered that it takes cold hard horsepower to earn a berth in the toughest of all Pro Modified programs - the IHRA Summit Drag Racing Series. He's also learned that it takes a thick-skinned mentality to survive the rush of inaccuracies that may flow in the media. When he gets to the IHRA Mopar Parts Canadian Nationals in Grand Bend, Ont., he hopes to let the facts tell their own story.

	Mike Ashley. Photo: IHRA

Ashley has abandoned a too-heavy 1957 Chevy in favor of a sleek 1963 Corvette prepared by Tommy Mauney and adorned it with his trademark "Gotham City Flyer" livery. Ashley has finally taken delivery of his new motor for the 2001 season. Dyno results reveal an additional 125-extra horses from what he had last season, and not to mention is currently involved in a newly formed research and development alliance with veteran doorslammer pilot Mitch Stott. With all of the headaches that the veteran mortgage banker from Melville, NY., has encountered along the way, it would have been understandable if he'd just called in his chips and called it quits.

Quitting has never been an option and Ashley is more determined than ever to bring his team to a competitive status.

"We work entirely too hard to be on the outside looking in," explained Ashley, who plans an extensive test session prior to Canada. "I brought Mitch in because I have to put in some unreal hours with my business and testing is not always possible for me. Citing, recent developments in the Pro Mod category Ashley believes there exists many benefits to a two-car research and development team.

In the Pro Modified pits, where rumors can turn around 180-degrees from the truth, Ashley was floored to look on IHRA.com and see a story claiming that he bought a tune-up from the younger of the two Stott siblings after the older one had turned him down.

Ashley felt it was about time to set the record straight on the issue, since every story has two sides. Considering that he and Stott have the same story - that should end the speculation, in his opinion.

Ashley continued, "I figure since the IHRA allowed a story to run that damaged my credibility, then I should be at least allowed to tell my side of the story. The truth is that Mitch called me regarding doing business with my mortgage company. During the course of our conversation we discussed forming a partnership for research and development purposes. I don't have the time to run my company and spend the needed time testing as well. The next thing I know this is out on the Internet and to be honest it ticked me off. I don't know what Quain's deal is, but I did not try and buy any tune-up from him and I certainly didn't buy anything from Mitch."

In an article on www.Dragcom.com, Mitch even backed up Ashley's comments in a letter that he submitted.

Stott was quoted as saying, "First of all, I did not sell anything. Mike Ashley and I decided that since I couldn't work with Quain anymore, we should form our own research and development team. So, we worked up an agreement to do research and development together. Our first agreement was that there would be no lay downs if we should meet in eliminations. The best one will win. That's the way it should be and the way it was between Quain and me."

The plot will certainly thicken as the team rolls into the Grand Bend Motorplex for the second annual IHRA Mopar Parts Canadian Nationals.

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