GR Supras Take Top-10 Starting Spots for Second Countdown Race
CHARLOTTE (September 24, 2022) – Justin Ashley claimed his second number one qualifier position of the season in Saturday’s qualifying effort at Charlotte’s zMax Dragway. Ashley also earned the top spot at zMax earlier this season. His 3.668 second pass at over 335 mph set a new track speed record and he will face Alex Laughlin in round one on Sunday.
In Funny Car, Ron Capps held the fourth position following Saturday’s qualifying rounds and stood on his Friday night time of 3.866. Capps will face Blake Alexander in round on Sunday. Fellow GR Supra drivers J.R. Todd (sixth) and Alexis DeJoria (ninth) also claimed top-10 qualifying positions with Todd picking up spots in the final qualifying round on Saturday with a pass at 3.873 seconds. Todd and DeJoria will face each other in round one on Sunday.
Toyota Post-Qualifying Recap
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series
zMax Dragway
Race 18 of 22
TOYOTA TOP FUEL QUALIFYING POSITIONS
| Name | Car | Qualifying Position | First Round Opponent |
| Justin Ashley | Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel Dragster | 1st (3.668) | A. Laughlin |
| Doug Kalitta | Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster | 5th (3.689) | S. Langdon |
| Antron Brown | Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster | 7th (3.705) | A. Prock |
| Steve Torrence | Capco Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster | 8th (3.715) | B. Torrence |
| Billy Torrence | Capco Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster | 9th (3.720) | S. Torrence |
| Shawn Langdon | DHL Toyota Top Fuel Dragster | 12th (3.746) | D. Kalitta |
(*non-Toyota driver)
TOYOTA FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING POSITIONS
| Name | Car | Qualifying Position | First Round Opponent |
| John Force* | Peak Chevy Camaro FC* | 1st (3.854) | Bye |
| Ron Capps | NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota GR Supra Funny Car | 4th (3.866) | B. Alexander |
| J.R. Todd | DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car | 6th (3.873) | A. DeJoria |
| Alexis DeJoria | Bandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car | 9th (3.903) | J. Todd |
(*non-Toyota driver)
TOYOTA QUOTES
JUSTIN ASHLEY, Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Davis Motorsports
TF Qualifying Result: 1st
What is it about you and zMax Dragway that you can pull number one qualifying runs?
“Yeah, there’s something about zMax, but there’s something about this Phillips Connect team too. Mike Green and Tommy DeLago are doing a fantastic job. It’s funny, I was talking to Mike Salinas and Clay Millican and we all agreed that we’re just along for the ride. When it’s running like that, it’s such a blast and our team has been working so hard. We’ve got a long job to do tomorrow. We want to be out here for a long day but it’s going to be difficult. The competition out here is not easy. We have to continue to put our best foot forward for Toyota, Philliips, Vita-C Energy, Lucas Oil and all our sponsors.”
J.R. TODD, DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, Kalitta Motorsports
FC Qualifying Result: 6th
The team had a strong pickup in the final qualifying session tonight. How do you feel about the speed in your Supra and your chances in tomorrow’s eliminations?
“It was good. It was what we were striving for last night. Just ran really slow, slower than what we wanted to. We had to kind of play catchup throughout the day, but this is really where we need to be. We’re a couple adjustments away from probably running quicker than that. This is a good confidence booster heading into race day. I feel good about tomorrow and running like that means we can run with the top guys out here. Like I said, it’s a good confidence booster going into race day.”