GR Supra Funny Cars Qualify Top-10 for Four-Wide Event
CHARLOTTE (April 29, 2023) – Justin Ashley claimed the number two qualifier position for Sunday’s Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway. Ashley posted a time of 3.662 seconds during Friday night’s late qualifying session and the time stood as number one until Brittany Force out-ran the time by a hundredth of a second Saturday afternoon. Fellow Toyota drivers, Steve Torrence (fourth), Doug Kalitta (sixth), Antron Brown (eighth) and Shawn Langdon (11th) are all poised for Sunday’s second four-wide event of the 2023 season.
In Funny Car competition, Alexis DeJoria drove her GR Supra to the number five qualifier position after holding the number one position following Friday night’s qualifying session with a time of 3.876 seconds. J.R. Todd qualified sixth in his GR Supra and Ron Capps’ Toyota qualified ninth.
Toyota Post-Qualifying Recap
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series
zMax Dragway
Race 5 of 21
TOYOTA TOP FUEL QUALIFYING POSITIONS
| Name | Car | Qualifying Position | First Round Opponent |
| Brittany Force* | Monster Energy Top Fuel Dragster | 1st (3.651) | D. Foley A. Brown C. Millican |
| Justin Ashley | Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel Dragster | 2nd (3.662) | J. McNeal A. Prock M. Salinas |
| Steve Torrence | Capco Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster | 4th (3.679) | D. Mercier J. Hart T. Schumacher |
| Doug Kalitta | Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster | 6th (3.699) | L. Pruett P. Dakin S. Langdon |
| Antron Brown | Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster | 8th (3.711) | B. Force D. Foley C. Millican |
| Shawn Langdon | CMR Construction & Roofing Toyota Top Fuel Dragster | 11th (3.727) | L. Pruett P. Dakin D. Kalitta |
(*non-Toyota driver)
TOYOTA FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING POSITIONS
| Name | Car | Qualifying Position | First Round Opponent |
| Bob Tasca III | Snap-On Tools Funny Car | 1st (3.852) | D. Richards T. Wilkerson R. Capps |
| Alexis DeJoria | Bandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car | 5th (3.876) | M. Hagan D. Creasy Jr. C. Green |
| J.R. Todd | DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car | 6th (3.888) | R. Hight A. LaughlinM. McIntire Jr. |
| Ron Capps | NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra Funny Car | 9th (3.899) | B. Tasca III D. Richards T. Wilkerson |
(*non-Toyota driver)
TOYOTA QUOTES
JUSTIN ASHLEY, Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Davis Motorsports
TF Qualifying Result: 2nd
Did you feel you had more in the race car to go after the number one qualifier?
“I think we wanted to try and push the envelope a little. To be honest with you, I think that we actually had a little bit more in it. We didn’t go full throttle. We also wanted to make sure we went down the track. Tomorrow it depends on the weather conditions but anticipating what it’s going to be like, I certainly think that you’re going to have to make a throw down type of run if you want to give yourself a chance to win every round.”
ALEXIS DEJORIA, Bandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, DC Motorsports
FC Qualifying Result: 5th
What has your progress been like this season and how has your team progressed from last year?
“We’ve been working towards our current success. We’ve been through hell and back. We’re really excited about how we’ve been running and to be running this well early in the season and to be consistent the last few races. We’ve been getting down the track when a lot of cars haven’t been getting down the track. It’s just pretty much up to me now. I have to do my part to make it down there and get off the starting line in a decent time. And not get too far ahead in the game – just stay focused and stay in my seat.”
Do you feel you’re performing better this weekend than you did in Vegas?
“I hope we’re going to do better than Vegas because that was definitely our race to lose. This is a new race and a new four-wide. I have yet to win a four-wide. It’s exciting. Hopefully we will go some round on Sunday and make it to the winner’s circle.”
How important are qualifying points?
“Points are key. Obviously, we want to get as many points as we can, but I want to win this race. It’s time. It’s past time. We need our first race win this year.”
How has your consistency helped the team’s momentum this season?
“Having a good consistent race car is a huge confidence builder for the whole entire team. It does a lot for us and I can tell. I look around the guys faces and everybody is a little more upbeat now and I kept telling the guys last year, I was like, ‘Guys, we’re building for next year. Just hold on, we’re building for next year’ So far it’s definitely paid off. I’m glad we’re somewhat patient.”