Former Funny Car and Pro Mod drag racer Mike Ashley was sentenced to a three-year prison term in federal court on Wednesday, July 17, after pleading guilty to fraud charges in the collapse of his Lend America mortgage company in Melville, NY.

Ashley pled guilty in 2011 to bank fraud but the case was kept under seal until 2014, according to Newsday.com. Since then, Ashley’s sentencing has been postponed 14 times, including 12 times at the request of prosecutors while Ashley provided assistance against others accused of federal crimes.

Ashley is one of the few financial executives to be sentenced to prison for crimes committed during the lead-up to the nation-wide housing crash in 2008.  (DRO file photo by James Drew) [07/23/19]

NHRA president Glen Cromwell and his management team are really serious about a return to quarter-mile racing for the nitro classes in 2020.

Although no team or team owner has gone on the public record opposing the idea the Agent’s sources say that not one team owner is in favor of a return to quarter-mile racing because of the tremendous cost involved. The NHRA wants the nitro classes to return to quarter-mile racing but with top speeds just over the 300-mph mark.

With that issue in mind, the Agent heard rumors of an NHRA test session around the U.S. Nationals of a nitro engine/drivetrain combination that will deliver that performance.  [07/23/19]

Current world champion Matt Smith won the event last year, defeating Eddie Krawiec in the final round.  (file photo courtesy Mickey Thompson Tires)

The field is set for the annual Mickey Thompson Tires Pro Bike Battle featuring the very best in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category. This race-within-a-race pits the top eight riders in the class against each other as they compete for a $25,000 prize on Saturday, July 27, during the 32nd annual NHRA Sonoma Nationals.

Former world champions Eddie Krawiec, Matt Smith, Andrew Hines, Angelle Sampey and Hector Arana Sr. comprise five of the eight competitors who earned the most bonus points during qualifying between the annual events. The other participants are Hector Arana Jr., Angie Smith and Ryan Oehler.

Unlike previous years, the final standings (led by Krawiec) will not determine first-round matchups in this exciting battle. First-round pairings will be decided on stage during a pre-race ceremony only moments before competition begins. The riders will each select a special Mickey Thompson tire. The inside of each tire will be numbered one through four. The riders who select tires with the same numbers inside will be paired up against each other for the opening round.   [07/23/19]

The Agent learned recently that venerable Central Illinois Dragway, an eighth-mile track in Havana, IL, is for sale. The Havana track joins Byron Dragway near Rockford and Maple Grove in Pennsylvania being offered for sale.

The Agent was told that the price to buy the Havana track was $850,000 and wondered if town of Havana was included in that price. Want to buy the 500+ acres that is Byron Dragway better bring more than $3,000,000 as that is the number the Agent heard the National Forrest Service offered the current owners of the track and land, but have been turned down as the owners want the track to continue to operate and it wouldn't if the Forrest Service owned it.   [07/23/19]

On Saturday, July 20, the Big Daddy of drag racing, Mr. Don Garlits began testing of his latest creation, Swamp Rat 38, his electric-powered dragster, intended to break the 200 MPH mark. His first test hit off the trailer was an 8.05 at 160 MPH and after a few more runs and modifications his team bumped the car up to a best of 189.04 MPH with a 7.23 ET.

During a quick interview on site, Don commented, “This car is half the weight of the last one and has the advantage of downforce from the wing I borrowed off of SR-29.”

The dragster is powered by an electric motor making close to an estimated 850 HP. There are 768 cells of batteries providing voltage to the motor via a rheostat like control from the throttle linkage. Power is direct drive to the rear live axle transmitted via 134 pins of top fuel motorcycle chain. The car weighs in at close to 1250 pounds and sports a pair of 34.5x17x16” Goodyear slicks. (Tom McCarthy photos)

Assisting builder/mechanic Chris Bumpas commented, “We can get seven to nine runs on the chain, if all goes well.”

When the 87-year-old drag racing legend was asked why he’s doing this Garlits responded, “I like to keep busy and building a car like this helps. I also believe in the Green Movement. I’m not as fanatical as some of them out there, but I do my part.”  [07/23/19]

Fernando Cuadra’s son, Cristian, made his NHRA Pro Stock debut at the Mile-High Nationals with Chris McGaha power for his Mustang entry, Sadly, Cristian was the 17th entrant and did not make the Pro Stock field.

Fernando Jr., the eldest son, was racing in his second Pro Stock event and lost in the first round to Jeg Coughlin Jr. Fernando Sr. lost in the first round of Pro Stock to Greg Anderson, who went on to win the event.

David (Cristian's twin brother), made his debut in Top Sportsman and won his first round of eliminations against Sammy Gonzales before losing to Trent Wilson.   [07/23/19]

The NHRA has announced that the rescheduled portion of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, which were postponed due to high water levels in the area, will take place Sept. 5-6 at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.

Categories contested are Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas, Top Dragster and Top Sportsman. Stacking will begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 3, followed by parking at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4. A Test-and-Tune session is available for competitors at no charge on Wednesday, Sept. 4, from noon - 8 p.m.   [07/23/19]

The Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series drivers competed at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA National at Bandimere Speedway on July 21.

Super Stock: Justin Jenkins (far lane), Chevy Cobalt, 10.369, 117.87  def. Brenda Grubbs, Chevy Camaro, 10.119, 123.94.

Stock Eliminator: Gary Riley (far lane), Pontiac, 13.243, 96.80  def. Dwaine Davis, Pontiac Firebird, 12.244, 107.21.

Super Comp: Mitch Mustard (far lane), Dragster, 9.550, 167.07  def. Dale Maher, Dragster, 9.528, 71.29.

Super Gas: Todd Nielsen (far lane), Pontiac Firebird, 10.511, 155.10  def. Kevin Moore, Chevrolet, 10.520, 150.87.

Top Sportsman: Greg Lair (far lane), Chevy Camaro, 6.999, 201.52  def. Monte Weaver, Chevy Corvette, 6.675, 204.45.

Top Dragster: Tony Stark (near lane), Dragster, 6.802, 180.19  def. Adam Chioda, Dragster, 7.809, 161.02. (Ron Lewis photos)    [07/23/19]

Robert Hight in Funny Car and Eddie Krawiec and Hector Arana Jr. in Pro Stock Motorcycle are the latest racers to clinch their spots in the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship playoffs. All of them locked in their spots as a result of racing at the recent Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil.

The trio join reigning Top Fuel champion Steve Torrence and former Pro Stock Motorcycle champ Andrew Hines, who clinched their spots at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.

Racers have four more events through the U.S. Nationals to make the top 10 in their class that will take part in the six-race Countdown.   [07/23/19]

Alamo City Motorplex in Marion, TX, hosted race No. 5 of their NHRA Summit Series Brackets Races on the eighth-mile track Saturday night, July 20.

Super Pro (Box): San Antonio’s David Bills closed the points gap on former asphalt circle track driver Greg Meuth, who leads the points, after final-round opponent Michael Gandy turned on the red light.

Pro (No Box): Gene Herbold of Sequin, TX, ran 6.70 on a 6.69 dial to get the win over Wendall Dockery’s 6.52 on a 6.50 dial.  (J.M. Hallas photos)

Motorcycle: Michael Matthews, LaGrange, 5.42 dial, 5.55 ET, 112.53 mph def. Charles Mingle, LaVernia, 7.20 dial, 7.20 ET, 97.95 mph.

Jr. Dragster: Reilly Garceau, Von Ormy, def. Gracie O’Rourke, LaVernia. [07/23/19]

TCI has developed a groundbreaking transmission for street or race vehicles. The 4L80E-based 6x Six Speed Automatic Transmission is fully programmable with six forward gears (2.97, 2.23, 1.57, 1.18, 1.00, 0.75) for quick acceleration and increased fuel economy at cruising speeds while still being able to handle up to 850 horsepower. New to this 6x transmission lineup are Small Block Ford 28 oz. and 50 oz. externally balance adapter flexplate options. The serialized spec sheet from the Triple Testing process is included, showing test scores and proof of performance. Each TCI transmission utilizes the patented HDT Coating™ for cooler operating temperatures and improved drivetrain efficiency.  [07/23/19]