BRADENTON, Fla. (February 06, 2025) – Entering into their second season as NHRA’s only factory team, SCAG Racing, made up of Top Fuel standout Justin Ashley, second generation Funny Car driver Daniel Wilkerson and Funny Car rising star Dave Richards, will hit the dragstrip for the first time in 2025 at the second annual SCAG Power Equipment PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton Motorsports Park.
Ashley comes into the event having finished third in the NHRA points standings in 2024. In the fight for the championship up until the final event, Ashley will be looking to start 2025 competition with a statement.
“I am super excited about the SCAG Power Equipment PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton Motorsports Park. It’s our first opportunity to put our offseason initiatives into practice in an effort to achieve our 2025 goals both on and off the racetrack. There’s no better way to do that than by competing against the best teams in the world in front of the best fans in the world,” said Ashley who last year lost to eventual race winner Doug Kalitta in a pedalfest first round. “A special thank you to everyone from SCAG Power Equipment, PRO, FloRacing, Bradenton Motorsports Park, and all those in between for making this race possible. We are all looking forward to kicking the new year off right by burning some nitro.”
Wilkerson, in his sophomore season as a full-time driver, has been eagerly awaiting his chance to get back into the SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang Funny Car. Tuned by Wilkerson’s father, fan favorite and hall of famer, Tim, the Wilkerson duo ended 2024 .
“The off season went by super quick for us here at SCAG Wilkerson Racing. We did a lot to pick up our game over the winter and there were a few rule changes we had to work on, so I had to sit in our Mustang to fit head pads and I got all excited,” said Wilkerson who last year competed in the Top Fuel vs. Funny Car exhibition on Saturday after qualifying No. 10. “I was like a little kid with his first go-cart. I can’t wait to get to do race car things with my friends again. Getting to kick off our season at the SCAG PRO Superstar Shootout is a great way to do it. One of my favorite parts of racing is representing SCAG and it is extra special to do it at their title race. Hopefully we can put this SCAG Funny Car in the SCAG winner circle this weekend.”
Perhaps arguably the most excited member of the SCAG Racing team is Richards. He enters the new year in position he’s never been in before, with two brand-new built for him race cars. The BlueBird / Versatran team found some late season success in 2024 and are hoping with their new hot rods, they’ll be putting up a fight for a winners circle spot early in 2025.
“I’m really looking forward to the PRO Superstar Shootout. It a special event not just because it’s a unique way to kick off the new year but the representation SCAG has as title sponsor, I’m proud to race under their banner and we’d like to show our appreciation by putting a good show,” said Richards who last year competed in the Top Fuel vs. Funny Car exhibition runs on Saturday after qualifying outside of the top eight. “I can’t really decide if I’m more nervous or excited. Brand new race car, that’s a first for us. I keep telling myself not to be afraid of what could go wrong and get excited for what can go right, and there’s a lot that can go right.”
The PRO Superstar Shootout will feature some of the biggest names in drag racing vying for bragging rights and momentum headed into the 2025 NHRA season. For the second year in a row the three-day event will feature two days of qualifying on Thursday and Friday followed by a day of elimination rounds and exhibition runs on Saturday. The event will feature autograph sessions, driver Q&A’s and additional fan-friendly entertainment elements. The specialty event will once again be broadcast on FloRacing all three days.
