Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Sanford Looks to Impress at Season-Opening Home Race

Courtesy of NVW Motorsports Promotion


POMONA, Calif. (February 4) – Southern California native Ashley Sanford begins her third season in the NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster class this weekend at the Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway.

The excitement surrounding the season-opening race is present in Sanford's Gelish/Lucas Oil pit, but the Fullerton resident does have mixed feelings about racing at Pomona. Sanford was successful at several tracks across the country last year, but she has only qualified at her home track once in three attempts.

“It's kind of a bittersweet excitement only because for some reason we have not been able to figure out Pomona yet. I love it because it's my home track and I grew up coming to the races here but we have still not made a full pull on that track,” Sanford noted.

The former sand drag racer is confident that will change this weekend, adding, “Going into this I have a really good feeling about it. It's the season opener. It's going to be exciting no matter what and the adrenaline is going to be pumping.”

Sanford is returning with a loyal sponsor line-up, beginning with Gelish Soak-Off Gel Polish and Morgan Taylor Nail Lacquer.

“I'm super excited to say we still have Gelish and Morgan Taylor on board as our main sponsors. Very happy to say we have Lucas Oil returning on a bigger level. CP-Carrillo Rods & Pistons is also joining us this year. We had the chance to visit their operation recently. It was top of the line so we're really happy to be working with them.”

Vantage Hospitality Group, whose brands include America's Best Value Inn and Lexington Hotels, is also returning as a sponsor. Las Vegas's The D Casino & Hotel and Golden Gate Casino & Hotel are now in their third year partnering with the popular young driver.

The Circle K NHRA Winternationals, Feb. 5-8, is the first race on the Gelish/Lucas Oil A/Fuel Dragster team's 2015 schedule, made up of NHRA Mello Yello Series national events and NHRA Lucas Oil Series regional events.

“We have agreed upon 14 races and we're going back and forth on a 15th. For me that's a ton of races so I'm stoked on that. I think March is the only month we won't be racing. As a driver, more races means more seat time so I can continue to better myself. The car's performance is right there. It's just a matter of getting the consistency down and with more times being out there we have a better chance of getting that,” Sanford said.

Top Alcohol Dragster competition begins with qualifying sessions at 4 PM Thursday, 2:15 PM Friday and 11:15 AM Saturday. Eliminations start at 2:30 PM on Saturday and continue on Sunday afternoon.

David Smith/PSA photo

Frederosa's Team Extreme is a family-owned A/Fuel Dragster team competing in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. 21-year old Ashley Sanford drives the team's Gelish Soak-Off Gel Nail Polish dragster, owned by her father Shane. The Gelish team – Troy, Dave, Ed, Mike, Jeff, Dean, Torrey, Robin, Justin, Brian and Kit - formerly worked on the team's pair of high-powered, championship-winning sand dragsters. The team receives support from Gelish Soak-Off Gel Nail Polish, Morgan Taylor Nail Lacquer, Lucas Oil Products, America's Best Value Inns, Lexington Hotels, CP-Carrillo Rods & Pistons, Roscoe's Famous Deli, Heroes Bar & Grill, The D Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, and the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino.

For more information on Ashley Sanford and the Gelish A/Fuel Dragster team, please visit www.ashleysanforddragracing.com. Follow her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ashleysanforddragracing) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/ashleyracergirl).

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