Matco Tools/Lend America Pro Mod driver Joe Baker earned his first No. 1 qualifying honors Saturday
and advanced into the second round of eliminations in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge
presented by ProCare Rx at the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka.
Baker's Chuck Ford-tuned '68
Camaro has been a model of consistency all weekend, recording a 5.995, a 5.974, a 6.000 and a
6.016 in his runs thus far. After struggling to find any consistency at all in recent events, Baker
said the performance is extremely encouraging.
"I'm just thanking the Good Lord that we're doing so well here this weekend. With all the changes
we've made on this car, I'm really excited to be running so consistently and quickly," Baker said.
"We knew we had the car, but just couldn't get it dialed in - and now we're right where we knew we
should be," he said.
"To come into a track that we've never raced at before and do as well as we're doing now really
says a lot about just how good Chuck is at what he does. Of course [team owner] Mike Ashley has
given us the very best parts and equipment, and I have to thank him a lot as well.
"It takes a whole team to do this, and right now we're firing on all eight and heading straight
down the track to the winner's circle. We just have to take it a lap at a time, which is what we're
looking to do tomorrow.
Baker is slated to face Raymond Commisso in round two when eliminations continue Sunday afternoon.
Headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., Mike Ashley Racing fields the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster
driven by Antron Brown as well as the Matco Tools/Lend America Pro Mod '68 Camaro driven by Joe
Baker. MAR proudly represents racing partners Matco Tools, Lend America, DirecTV, BeepBeep.com,
Toyota, DataDot USA, Ringer's Gloves, Go Fast Sports, Goodyear, FRAM, Autolite, Suzuki, Connexions
Sports and Entertainment, and Forward Sports Marketing.
Mike Ashley Racing supports Autism Awareness through their support of the Hyperbaric Therapy
Center. A 2007 Centers for Disease Control report found that 1 in 150 children in America today
have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and an estimated 1.5 million Americans and their families
are now affected. Autism is a national health crisis, and Mike Ashley Racing is working to help
educate the public about ways they can get involved. Visit the Heal Autism Now website for more
information about how you can get involved at http://www.healautismnow.org.
