SCAG Racing is rolling into the Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals with momentum across all three of its teams, as Top Fuel driver Justin Ashley and Funny Car standouts Daniel Wilkerson and Dave Richards prepare for a pivotal weekend at Pacific Raceways.

Fresh off a pair of wins in Richmond and Norwalk, Ashley and the SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel team are aiming to stay hot in Seattle. Ashley, currently third in points, has reached six final rounds this season and knows the first Friday qualifying session will be critical.

“Seattle is going to be a barnburner,” Ashley says. “The first round of qualifying is always important for getting a baseline, but this time it’s even more critical because it’ll be the best conditions we see all weekend. We’d love to bring home that Deecell Power Systems ‘After Dark Low Qualifier’ bonus.”

Ashley also has his sights set on Saturday’s Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, which offers a chance to go rounds before Sunday’s main eliminations.

“I love the opportunity to compete in eliminations-style competition before Sunday,” Ashley said. “Our whole SCAG Racing team is thankful we are in a position to do so after Norwalk.”

Meanwhile, Daniel Wilkerson enters Seattle tied for sixth in Funny Car points and carrying momentum of his own. Despite a red-light in the Norwalk quarterfinals, Wilkerson had previously scored back-to-back semifinal appearances and won two straight Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge events.

“Our Mustang has been on kill the last three races,” Wilkerson says. “We’ve gotten the taste of victory a couple times now in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty deal, and Tim has a dynamite tune-up for Seattle, so I smell a Wally coming this weekend!”

Wilkerson is aiming to improve on last year’s early exit in Seattle, where he qualified eighth and lost in the opening round to Cruz Pedregon — the same opponent who ended his day in Norwalk.

For Dave Richards, this season’s trek to Seattle is about redemption. The BlueBird Turf / Versatran Ford Mustang Funny Car pilot is returning to the site of a first-round crash last year, where he made contact with the wall after losing traction.

“We’ve come a long way since then. I’m proud of this team. We’ve kept it together, worked hard, and it’s paying off — we see it in the little things. Now it’s about getting that to translate and come together on the racetrack,” Richards says.

Currently 14th in points, Richards has two semifinal finishes this year and is looking to turn that progress into points.

“We’re sticking to our plan. Consistency is key,” he says. “We’ve got some work to do, and we need to start stacking some points to get back on track.”