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Team Co-Owner and Two-time Pro Modified World Champion.
Originally known as the “Kid from Long Island” with wild paint schemes and an aggressive style of driving in the late 1980’s, Mike Ashley graduated into the professional, nitro-methane powered ranks of NHRA drag racing and was given the moniker of ‘The New Iron Mike’ by Drag Racer Magazine. Less than an hour from Manhattan and Wall Street, Ashley has proven his mettle on the race track and in the big business of mortgage banking.
Behind his desk as Chief Business Strategist/Vice President of Lend America, a national direct mortgage lender, Mike looks like a typical businessman, a phone at each ear, fingers on a keyboard and a huge flat-panel screen offering a view into the fast-paced world of mortgage finance. A quick glance around his office, however, indicates that this mortgage banker's life is far from ordinary. Amidst the standard family photos and keepsakes are strong clues to his "other" passion. A large array of trophies and photos decorate the counters, walls and floor, along with a few helmets, framed shirts and even a fire suit or two.
This successful Long Island business leader does little to hide his involvement and love of drag racing, and his drive in business has affected his racing exploits as well. As a racer, Ashley has amassed two NHRA Pro Mod Challenge World Championship trophies. In the Fall of 2005, Ashley took the jump to nitro Funny Car making his debut at the NHRA Mac Tools US Nationals in Indianapolis, Ind., and his life has never been the same.
“I love competition because it forces me to be my very best,” Ashley explained. “Either in the corporate landscape or on a drag strip, I work to maintain my focus on whatever the goal — whether it’s growth in business or winning a world championship.”
Results tell the story of Ashley’s commitment, as he earned the No. 6 spot on the POWERade ladder in 2007. En route to his three NHRA National Event wins including the prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals where he ran a special tribute car designed by Chip Foose to benefit the Eric Blake Faulkner Fund, Mike also scored one IHRA win, six No. 1 Qualifying positions, six track speed records including the fastest run in Funny Car history at 334.32 MPH, two ‘Motel 6 Who Got the Light’ awards and three Full Throttle Pit Crew awards. Off the track, Mike was recognized by The Jewish Daily Forward as one of the 50 Most Influential Jews in America in 2007, an honor he says is very dear to his heart.
“My faith is just a part of who I am as a person, and to be recognized for doing what I believe and being faithful to what I teach my children, that is incredibly humbling. It’s recognition for who I am, not what I’ve done – and that means the world to me,” he said.
In January 2008, entrepreneur and race enthusiast Roger Burgess joined Mike as co-owner, and together they formed Gotham City Racing, LLC. Mike and Roger share the same vision for the continued growth of the team into an organization determined to set the standard within the drag racing industry, from on-the-track performance to marketing and sponsor activation.
Mike is a dedicated father and husband, and his true motivation comes from his family - wife Mindy, daughter Alexa and son Justin. Mike will be the first to tell you family is his main priority and likewise Mindy and the kids will tell you that Mike is theirs.
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