Ashley’s TF team sold to Schumacher
The sale includes the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster driven by Antron Brown, who first rose to prominence riding a Pro Stock Motorcycle for DSR. The team has been assured that it will remain intact for the final two races of the NHRA Full Throttle Series season.
"I don't have a comment at this time, but I'm a businessman and am always looking for opportunities that benefit Don Schumacher Racing," Schumacher said when reached for comment early Tuesday morning.
High ranking members of Brown's team were informed of the sale late Monday night as it prepared for this weekend's NHRA Las Vegas Nationals. SPEEDTV.com
10/27/09 Mike Ashley Racing's Top Fuel operation has been sold in its entirety to Don Schumacher Racing.
The sale reportedly includes the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster driven by Antron Brown. Apparently, the team will remain intact for the final two races of the NHRA Full Throttle Series season.
"I don't have a comment at this time, but I'm a businessman and am always looking for opportunities that benefit Don Schumacher Racing," Schumacher said when reached for comment early Tuesday morning.
High ranking members of Brown's team were informed of the sale late Monday night as it prepared for this weekend's NHRA Las Vegas Nationals.
The move comes hot on the heels of last week's civil complaint filed by the Department of Justice in Central Islip, N.Y., against Ideal Mortgage Bankers, Ltd., which does business under the name Lend America. The complaint sought a court-ordered injunction to prevent the company from making loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration. The complaint also seeks relief against Mike Ashley, Lend America’s Executive Vice President and Chief Business Strategis.
Ashley and Lend America successfully blocked part of the complaint later that week when a federal judge allowed the company the ability to continue originating FHA-insured loans. Judge Joseph F. Bianco denied U.S. Attorney Benton J. Campbell’s request for a restraining order that would have prevented Lend America's parent company, Ideal Mortgage Bankers, from making the loans. Lend America was a sponsor of Ashley's racing operation.
Brown is in fourth place in the Top Fuel standings heading into this weekend's race. He is 81 points behind leader Tony Schumacher with two races left in the season. The team has five wins (including a sweep of the Western Swing) in nine final-round appearances.
This is the third time this calendar year that Brown's team has changed hands. Ashley acquired the team in January from Tim Buckley, who had splintered off from the now-defunct David Powers Motorsports.