Mike
Ashley's Gotham City Race Team and InfiNet Insurance
and Financial make the leap into NHRA POWERade Pro Stock
Motorcycle
One year
ago, NHRA AMS Pro Modified Challenge Pro Modified racer
Mike Ashley announced InfiNet Insurance and Financial
as his major sponsor at the NHRA O'Reilly Fall Nationals
hosted by the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas. This
year the team will expand to include a Pro Stock Motorcycle
team with fellow New Yorker Lloyd Straus on the NHRA
POWERade tour in 2004.
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|
Lloyd Straus will field the new
Gotham City Pro Stock Motorcycle in 2004. (Allen
Cook) |
Straus, 35,
of Brooklyn, considers this to be a career enhancing
opportunity and looks forward to the challenge of competing
against the best riders on the tour.
"This
is great because teaming up with Mike and his status
as a champion can only lead to good things," Straus
said. "He's a man of his word and he's committed
to excellence and winning. That can only lead to good
things for us."
Straus previously
raced NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle in 2000 on a limited
basis riding for Troy Baxter. He further developed his
competitive reputation by participating in various unsanctioned
outlaw bike shootouts on the east coast. Straus finished
fourth in the Fish Customs Outlaw Motorcycle Shootout
tour last season. He gained a lot of assistance along
the way from Mike Philips, a noted outlaw motorcycle
racer and recent Pro Stock Motorcycle winner at the
NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.
"I wanted
to look for a rider that had character…was hard
working and had the potential to win," explained
Ashley. "When I say win…I mean win races,
win in the media and win with the fans. That combination
is a winning one for InfiNet Insurance and Financial
and the entire Gotham City team. I couldn't resist sponsoring
Lloyd. You only have to speak to him once to understand
why he is the guy that most deserves the opportunity
to win. I'm confident that he will seize that opportunity
and accomplish our common goal of a top ten finish in
2004."
Ashley feels
the addition of Straus to the Gotham City Racing team
will only serve as another building block in the teams
funding strategy. He added, "I think multiple vehicle
teams provide an excellent marketing opportunity for
sponsors looking to tap into the ever growing NHRA demographic.
Look at Don Schumacher, Don Prudhomme and the rest of
the professional teams that field more than one entry.
They have multi-class sponsorships for a reason. We
haven't ruled out further expansion as long as the return
on our investment works well for us and we can continue
to proportionately fund it."
Of all the
classes, why did Ashley choose the NHRA's Pro Stock
Motorcycle division?
"I made
the decision to back a Pro Stock Motorcycle because
I believe it is a class that is growing in popularity,"
Ashley responded. "In particular, I like the rivalry
between Harley and Suzuki, it reminds me a lot of Pro
Modified with the blowers and nitrous. I believe NHRA
Pro Stock Motorcycle with its live television coverage
and 15-event schedule can serve as a valuable marketing
platform for any sponsor looking to gain access to that
demographic.
Richard Kearby,
President, of InfiNet Insurance and Financial was equally
excited about the opportunity to expand his marketing
program into the Pro Stock Motorcycle ranks. Kearby
has been a longtime supporter of NHRA drag racing and
this recent addition adds to the team which is comprised
of Ashley's Gotham City 1941 Willys and a Competition
eliminator entry currently fielded by Kenny Nowling.
Ashley continued,
"InfiNet has seen terrific growth and is continuing
its nationwide expansion and is committed to its drag
racing program as one of the means to fuel that expansion.
The company recently expanded its business profile to
several specialized insurance areas as well as the addition
of a staffing arm."
Straus will
do battle aboard a Suzuki powered by a Vance & Hines
motor that will be nicknamed the "The Riddler."
Illusions Custom Paint & Body along with Mark Brown
applied the incredible paint scheme that is bound to
garner awards along the way.
"I feel
that I am as good as any of the top 10 drivers currently
on the tour. I just never had the backing or the crew
to support my ambitions. Now that I have Randy Mason,
who I feel is one of the most underrated crewchiefs
in the business, I will definitely hold my own against
the best the class has to offer."
Mason is
a former Pro Stock Motorcycle champion and record holder
dating back to 1982.
Straus will
make his debut in two weeks during the NHRA ACDelco
Nationals at The Strip in Las Vegas, Nev.
Straus also
brings to the team associate sponsorship from King's
Cycles in Brooklyn.
-- Article and Photo
Provided by CompetitionPlus.com
- Thanks Bobby!!
