CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Joe and Cathi Maynard have remained committed to growing their JCM Racing team since founding the organization in July 2022. Now, they have announced the addition of a third race team featuring Justin Ashley.
The Maynards came to terms with Ashley after the 28-year-old driver had a career year in 2022. Ashley finished last season in fourth place, and he’s picked up right where he left off.
He remains in fourth place for the 2023 season, but is only 31 points behind the leader, according to league standings.
Ashley spent no time acquiring his first win as a partner of JCM Racing. During the final days of the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals, Ashley came out victorious.
“It’s a joke amongst us,” Joe Maynard said. “After becoming majority owners of Tony Schumacher’s team last year, we won our first race as well. For Justin to win the shootout Saturday, I’m proud of him and for him for what he accomplished.”
After the race, Ashley had this to say about his new partnership:
“I feel very blessed to be in the position that we’re in now, to be able to announce today the formation of our new partnership, Maynard Ashley Racing,” said Ashley in a news release. “We are so appreciative of the Maynard family, Jim Epler ‘Mr. 300’ and Dustin Davis. This new team shows growth, it shows strength, it shows stability, and we want to be out here doing this for a very long time because this is what we love to do and it’s a business on and off the racetrack and that’s where our focus is.”
Tim Wilkerson wins hometown event
Ashley isn’t the only JCM Racing partner having success as of late. Tim Wilkerson won his first race since partnering with the Maynards earlier this year.
Wilkerson won his 23rd Funny Car race on May 21 in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois.
The longtime dragster had a winless streak of 33 races before becoming victorious at the Route 66 NHRA Nationals, according to a news release sent by ABM Communications.
Wilkerson had this to say about his latest NHRA win:
“I’m trying to keep my emotions in check, but I’m so excited, I’m about to cry,” Wilkerson said in a news release. “To be this close to home, we have so many people with us this weekend, we’re not going to have a big enough lens for our winner’s circle photo, but it’s very exciting. All my grandkids are here, and my wife, and my kids. We have about two dozen close friends here and it was just a great day.”
Wilkerson moved into the top five in league standings following his victory.