Massey ready to defend Pomona Winternationals title
Spencer Massey began 2012 on a high note by winning the opening event, he looks to do the same in his Schumacher Top Fuel dragster in 2013.
BROWNSBURG, Ind. - Spencer Massey began 2012 on a high note by winning the opening event and plans do to the same thing in 2013 when the NHRA returns to action at the 53rd annual season-opening NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif.
Massey, 30, will begin his fourth year competing in the highest ranks of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing series and this is his third consecutive year driving for Don Schumacher Racing.
The winner of the 2009 Auto Club Road to the Future award will make the season debut with the sleek-looking black Battery Extender Powered by Schumacher dragster. The Battery Extender is the next-generation battery charger that provides advanced charging technology and cutting-edge design.
"I'm really excited to get back in a championship-caliber dragster in 2013," Massey said. "We had a great 2012 season and we'd like to take the momentum from that into this year.
"We started last year off with a win and you really can't ask for more than that, so that's our goal for this first weekend in Pomona. A win early in the season ensures a spot in the Traxxas Shootout and it's important for us to defend our title in that event at Indy."
Massey finished the 2012 season third in points after earning four event titles in nine final rounds and three No. 1 qualifier spots. Phil Shuler will be responsible for the tuning decisions on the Battery Extender Powered by Schumacher dragster this season.
Todd Okuhara, former co-crew chief with Shuler, takes on the new role of DSR's Director of Racing in 2013. Okuhara will still oversee tuning decisions on Massey's dragster as well as Schumacher's six other nitro teams.
Along with his new colors, Massey's dragster will also feature the safety canopy developed by U.S. Army crew chief Mike Green and manufactured by Indianapolis based Aerodine Composites.
"I've only made a test pass with the canopy, so I'm anxious to get more experience in it. My teammates Antron (Brown) and Tony (Schumacher) have both said it's a lot quieter and they have a better feel for what the car is doing.
"So that's going to be a learning curve but with the canopy I know I'll be in one of the safest machines in all of motorsports and there's no better feeling than that."
Don Schumacher Racing
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