Massey Brainerd Friday report

SPENCER MASSEY FIRST-DAY TOP QUALIFIER AT 30TH-ANNUAL LUCAS OIL NHRA NATIONALS

Spencer Massey reacts after being defeated

Photo by: Ted Rossino

BRAINERD, Minn., August 19, 2011 – Aboard his Prestone/FRAM Top Fuel dragster, Spencer Massey set the track elapsed-time and speed records today en route to taking the provisional pole for Sunday’s 30th-annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals here at Brainerd International Raceway.

Last-second adjustments resulted in a 3.835-second run at 322..85 miles per hour, which allowed the 28-year-old Fort Worth native to narrowly edge his Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tony Schumacher (3.836 at 319.60 mph) for the top spot.

“When the clouds came over and cooled off the track, the cars in front of us started getting down the track really well, so Todd and Phil (Shuler and Okuhara, co-crew chiefs) became more aggressive with the tune-up for today’s second run,” explained Massey, who came into the weekend second in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel standings. “And as I was backing up from my burnout, Phil reached in and made a final adjustment to be even more aggressive with the tune up.

“They knew just what knobs to turn, but then again, they’ve been turning the right knobs all year long.”

Should he hold onto the top position, it would be Massey’s third pole of the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season and fourth in his career. Even so, the talented young pilot admitted the team had additional goals beyond capturing the top spot.

“We’re actually more concerned about getting ready for race day, and getting down the track, from point A to point B, than taking the pole,” he explained. “It would be nice to be number one for Sunday, but it is more important to be ready to race.”

Rounding out the top five after Massey and Schumacher are Morgan Lucas, Del Worsham and Brandon Bernstein.