Spencer Massey Las Vegas Saturday report

SPENCER MASSEY BLASTS INTO SECOND STARTING SPOT FOR SUNDAY’S BIG O TIRES NHRA NATIONALS

Spencer Massey

Photo by: Ted Rossino

LAS VEGAS, October 29, 2011 – Spencer Massey tore up The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this afternoon putting his FRAM/Prestone Top Fuel dragster into the second-starting position for Sunday’s 11th-annual Big O Tires NHRA Nationals here.

The 3.824-second pass at 324.67 miles per hour capped four-solid qualifying rounds and earned the 29-year-old Fort Worth native a first-round match with 15th-qualifier Ron August Jr. when final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. PDT.

“This erased Phoenix,” he said referring to the last race when the then leader in the Countdown to the Championship standings did not qualify. “Before we even entered this event, we decided Phoenix didn’t even happen. We had to do that – both for our mental wellbeing and because we had no information from which to setup the car.

“We came right here to Vegas on the Monday after not qualifying in Phoenix to test. We found a mechanical issue which had been the cause of our problems, solved it and made solid runs, thus boosting our confidence for this race.”

This weekend’s qualifying success allowed Massey to pass Larry Dixon and move into second place, 16 points (less than one round) behind Don Schumacher Racing teammate Antron Brown.

“Obviously, it’s a close race for the top spot,” he said. “Tomorrow will determine who will be the leader heading into the world finals in Pomona (two weeks away). This means tomorrow is like a world finals.

“I’m excited about this, but I’m going to approach the race the same as I always do. I know Phil and Todd (Shuler and Okuhara, co-crew chiefs) will give me a great hot rod; I just have to do my job.”