Spencer Massey Looks To Win At Seattle

Spencer Massey Seeks To Bookend Swing With Win At NHRA Northwest Nationals

Spencer Massey, who won the opening round of this year’s infamous ‘Western Swing,” would like to put his FRAM/Prestone Top Fuel dragster back into the winner’s circle Sunday at the 24th-annual NHRA Northwest Nationals here to make it two wins out of the three races on consecutive weekends featured each summer on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series schedule.

This weekend at Pacific Raceways, the third stop on the swing, the 28-year-old Don Schumacher Racing driver hopes to recapture the magic he had two weeks ago in Denver, where he won his third race of the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season.

Spencer Massey, Preston/FRAM Dragster

Photo by: Michael C. Johnson

Although his chances to sweep the swing were dashed after he lost a second-round match last Sunday in Sonoma to points leader Del Worsham by a razor-thin .002 seconds, he heads to the Pacific Northwest enthused by his race car's continued strong performance.

“That was some drag race,” the Fort Worth native exclaimed following last Sunday’s near-identical-quarterfinals run. “We had the same reaction times and only a whisker separated us at the finish line.

“But I have to be encouraged, despite the results, because the FRAM/Prestone hot rod is obviously still running really well and we still have momentum as we come into the Seattle race.

“We won the first race of the swing, so let’s win the last one – or at least give it a great try!”

Massey held onto his second spot in the Top Fuel standings following the Sonoma event, just ahead of DSR teammate and race winner Antron Brown, followed by Larry Dixon and the third DSR Top Fuel pilot, seven-time champion Tony Schumacher.

“I had wanted to meet “The Sarge” again last week in the finals at the FRAM/Autolite Nationals, like we did in the Denver race,” he said. “But at least it was Antron there in the second-consecutive all-DSR finals to bring home the trophy for the team.

“But that’s drag racing, where you have to be very good, and a little lucky, to win and succeed.”

With three races left until the Countdown to 1 begins, it is important to secure as high a seeding as possible in the top 10 qualifying positions, as well as to prepare for the crucial final six races of the season which constitute the playoffs.

“When the points are reset at the end of the regular season (Labor Day weekend) after the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, we want to be as close to first or in first place,” explained Massey. “But more importantly, we want to be on a roll, with the kind of momentum we have right now – consistently getting down the track and going rounds. That’s what will win us the championship.”

By: don schumacher racing