Spencer Massey Maple Grove Saturday report

SPENCER MASSEY BLASTS INTO THIRD STARTING SPOT FOR AUTO-PLUS® NHRA NATIONALS

Spencer Massey, Preston/FRAM Dragster

Photo by: Michael C. Johnson

MOHNTON, Pa., October 1, 2011 – Spencer Massey aboard his FRAM/Prestone Top Fuel dragster tied his quickest career run today to grab the third starting spot for Sunday’s 27th annual Auto-Plus® NHRA Nationals here at Maple Grove Raceway.

Taking advantage of cool, overcast conditions, the 29-year-old Don Schumacher Racing dragster pilot blasted down the 1,000-foot strip on his final attempt in 3.771 seconds with a top speed 316.82 miles per hour. That pass earned him a first-round match with Dominick Lagana in final eliminations which begin at 11 a.m. EDT.

“We watched Larry Dixon (3.769) grab the record in the pair ahead of us,” Massey said about being the last pair with DSR teammate Antron Brown in the final top fuel session. “And we wanted to get it – for the bonus points. We came close, but Antron made it happen (3.766). I’m glad for him, but a little disappointed for us.”

In addition to the fourth-session run, Massey posted earlier laps of 3.817, 4.563 and 3.782.

The Fort Worth native believes conditions for Sunday’s race will be tempting, but acknowledged going rounds is more important than setting a record as the Countdown to the Championship winds down to its final three races.

Massey enters Sunday’s event leading the Countdown, five points ahead of Brown, but knowing the other DSR driver has 20 bonus points in his pocket (if no other driver betters his record by the end of the race).

“Tomorrow we need to go deep,” he said. “It’s much more important to get win lights than the record because each round win gets us 20 points. We’d actually like to meet up with Antron again in the final round and win the race. If we do that, we’ll still be in the points lead going into the final three races.”