Spencer Massey wins second consecutive race

Spencer Massey likes hot streaks and when the driver of the Don Schumacher-owned Battery Extender Powered by Schumacher dragster wins races, he seems to do it in bunches.

Six days after earning his 15th career win at the rain-delayed Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, Massey and his Phil Shuler and Todd Okuhara-led team picked right up where they left off in Atlanta, by earning four win lights on race day.

Starting from the bottom half of the 16-car field after qualifying in the No. 12 position on Saturday, Massey proved all you need to do is qualify for a chance to win an NHRA Mello Yello Series race.

"It was a struggle that started with running (teammate) Tony Schumacher and every round after that," Massey said after his 16th career NHRA Top Fuel win. "We kept trying to get the car to perform. Like everybody else we were trying to run a .70, but the car just wouldn't do it. We'd give it more clutch, then more clutch again, then more motor. It kept running a .86 and then an .87, but it was enough.

"I went to (crew chief Phil Shuler) before the final round and reminded him the sun was out just like the run before. We didn't want to beat ourselves. We wanted to go down the track and make them beat us."

Massey whittled his way past DSR teammate and seven-time champion Tony Schumacher, Terry McMillen, No. 1 qualifier Brittany Force, and defending event winner and series champion Shawn Langdon in the final round to earn his second career Wally trophy from Heartland Park and win No. 225 for DSR.

Massey, who vaulted to third place in the NHRA Mello Yello standings, will have a chance to sweep the first three-race swing on the 2014 NHRA schedule as the series heads to historic Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J. Massy won the Englishtown race in 2011.

"When you get your momentum going everything seems to click in place," Massey said. "I like these back to back to back races. I drive my motorcoach to the races and it gives me time to breathe and think. The summer months are coming up and it will be hot and that's how we like it with this Battery Extender team."

Don Schumacher Racing