SPENCER MASSEY GOES TO QUARTER FINALS

IN NHRA WINTERNATIONALS PRESENTED BY VALVOLINE

Spencer Massey drove the Prestone/FRAM Top Fuel dragster into the second round of today’s NHRA Winternationals on the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in the opening race of the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season.

The 2009 rookie of the year, who did not have a ride for the 2010 season, began the day by defeating Ron August, Jr., with the quickest run of the race’s first round. Massey’s 3.782-second/324.83-mile-per-hour lap easily topped August’s 17.900/20.73.

In round two, Massey got off the line .029-seconds quicker than Del Worsham, but a loss of traction resulted in a 4.106/229.04 lap, which was not enough to keep pace with a 3.810/322.11.

“We were set up for a high ‘70s – low ‘80s run, and we were first off the line, but it wasn’t enough,” said the 28-year-old Fort Worth native. “The car ran straight from A to B, and the computer told us that we were hooked up, but we lost power and lost the bracket.

“We had a good weekend, and have the car to compete with anyone in Top Fuel for the rest of the season.”

Massey, holding seventh place in the 2011 Top Fuel championship with 57 points, will head to Gainesville, Fla., for the March 10-13 42nd annual Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals.

“I can’t wait to get to Florida,” he said. “I am driving for a drag-racing legend in Don Schumacher on a team with an incredible list of accomplishments. And I am representing legendary names in automotive products – Fram, Prestone and Autolite, names which I intend to put on display in the winner’s circle on a regular basis. All of them have given me this incredible opportunity.”