SPENCER MASSEY TAKES THIRD POSITION

FOR START OF TIRE KINGDOM GATORNATIONALS

Spencer Massey piloted the Prestone/FRAM Top Fuel dragster into the third spot for the 42nd annual Tire Kingdom Gatornationals here at Gainesville Raceway where he will take on Chris Karamesines in the first round of eliminations.

The 28-year-old Fort Worth native, starting his second NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series race since returning from a year of virtual inactivity, ran a 3.828-second/316.01-mile-per-hour lap in Friday’s second round to gain the number-three spot. Karamesines qualified 14 on a 3.898/309.98 mph run.

“I just can’t say enough about Phil and Todd [Shuler and Okuhara, co-crew chiefs], the job they are doing, along with everyone on the team, to prepare this car and keep me competitive,” said Massey. “And driving for legendary names in the automotive world like Prestone and FRAM and for Don [Schumacher, team owner], a legend in drag racing, just makes the whole experience even better.”

Massey, NHRA Top Fuel rookie of the year in 2009 when he finished sixth in the NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel championship, had mixed results during the two days of qualifying, with two excellent runs and two runs where he smoked the tires. A 3.854/319.37 pass was second quickest of the third round.

“Again, Phil and Todd did what they had to do throughout qualifying,” he said. “I think they have a good handle on the track for tomorrow’s race when we expect similar conditions to what we saw today and yesterday.”