Spencer Massey, the 2009 NHRA Rookie of the Year and 2008 IHRA champion, recently made his first passes in the FRAM/Prestone Top Fuel dragster at Palm Beach International Raceway in West Palm Beach, Fla., where in the second day of the test he thundered through a 3.79 second run at 324 miles per hour.

“That dragster is an animal,” said Spencer Massey, the new shoe behind the wheel of the dragster owned by Don Schumacher Racing.

Massey replaces Cory McClenathan who was released of the driving duties at the end of the 2010 season. McClenathan currently remains with Don Schumacher Racing in an advisory position.

Massey expected his new ride would be quick and wasn't disappointed.

“The car showed signs early on Friday that it wanted to run [fast],” Massey recalled. “The car showed last year that it was capable of running consistent 3.70s. [Crew chiefs] Todd Okuhara and Phil Shuler know what it takes to get it done. Phil came to me before the 3.79 run and told me that I was going to the finish line. They let me know I might get close or better to my career best. He told me to hold on.”

Massey heeded Shuler’s advice.

“He was exactly right.”

As the driver of the FRAM/Prestone dragster Massey finds himself back in very familiar position – driving for an NHRA legend.

In 2009, Massey was named as the driver of the Don Prudhomme Racing dragster where he earned the 2009 Rookie of the Year award on the strength of two national event victories and a sixth place finish in the final standings. Massey lost the gig when Prudhomme shut down and later sold the operation piecemeal because he was unable to procure adequate sponsorship. 
After a year off sitting on the sidelines, Massey is back driving for yet another high profile car owner. While it didn’t take long for Massey to take notice of the difference in racing operations, he did recognize a fair amount of similarities between the legendary team owners.

“They are both very high profile teams,” explained Massey. “Don Schumacher is driven to win and be the best. That’s exactly the way Prudhomme ran his team. They are the same in that aspect. They have the best of the best and want me to perform at 100-percent. 

“But, on the same token, it’s as if you’re a kid in school and you move to a new location. Here you are with a totally different group of guys and people and things are totally different. The way this team operates, I felt right at home from the start. We gelled right from the start. Don Schumacher has treated me like one of his sons from the get-go. He’s very personable and I’ve felt welcomed here from the start.”

Despite feeling at home for the start, Massey admits he still felt the butterflies in his stomach as the first test session loomed on the horizon.

“I had more than my share of thoughts on how the experience was going to be,” admitted Massey. “I have always thrived on my ability to put my best foot forward, focus on my lights, try to be perfect and try to be a machine inside of the cockpit. Going into the test session … that was running through my mind. I wasn’t nervous but doing the job the best was definitely on my mind. Once the car started the first time, my mind was clear.”

Even though the team was testing undisclosed new components during the two-day affair, Massey said his driving style didn’t drift from the standard. He was under no pressure to perform.

“My job is to do exactly as I am told to do and keep the car in the groove,” Massey confirmed. “I was intent on cutting a good light and if they told me to shut off at 380 feet, that’s what I am going to do, not one inch shorter or longer. If they tell me to go to the finish line, I am going there. My job is to cut a light, keep it in the groove and do exactly as I am told.”

-Written by Bobby Bennett; Photos by Roger Richards

http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/16265-massey-shines-in-dsr-testing-debut