Massey now knows his way around DSR headquarters and quick way to finish line in FRAM/Prestone Top Fueler

January 17

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (January 17, 2012) - Spencer Massey remembers a little more than a year ago when he walked into the sprawling Don Schumacher Racing headquarters.

He was a little in awe of the 120,000-square-foot shop, home of the biggest team in NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing.

He was like a kid at a new school on his first day.

The 29-year-old from Fort Worth, Texas, would have been excited to be walking into any shop as a Top Fuel dragster driver after spending the 2010 season mostly on the shelf, one season removed from winning two Top Fuel titles and the NHRA's top rookie honor.

"I was just happy to be out there again let alone with on such a great team," he said of DSR and co-crew chiefs Todd Okuhara and Phil Shuler.

He signed to join DSR in December 2010 and has only gained speed since.

Turn the clock forward to January 2012, and Massey is like a kid in a candy store after completing a season driving the FRAM/Prestone Top Fueler to four wins before being edged out by now-retired Del Worsham for the Top Fuel championship.

"Everybody expected us to do well," Massey said.

Massey and the FRAM/Prestone team didn't disappoint.

Massey is at Palm Beach International Raceway in Jupiter, Fla., for three days of private testing in preparation for the PRO Winter Warm-Up at the South Florida track on Friday and Saturday to get ready for the NHRA opener two weeks later in Pomona, Calif.

Today, he hangs out with teammates like he's known them for years. His near constant smile, out-going personality and ability to do mechanical work on a 300-mph dragster nearly as well as he can drive one has helped teammates treat him like an old buddy.

"A year ago, I was new to the team and didn't really know anyone. Now it's like I've always been part of the family," he said before heading south.

"We're coming off a great year and don't plan on changing anything. We're treating this season like we never had an off-season and want to just pick up like last year never ended."

Except for moving up one spot in the final standings.

About FRAM

FRAM Group LLC has its headquarters in Perrysburg, Ohio. Its leading automotive care products include FRAM® oil, air, transmission and fuel filters; Autolite® spark plugs and ignition wire sets; Prestone® antifreeze/coolant and car care products; and Holts® car care. It maintains R&D capabilities in the United States and Europe and has a manufacturing footprint in 10 countries worldwide.

About Don Schumacher Racing

Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., consists of seven professional NHRA teams: in Top Fuel, the U.S. Army dragster driven by seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher, the FRAM/Prestone dragster of Spencer Massey and the Matco Tools dragster of Antron Brown; and in Funny Car, 2011 NHRA Funny Car champion Matt Hagan in the Aaron's Dream Machine/Mopar Dodge Charger R/T, Valvoline NextGen Dodge piloted by Jack Beckman, the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge of Ron Capps and the Service Central Dodge of Johnny Gray. DSR have won 174 NHRA national events and nine world championships.

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