Massey's high expectations met during qualifying in Sonoma, FRAM dragster will start fourth on Sunday for eliminations

July 28

SONOMA, Calif. (July 28, 2012) - Spencer Massey had high expectations coming into Sonoma, Calif., with his Don Schumacher Racing-built FRAM/Prestone Top Fuel dragster.

Those expectations were exceeded throughout qualifying for the NHRA Sonoma Nationals when Massey's dragster tuned by Todd Okuhara and Phil Shuler posted the best speed ever at the facility at 327.43 mph in Saturday's third session.

"We were really looking forward to getting back to sea-level and seeing how fast this FRAM dragster could really go," Massey said. "The cool weather was an added bonus all weekend and Todd and Phil just let it go today.

"They do such a great job and they always have put up big numbers on the scoreboard and it has been no different with this new DSR dragster. That 327 was hauling. That's just how I like it."

Friday evening's conditions were by far the coolest the NHRA Full Throttle Series has seen in several months, but that's not when the FRAM dragster performed its best.

"When Todd and Phil get ahold of this FRAM car, it goes down the track," Massey said. "We tried pushing it Friday night and we got a little too aggressive and smoked the tires but we were trying to go No. 1.

"We had a great pass in the last session and in the heat of the day just like it's going to be tomorrow."
Massey will face Terry McMillen in the opening round of eliminations on Sunday.

"We just need to get down the track tomorrow," Massey said. "Round wins are round wins and we just need to keep turning on win lights and gaining points towards the Countdown for the Championship."

Spencer Massey, FRAM/Prestone dragster
Qualifying position: No. 4
First round opponent: Terry McMillen

FRIDAY
Session 1: 3.811 sec., 324.90 mph
Session 2: 7.747, 75.24
SATURDAY:
Session 3: 3.793, 327.43
Session 4: 3.833 at 322.04

SONOMA NITRO SCHEDULE
Sunday: 11 a.m., championship eliminations

ON ESPN2
Sunday: 7-10 p.m. (ET), ESPN2, championship eliminations (delayed)

WEATHER.COM FORECAST
Sunday: High of 86; 0 percent chance of rain

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 has won 187 NHRA national event titles and nine world championships.

Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.

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