Torrence edges past Prestone/FRAM Top Fueler, keeps DSR’s Massey from retaking NHRA points lead

July 01

JOLIET, Ill. (July 1, 2012) – Spencer Massey left Route 66 Raceway with a track record but what he and the Prestone/FRAM Top Fuel team wanted most was a fourth title through 11 events this season or at least to regain the championship points lead for the fifth time.

But Massey lost in the second round to two-time winner Steve Torrence. Massey along with crew chiefs Todd Okuhara and Phil Shuler will have to wait until next weekend to move back to first and another trophy.

“You’re always disappointed if you aren’t one of the last two cars to go down the track and you don’t win,” Massey said. “But our Prestone/FRAM dragster was one of the best cars on the property. We just came up a little short.”

Torrence’s time of 3.833 seconds at 320.36 mph edged Massey’s 3.836 (323.27) in the close race during nitro eliminations on Sunday in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event near Chicago.

The margin of victory for Torrence was 0.0261 seconds.

“That was a good race,” Massey said. “I just wish I was either watching it or winning it.”

One more round win for Massey would have enabled him to take the points lead from Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tony Schumacher, whose U.S. Army dragster incurred a major engine explosion that led to his first first-round loss.

Another of Massey’s teammates, Antron Brown, won the Route 66 title and moved ahead of Massey to second in the standings behind points leader Schumacher. Only 11 points separate the top three.

The following are Massey’s event results:

SPENCER MASSEY, Prestone/FRAM dragster
First round: MASSEY (3.815 sec., 324.98 mph) def. Terry McMillen (3.863, 315.71)
Second round: Steve Torrence (3.833, 320.36) def. MASSEY (3.836, 323.27)

QUALIFYING
FRIDAY
Session 1: 3.818 sec., 320.74 mph
Session 2: 3.788, 326.79 (track record)
SATURDAY
Session 3: 3.808, 325.14
Session 4: 5.120, 134.70

NEXT EVENT:
July 5-8, NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Nationals, Norwalk, Ohio

TOP FUEL STANDINGS
1. TONY SCHUMACHER, 879
2. ANTRON BROWN, 876
3. SPENCER MASSEY, 868
4. Steve Torrence, 775
5. Morgan Lucas, 698
6. Doug Kalitta, 656
7. Shawn Langdon, 596
8. Brandon Bernstein, 536
9. David Grubnic, 521
10. Clay Millican, 490