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2012 NHRA: Spencer Massey Pomona II Event Results: Second Round
Spencer Massey and the FRAM/Prestone team are completely in charge of their own destiny on Sunday when eliminations begin and the championship will be decided during the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif.
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Massey enters eliminations 70 points behind Don Schumacher Racing teammate and first round opponent Antron Brown. It is a must-win situation for both teams with major championship implications.
This territory is something Massey and his team led by crew chiefs Todd Okuhara and Phil Shuler, have been in previously. Last year, Massey came close to winning his first career Top Fuel championship in a semifinal round match up with Del Worsham. Worsham and Massey both had to win the round to win the championship, but Massey was lost by a few thousandths of a second.
"We are almost in the same situation as we were last year where we have to go win the race," said Massey. "If we would've won the race last year we would've won the championship. If we win the (event title) tomorrow, we win the championship."
Massey, calm and collected, after qualifying concluded Saturday evening, said although it sounds easy, it may not be.
"It's not that easy. With the championship, you think about having to get points and what your competition is going to do and having to go rounds. Right now, we just have to win the race. Realistically it's not that easy to go just win a race but we've won races this year."
It's an intramural bittersweet battle for Massey, but he accepts the challenge.
"For us to run Antron is kind of a bitter situation," he said. "We have to run our teammate, obviously he's number one in points and he has the national record so he can take us out.
"The other side is, he has to lose the first round in order for us to have a chance. It's a perfect situation because it's in our hands. I'd rather run him than anyone else out there."
This could be one of the most important rounds of Massey's young career.
"Last year it was one final run to determine the championship. Tomorrow it will hopefully be four runs. I'd say it's bigger at least times four."
PaddockTalk Perspective
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