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2013 NHRA: Spencer Massey NHRA Gatornationals Event Preview
Everyone has a bucket list of things they want to do in their lifetime. For Spencer Massey, winning at the NHRA Gatornationals held in Gainesville, Fla., is high on the list.
For 44 years, the Gatornationals has been a stop for the NHRA series and the event has become one of the "big ones" where every driver wants to have a coveted 'Wally' trophy.
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"I love going to the Gators," Massey said. "It's one of those events that just stand out and everyone knows what the Gators are. I just think back to when Kenny Bernstein first went 300 mph there. It's just a special place. To be able to take a Wally away from Gainesville would be a check on any driver's bucket list."
What also makes the Gainesville track more special than others is the fact that the cars can produce more horsepower, something his Battery Extender powered by Schumacher dragster is fond of doing.
"There are some tracks you go to where you just have more horsepower," he said. "Gainesville is one of those tracks. The setting of it is perfect because of all the trees around it. More trees mean more oxygen and that's what helps your engine produce more horsepower.
"There's no doubt about it that this Battery Extender Top Fuel car has a history of making some pretty good horsepower."
After two weekends off from the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, Massey is ready to battle when racing resumes Friday for the first of four qualifying sessions. It will also be the debut of the new candy-metallic red, black and silver colors on the Battery Extender dragster.
"We got the season started with back-to-back races and then we had some time off," he said. "But I've still been practicing my reaction times and thinking about racing. Just because we aren't on track doesn't mean I'm not thinking about it."
The following are Spencer's statistics and other event notes for the 44th annual NHRA Gatornationals.
SPENCER'S TRACK STATS
Last race at Phoenix: Qualified No. 16; defeated by Morgan Lucas in semifinals.
A year ago at Gainesville: Qualified No.8; defeated by Morgan Lucas in second round.
Career at Gainesville: Wins 0; runner-ups 0; poles 0.
2013 Pts Races Titles Rup Poles DNQ Win/Loss
Spencer Massey 8th 2 0 0 0 0 2-2
Career Races Titles Rup Poles DNQ Win/Loss
Spencer Massey 73 10 12 6 2 124-61
NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES STANDINGS (through 2 of 24 events; DSR drivers in CAPS)
TOP FUEL
1. TONY SCHUMACHER, 228 points
2. Shawn Langdon, 149
3. ANTRON BROWN, 148
4. Khalid alBalooshi, 131
5. Morgan Lucas, 124
6. David Grubnic, 112
7. Doug Kalitta, 103
8. SPENCER MASSEY, 100
9. Brandon Bernstein, 93
10. Larry Dixon, 86
GATORNATIONALS NITRO SCHEDULE (All times EDT)
Friday qualifying: 12:45 p.m., 3:30 p.m.
Saturday qualifying: 12:45 p.m., 3:30 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m., championship eliminations
NHRA ON ESPN2 (All times EDT)
Sunday: 1:30 a.m., 8 a.m. qualifying; 7 p.m., eliminations
Friday: High 72; 0 percent chance of rain
Saturday: High 78; 0 percent chance of rain
Sunday: High 80; 0 percent chance of rain
GOING FOR 200
This weekend at the Gatornationals, Don Schumacher can reach the milestone of winning 200 NHRA national event titles.
Don Schumacher Racing drivers Ron Capps and Tony Schumacher won respective Top Fuel and Funny Car titles on Feb. 24 in the NHRA Arizona Nationals near Phoenix to push the total to 198.
Two of his seven teams in the Gatornationals would need to repeat the double-up, but that isn't farfetched considering DSR has won at least two titles at the same event 35 times since the organization based near Indianapolis began fielding more than one team in 2001.
DSR also is the only organization in NHRA history to have won event titles in each of the series' four pro categories.
PaddockTalk Perspective
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