Massey Riding Wave of Momentum With Season-Opening Win at Pomona

Top Fuel driver Spencer Massey just celebrated his seventh career victory at the 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season-opener in Southern California and will try to carry that positive energy directly to race No. 2 on the circuit, the 28th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals, Feb. 17-19. He was left with a bitter taste in his mouth the last time he visited the Phoenix-area track.

His team’s performance at Firebird International Raceway last October put a thorn in the side of the Top Fuel driver’s hopes of earning his first NHRA Full Throttle world championship. Massey entered the fourth race of the Countdown to the Championship as the points leader, but when his team failed to qualify for eliminations at the playoff event, they lost the series lead and eventually the championship.

“After the DNQ in Phoenix last year in the Countdown, it kind of killed us for the championship,” Massey said. “But now, coming off this win we have momentum. We have a racecar that can win Phoenix. It would be awesome to go back-to-back, but now we have a big target on our back. We’re No. 1 in points and everyone is gunning for us but that’s what we want. I’d like to have that bull’s-eye on my back all year long.”

In 2012, the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird International Raceway returns to a spot on the NHRA schedule in the regular season. Larry Dixon (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock) are the defending winners of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event that will be telecast on ESPN2 HD.

After losing the championship last year, FRAM/Prestone dragster driver Massey spent a lot of time replaying his last trip to the Grand Canyon State in his mind and thinking about how if things could have played out differently he may have ended up the 2011 world champion. After a busy offseason, the Top Fuel pilot has turned that disappointment into fuel for success this year. His recent victory over teammate Antron Brown in the final round of the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals at Pomona, Calif. was Exhibit-A.

“After our finish last year, finishing in second place and coming up just a little short, it makes you that much more hungry, that much more motivated to win a championship,” Massey said. “We put that new racecar together, we tested it, the car ran very well and it showed last weekend. Leaving (Pomona) in the No. 1 spot heading to Phoenix is awesome.”

With his runner-up finish at Pomona, Brown sits second in the points standings. Morgan Lucas, Tony Schumacher, Bob Vandergriff, Brandon Bernstein, Shawn Langdon, Clay Millican, David Grubnic and Doug Kalitta round out the top 10 in Top Fuel.

Funny Car legend and 15-time world champ John Force collected the first win of the 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series when he defeated his teammate Mike Neff in the final round of the season-opener. Force’s youngest daughter Courtney earned her first round win at her debut event, while fellow rookie Alexis DeJoria fell to eventual winner Force in the opening round of competition.

Four-time Pro Stock world champ Greg Anderson collected the 71st win of his career at the NHRA Winternationals and leads the points heading into Phoenix. Anderson outran fellow four-time world champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. in the final round as well as teammate and reigning world champ Jason Line in the semifinals.

* SCHEDULE: Full Throttle Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Feb. 17 and 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 12.

* TICKETS: Tickets are available for the 28th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals. For tickets, please call (602) 268-0200 or visit www.ticketforce.com.

* ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 8 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, Feb. 18. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three-hours of eliminations coverage at 9 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 19.

* LUCAS OIL SERIES: The 28th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals also will feature competition in five categories in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series, where the future stars of the NHRA Full Throttle Series are born. Lucas Oil Series qualifying begins at 8 a.m. on Feb. 17. Lucas Oil Series eliminations begin at 8 a.m. on Feb. 18 and continue Feb. 19.

* ON THE WEB: Get live timing, scoring, multimedia and the latest news updates from every NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event on the Internet at www.nhra.com. Visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

* * *

NHRA ARIZONA NATIONALS FACT SHEET

WHAT:  28th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals, the second of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Drivers in three categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock – earn points leading to 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships.

WHERE:  Firebird International Raceway, Chandler, Ariz. Track is located off Interstate 10 at exit 162. Follow the signs.

WHEN:  Friday through Sunday, Feb. 17-19

SCHEDULE:        

FRIDAY, Feb. 17 - LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying at 8 a.m.

FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.

SATURDAY, Feb. 18 - LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations at 8 a.m.

FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

SUNDAY, Feb. 19 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.

FULL THROTTLE SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:      

Saturday, Feb. 18, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 8 p.m. (ET).

Sunday, Feb. 19, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of coverage starting at 9 p.m. (ET).

2011 EVENT WINNERS:  Larry Dixon, Top Fuel; Jack Beckman, Funny Car; Vincent Nobile, Pro Stock

MOST VICTORIES:  John Force, FC, 8; Bob Glidden, PS, 5; Jack Beckman, FC, 3; Kenny Bernstein, TF-FC, 3; Larry Dixon, TF, 3; Tony Schumacher, TF, 3; Cory McClenathan, TF, 3; Darrell Alderman, PS, 3; Kurt Johnson, PS, 3; Warren Johnson, PS, 3.

TRACK RECORDS:            

Top Fuel – 3.802 sec. by Larry Dixon Feb. ’09; 317.57 mph by Dixon, Feb. ’10.

Funny Car – 4.023 sec. by Ron Capps, Feb. ’09; 311.34 mph by Matt Hagan, Feb. ’10.

Pro Stock – 6.598 sec. by Mike Edwards, Feb. ’09; 209.82 mph by Edwards, Feb. ’10.

NATIONAL RECORDS:    

Top Fuel - 3.735 sec. by Del Worsham, Oct. ’11, Reading, Pa.; 328.62 mph by Spencer Massey, Feb. ’12, Pomona, Calif.

Funny Car - 3.995 sec. by Matt Hagan, Sept. ’11, Charlotte, N.C.; 318.99 mph by Jack Beckman, Sept. ’11, Charlotte, N.C.

Pro Stock - 6.477 sec. by Jason Line, Oct. ’11, Reading, Pa.; 213.57 mph by Erica Enders, March ’11, Gainesville, Fla.

TICKETS:  For tickets call Firebird International Raceway, (602) 268-0200. Tickets also are available at ticketforce.com.

GENERAL ADMISSION (includes pit pass) - Friday: Adult, $33; Junior (6-12 years), $15; Saturday: Adult, $46; Junior (6-12 years), $15; Sunday: Adult, $48; Junior (6-12 years), $15. Kids 5 years and under are admitted free to general admission areas with paying adult.

RESERVED SEATS (includes pit pass) - Friday: Adult, $43-55; Junior (6-12 years), $25; Child (5 years and under), $20; Saturday: Adult, $56-80; Junior (6-12 years), $25; Child (5 years and under), $20; Sunday: Adult, $58-85; Junior (6-12 years), $27; Child (5 years and under), $22.

* * *

2012 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES STANDINGS

GLENDORA, Calif. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the first of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series -

Top Fuel:  1.  Spencer Massey, 119; 2.  Antron Brown, 95; 3.  Morgan Lucas, 87; 4.  Tony Schumacher, 78; 5. Bob Vandergriff, 57; 6.  (tie) Brandon Bernstein, 54; Shawn Langdon, 54; 8.  Clay Millican, 52; 9. Khalid alBalooshi, 34; 10.  (tie) David Grubnic, 32; Doug Kalitta, 32; Steve Torrence, 32; Steve Faria, 32.

Funny Car:  1.  John Force, 114; 2.  Mike Neff, 95; 3.  (tie) Ron Capps, 73; Gary Densham, 73; 5.  Jack Beckman, 62; 6.  Courtney Force, 52; 7.  (tie) Todd Lesenko, 51; Tim Wilkerson, 51; 9.  Robert Hight, 41; 10.  Bob Tasca III, 39.

Pro Stock:  1.  Greg Anderson, 114; 2.  Jeg Coughlin, 91; 3.  Jason Line, 82; 4.  Mike Edwards, 81; 5.  Allen Johnson, 59; 6.  Vincent Nobile, 55; 7.  (tie) Rodger Brogdon, 53; Shane Gray, 53; 9.  Ronnie Humphrey, 41; 10.  (tie) Kurt Johnson, 32; Ron Krisher, 32; Larry Morgan, 32; Greg Stanfield, 32; Erica Enders, 32.

Massey rides record win with Prestone/FRAM dragster and plans to continue run to Top Fuel championship

Spencer Massey circled the date for his return to Firebird International Raceway the day he left the track near Phoenix last fall.

It was Oct. 14 and one of the most disappointing in the 29-year-old Top Fuel racer's young career at Don Schumacher Racing.

That was Saturday, and instead of getting ready for the following day's championship rounds, Spencer and his Prestone/FRAM team were packing up after failing to qualify for the 20th of 22 events of the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

Led by crew chiefs Phil Shuler and Todd Okuhara, the team rallied to a runner-up finish in the next race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, keeping the team's hope of a world championship alive. At the NHRA Finals two weeks later the dream ended when the team lost in the semifinals round to eventual champion Del Worsham.

"After our finish last year - coming in second place, coming up just a little short - it makes you that much more hungry, that much more motivated, to want to win a championship," Massey said. "We've always wanted to win; I've always wanted to win. This winter we all sat around and focused, acted like it was not an off-season.

"We put that new race car together. We went out and tested. The car ran very well. We came here and it shows. It shows that these guys know what it takes to get a car down the racetrack," he said.

Massey and his focused Prestone/FRAM team vented last year's frustration at the next opportunity and started 2012 in a dominating fashion last weekend at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif., when it set the NHRA speed record (328.62 mph) and recorded the second quickest run (3.745 seconds) ever to win the NHRA Winternationals. It was Massey's seventh NHRA pro title.

The Prestone/FRAM team qualified second then recorded consistent times of 3.782, 3.776, 3.745 and 3.750 seconds during Sunday's elimination rounds. Massey needed the record run to get past DSR teammate Tony Schumacher in the semifinals and needed another stout run against teammate Antron Brown in the final.

"It's awesome to start like this and have the No. 1 spot going into Phoenix. This is my life dream, and we're living it," Massey said.

"Coming off this win, we have the momentum. It'd be awesome to go back to back. We have a target on our backs. I'd love to have the bulls-eye on my back all year long," he said.

The stellar effort in the semifinals was a testament to the experience of Okuhara and Shuler.

"It shows that they know what it takes to get the car down the racetrack," Massey said. "After the second round, we didn't have any computer data, and Phil and Todd tuned that thing like it was a Top Fuel car in 1968. They looked at the plugs, looked at the bearings, and it went 3.74 at 328 mph.

"They're very smart and knowledgeable, and it shows."

It also helped that it took Schumacher a little longer to get ready at the starting line.

Massey explained, "We sat up there a little bit longer in the staging beams, waiting for Tony to turn on the pre-stage light. We sat there, burning about two gallons more (of nitromethane). That's about 18 pounds less on the front end where the fuel tank is. I knew I was going to be light on the front end, and I knew it was going to run a little bit better."

And the FRAM/Prestone dragster certainly did.

It also wasn't carrying the bitter memories of the team's last visit to Phoenix.

John Force, Spencer Massey First Two Drivers Entered Into NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootout

(John Force celebrates his 2012 Winternationals win with his grandchildren. Photo by NHRA)

15-time NHRA Full Throttle World Series Funny Car Champion John Force and Top Fuel pilot Spencer Massey, became the first two drivers entered into the NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootout to be held at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis during the Mac Tools U. S. Nationals. Both drivers earned their spot in the coveted eight car field with their respective wins at the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries held at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday.

The NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootout is a special 'race-within-a-race' that will feature eight racers in both the Funny Car and Top Fuel ranks to be held during the Mac Tools U. S. Nationals. The Top Fuel event will be on Saturday, Sept. 1, and the Funny Car event will take place on Sept. 2. The winner in each class will receive $100,000 to win with runners-up receiving $15,000 and the semifinal losers earning $7,500 each.

Massey was able to defeat Don Schumacher Racing teammate Antron Brown in the finals to earn his spot in the field and Force bested his teammate Mike Neff to get the event win and the entry into the field.

“(NHRA president Tom) Compton said if we won this race we would make the Traxxas Nitro Shootout. That is a big deal. I can’t wait to get to Indy,” said Force following the race. “I want to thank Traxxas for giving the Funny Car and Top Fuel teams this extra money.”

There will be three ways for Top Fuel and Funny Car teams to qualify for the NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootouts.

First, the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series points leaders in Top Fuel and Funny Car after the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd Int'l Raceway, Aug. 16-19, will automatically qualify as top seeds for the NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootouts, even if the respective points leaders have yet to win a national event.

Second, the first seven winners in both categories of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season will qualify, beginning at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries, Feb. 9-12 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California, and concluding at the Brainerd event. If the points leaders do not win one of the first 16 events of the season in each category, their provisional spots will bump the seventh event winner in each category. If there are fewer than seven different winners in each category prior to the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, rankings in NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series points standings after the Brainerd event will fill any open positions up to No. 7. Seeding for the top seven positions will be based on the season-long points standings in both categories after the Brainerd event.

Third, once the first seven positions in the fields are set, the eighth and final spot in each category will be determined by a fan vote and a lottery-style drawing. The fan-vote selections in each category will be eligible to become the eighth seeds in the NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootouts.

The fan vote for the eighth seeds will be conducted on NHRA’s Facebook page and through a lottery-style drawing at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. All remaining unqualified drivers in Top Fuel and Funny Car who have competed in all 16 NHRA Full Throttle events this season leading up to the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals will be included in the NHRA Facebook fan-voting process. Based on the percentage of fan votes received, drivers will receive an equivalent percentage of chances in the lottery. For example, if a driver earns 15 percent of the fan vote, he or she will have 15 chances out of 100 in the lottery-style drawing. All eligible drivers will have at least one chance in the drawing.

Tickets for the 58th annual Mac Tools U. S. Nationals will go on sale to the general public on Feb. 14. The Mac Tools U. S. Nationals is the worlds largest drag race and a win at the event is the pinnacle to any drag racer during their career. Defending winners are Antron Brown in Top Fuel, Mike Neff in Funny Car, Greg Anderson in Pro Stock and Hector Arana Jr. in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Force, Massey, Anderson Win NHRA Winternationals

(Photo by NHRA.com)

John Force raced to his 134th career Funny Car victory Sunday at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

Spencer Massey (Top Fuel) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) also were winners of the season-opening NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event.

“It’s a great start,” Force said. “You really want to perform. I know all those other kids on our teams and others, like Cruz Pedregon, the Schumacher teams, [Tim] Wilkerson, and [Bob] Tasca, those guys are going to win races, and it was just nice to get a win under my belt. Those boys are bad out there. To make that top 10 is going to be tough. Somebody’s going to be left out, so I’m just going to keep fighting and keep my nose clean.”

Force, 62, used a holeshot start to claim his sixth win at this event and 15th at this track with a performance of 4.080 seconds at 315.64 mph in his Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang. Runner-up Mike Neff finished in 4.036 at 316.82 in his Castrol GTX Mustang.

“Before the final, I said, ‘What are we going to do ‘Guido?’ (crew chief Dean Antonelli),” Force said. “He said, ‘We can’t race him the way we are, running .12 or .14. We’re going to have to go after it, and if it smokes the tires, we’ll go home.’ They were all over there, looking at the numbers, and it just went. It wasn’t quick enough to beat him. He was late, so I got the win. He told me something distracted him.”

In her much-publicized debut, Force’s 23-year-old daughter Courtney lost in the second round to Neff, while the elder Force defeated his daughter’s rookie rival, Alexis DeJoria, in a close first-round meeting. Force also beat Tim Wilkerson, and Gary Densham to reach the final round.

Massey, who finished second in the points standings last year, opened the new season in first place by outrunning Antron Brown in the final round to take his seventh career Top Fuel victory and first at Pomona. Massey posted a 3.750 at 325.77 in his FRAM/Prestone dragster to hold off Brown’s charging Matco Tools dragster, which trailed with a 3.794 at 320.43.

“Coming up a little short and ending up in second place last year made us that much more hungry and motivated to win a championship, so we focused this winter and acted like there wasn’t an offseason,” said Massey, who beat Steve Faria, Clay Millican and Tony Schumacher in early rounds.

“It shows that they know what it takes to get the car down the racetrack,” Massey continued. “After the second round, we didn’t have any computer data, and (crew chiefs) Phil (Shuler) and Todd (Okuhara) tuned that thing like it was a Top Fuel car from 1968. They looked at the plugs, looked at the bearings, and it went 3.74 at 328 mph. It’s awesome to start like this and have the No. 1 spot going into Phoenix. This is my life dream, and we’re living it.”

In Pro Stock, Anderson raced to his 71st career victory and fifth at the Winternationals, by powering his Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac to a 6.549 at 210.87 to hold off Jeg Coughlin’s JEGS.com/Mopar Dodge Avenger, which trailed with a 6.586 at 209.62.

Anderson raced past Larry Morgan, Allen Johnson and teammate and defending world champ Jason Line to advance to the final.

“I wasn’t the quickest driver out here today, but I was very consistent,” Anderson said. “We managed to stop the big yellow Mopar [of Jeg Coughlin in the final]. He sure came out swinging. You’re always aware of how good Jeg is driving. I’ve never been very good at tuning that kind of stuff out, but it worked today. The crew made great decisions, and here we are back in the winner’s circle again.”

The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series continues next weekend (Feb. 17-19) at Firebird International Raceway near Phoenix with the NHRA Arizona Nationals.

* * *

POMONA, Calif. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the 52nd annual O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The race is the first of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL:

1. Spencer Massey; 2. Antron Brown; 3. Tony Schumacher; 4. Morgan Lucas; 5. Shawn Langdon; 6. Bob Vandergriff; 7. Clay Millican; 8. Brandon Bernstein; 9. David Grubnic; 10. Steve Torrence; 11. Khalid alBalooshi; 12. Rod Fuller; 13. Terry McMillen; 14. Steve Faria; 15. Cory McClenathan; 16. Doug Kalitta.

FUNNY CAR:

1. John Force; 2. Mike Neff; 3. Ron Capps; 4. Gary Densham; 5. Courtney Force; 6. Tim Wilkerson; 7. Todd Lesenko; 8. Jack Beckman; 9. Alexis DeJoria; 10. Jeff Arend; 11. Tony Pedregon; 12. Matt Hagan; 13. Bob Tasca III; 14. Bob Bode; 15. Robert Hight; 16. Johnny Gray.

PRO STOCK:

1. Greg Anderson; 2. Jeg Coughlin; 3. Jason Line; 4. Mike Edwards; 5. Allen Johnson; 6. Shane Gray; 7. Vincent Nobile; 8. Rodger Brogdon; 9. Ronnie Humphrey; 10. Greg Stanfield; 11. Kurt Johnson; 12. Ron Krisher; 13. Larry Morgan; 14. V. Gaines; 15. Grace Howell; 16. Erica Enders.

POMONA, Calif. -- Sunday's final results from the 52nd annual O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The race is the first of 23 in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Spencer Massey, 3.750 seconds, 325.77 mph def. Antron Brown, 3.794 seconds, 320.43 mph.

Funny Car -- John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.080, 315.64 def. Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.036, 316.82.

Pro Stock -- Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP, 6.549, 210.87 def. Jeg Coughlin, Dodge Avenger, 6.586, 209.62.

Top Alcohol Dragster -- Chris Demke, 5.281, 270.32 def. Larry Miersch, 5.503, 267.27.

Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Daniel Oliver, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.531, 258.67 def. Jay Payne, Ford Mustang, 5.548, 260.36.

POMONA, Calif. -- Final round-by-round results from the 52nd annual O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the first of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Clay Millican, 3.818, 318.92 def. Khalid alBalooshi, 3.917, 310.55; Shawn Langdon, 3.827, 322.81 def. Steve Torrence, 3.820, 320.28; Brandon Bernstein, 3.832, 319.22 def. David Grubnic, 3.816, 318.84; Antron Brown, 3.801, 325.92 def. Cory McClenathan, 5.902, 108.47; Morgan Lucas, 3.805, 323.43 def. Rod Fuller, 4.040, 251.30; Bob Vandergriff, 3.835, 324.20 def. Terry McMillen, 4.262, 222.58; Spencer Massey, 3.782, 325.53 def. Steve Faria, 5.831, 114.66; Tony Schumacher, 3.790, 324.67 def. Doug Kalitta, 6.195, 109.82;

QUARTERFINALS -- Lucas, 3.792, 323.12 def. Langdon, 3.791, 319.45; Brown, 3.771, 323.35 def. Bernstein, 10.000, 75.56; Schumacher, 3.790, 324.83 def. Vandergriff, 3.815, 323.04; Massey, 3.776, 326.79 def. Millican, 3.847, 315.49;

SEMIFINALS -- Massey, 3.745, 328.62 def. Schumacher, 3.809, 322.88; Brown, 3.819, 320.28 def. Lucas, 4.430, 178.57;

FINAL -- Massey, 3.750, 325.77 def. Brown, 3.794, 320.43.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- Gary Densham, Dodge Charger, 4.102, 304.53 def. Jeff Arend, Toyota Solara, 4.163, 307.44; Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.068, 306.19 def. Johnny Gray, Charger, 6.364, 105.15; Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.278, 306.60 def. Bob Bode, Chevy Impala, 5.630, 135.32; Todd Lesenko, Impala, 4.695, 187.34 def. Robert Hight, Mustang, 5.941, 116.00; Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.077, 316.97 def. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.249, 289.01; Courtney Force, Mustang, 4.204, 309.27 def. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.465, 205.57; John Force, Mustang, 4.124, 313.44 def. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Camary, 4.141, 310.27; Ron Capps, Charger, 4.093, 312.06 def. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.298, 269.73;

QUARTERFINALS -- Densham, No Time, No Speed def. Beckman, DQ; Capps, 4.086, 311.13 def. Lesenko, 32.593, 24.55; Neff, 4.070, 315.49 def. C. Force, 4.143, 313.88; J. Force, 4.160, 311.27 def. Wilkerson, 4.574, 208.23;

SEMIFINALS -- J. Force, 4.141, 312.50 def. Densham, foul; Neff, 4.074, 314.53 def. Capps, 4.101, 308.50;

FINAL -- J. Force, 4.080, 315.64 def. Neff, 4.036, 316.82.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE -- Shane Gray, Pontiac GXP, 6.571, 210.05 def. Ron Krisher, GXP, 6.605, 199.79; Rodger Brogdon, GXP, 6.561, 210.24 def. Kurt Johnson, GXP, 6.590, 210.50; Vincent Nobile, Dodge Avenger, 6.558, 211.56 def. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.585, 210.28; Jeg Coughlin, Avenger, 6.581, 210.47 def. Ronnie Humphrey, GXP, 6.569, 211.99; Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.539, 211.46 def. Larry Morgan, Ford Mustang, 6.607, 210.18; Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.649, 211.06 def. V. Gaines, Avenger, 6.646, 208.97; Jason Line, GXP, 6.546, 212.46 def. Grace Howell, Mustang, 6.728, 207.08; Allen Johnson, Avenger, 6.559, 211.10 def. Erica Enders, Chevy Cobalt, foul;

QUARTERFINALS -- Edwards, 6.575, 210.28 def. Brogdon, 6.658, 189.31; Coughlin, 6.590, 209.85 def. Nobile, 6.609, 209.43; Line, 6.534, 212.13 def. Gray, foul; Anderson, 6.550, 210.97 def. A. Johnson, 6.570, 210.93;

SEMIFINALS -- Coughlin, 6.615, 209.30 def. Edwards, foul; Anderson, 6.545, 211.03 def. Line, 6.547, 211.83;

FINAL -- Anderson, 6.549, 210.87 def. Coughlin, 6.586, 209.62.

POMONA, Calif. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the 52nd annual O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the first of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series -

Top Fuel

1. Spencer Massey, 119; 2. Antron Brown, 95; 3. Morgan Lucas, 87; 4. Tony Schumacher, 78; 5. Bob Vandergriff, 57; 6. (tie) Brandon Bernstein, 54; Shawn Langdon, 54; 8. Clay Millican, 52; 9. Khalid alBalooshi, 34; 10. (tie) David Grubnic, 32; Doug Kalitta, 32; Steve Torrence, 32; Steve Faria, 32.

Funny Car

1. John Force, 114; 2. Mike Neff, 95; 3. (tie) Ron Capps, 73; Gary Densham, 73; 5. Jack Beckman, 62; 6. Courtney Force, 52; 7. (tie) Todd Lesenko, 51; Tim Wilkerson, 51; 9. Robert Hight, 41; 10. Bob Tasca III, 39.

Pro Stock

1. Greg Anderson, 114; 2. Jeg Coughlin, 91; 3. Jason Line, 82; 4. Mike Edwards, 81; 5. Allen Johnson, 59; 6. Vincent Nobile, 55; 7. (tie) Rodger Brogdon, 53; Shane Gray, 53; 9. Ronnie Humphrey, 41; 10. (tie) Kurt Johnson, 32; Ron Krisher, 32; Larry Morgan, 32; Greg Stanfield, 32; Erica Enders, 32.

Massey wants to build on 2011 "triple crown" when NHRA Winternationals opens this week

(Photo by Brandon W. Mudd)

Earning the "triple crown" in baseball or thoroughbred horse racing is worth a free pass into those sports' halls of fame.

Carl Yastrzemski is the last to lead baseball in batting average, home runs and RBI in one season. He did it in 1967.

Affirmed in 1978 is the last to win each of the America's three biggest horse races.

In drag racing, there is a way to measure the best all-around driver and team, but not much recognition goes along with it.

Let's call it drag racing's triple crown.

Spencer Massey and his Prestone/FRAM team with crew chiefs Phil Shuler and Todd Okuhara would have received the fanfare after their averages for reaction time at the starting line, elapsed time and speed were the best last year over the 22-race NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season.

"That just shows how good our team is," Massey said.

Records are not kept as to how often that trifecta has been achieved, but veterans of the sport agree it is a rare feat.

While Massey and his team are proud of topping those categories, they know when the season ends the only statistic remembered and the only one that pays a $500,000 bonus is who finishes No. 1 in championship points.

And they came within four-thousandths (.004) of a second of possibly winning the championship in the 2011 season-ending Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals last November at Pomona, Calif. That was the margin - about two feet at 322 mph - by which he lost in the semifinals to Del Worsham, who clinched the championship with the victory.

Massey finished second in the standings, a mere 58 points behind Worsham.

"Yeah, I was disappointed. We ran good all weekend and all season but that's how close it is in Top Fuel these days," said Massey, who was one of four drivers with a chance to win the championship when the Finals began.

"That just gave all of us on the Prestone/FRAM team more of a reason to work hard during the off season," he said.

The team opens the 2012 season Thursday with the first qualifying session of the NHRA Winternationals at Pomona. The second session is Friday before the last two are held Saturday leading to Sunday's championship eliminations. (See full schedule below.)

"We had five great days of testing in Florida a couple weeks ago," said Massey, who splits his time between living in his hometown of Fort Worth, Texas, and his motorhome that usually is parked behind DSR headquarters in Brownsburg or at racetracks.

"We were ready to head right to Pomona when we left Florida."

Massey and his Prestone/FRAM team produced four wins, four runner-ups and qualified first twice last season, by far the best year of his young career. During one stretch, the team had a streak of 40 consecutive runs of competition without smoking the tires.

The stellar statistics glow even brighter considering it was the 2009 NHRA Rookie of the Year's first season with DSR after not having a team to race with the year before.

In 2009, Massey drove for Don "The Snake" Prudhomme the last year Prudhomme fielded a team. Massey won twice and placed sixth in points that year.

Top Fuel dragster canopy will not start NHRA season, but DSR owner confident it will be used early this year

Don Schumacher Racing will not be able to start the 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season with its innovative fully enclosed canopy on Tony Schumacher's U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster until NHRA completes further inspection of the revolutionary component.

Team owner Don Schumacher said the canopy that fits within an existing dragster chassis also cannot be used at the second event to be held near Phoenix a week after the Feb. 9-12 NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif.

"We have to go through the proper channels with NHRA to get approval for the canopy, and NHRA wants to take a close look at it so we'll take it to Pomona where officials, Safety Safari and other drivers and owners can get a close look at it," Don Schumacher said.

Tony Schumacher is an adamant supporter of the canopy although it adds about 25 pounds to the dragster's weight. His best run with the canopy was 3.761 seconds at 324.28 mph during Jan. 15-21 testing at Palm Beach International Raceway in Jupiter, Fla., where he made 13 runs with it. Teammate Antron Brown also made a run to test the unit.

"This isn't about performance. This about safety," said Tony, the seven-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion. "I want every driver to have one. We aren't hiding anything. Again, this is just all about making it safer for all the guys in Top Fuel."

Don added, "We let all the teams at West Palm examine it. We let drivers get in it if they wanted. I want to make these cars as safe as they can be and not just for Tony. The canopy takes safety in Top Fuel to a much higher level."

Schumacher is a longtime safety innovator in drag racing. In the early 1970s when he was a top Funny Car owner and driver he developed the first roof escape hatch after seeing too many drivers burned in cockpit fires. He was the first to activate on-board fire extinguishers by attaching the handle to a Funny Car's brake handle so at the end of a fiery run the driver could keep one hand on the steering wheel and another on the brake while suppressing a fire.

Army crew chief Mike Green, who won the Top Fuel championship with Tony in 2009 at DSR, has been trying to enhance safety of the Top Fuel driver compartment since 2004 when popular Top Fuel driver Darrell Russell died in his open cockpit after apparently being hit with debris during a race near St. Louis.

Soon after Russell died, NHRA mandated rollcage shrouds be added behind the driver.

But that does not protect a driver from being hit by oncoming foreign objects.

Tony recalled several times when crashes or engine explosions on opponents' cars sent parts flying over his dragster.

"I remember twice when my front wing hit birds at 300 mph," he said. "If those birds would have hit my helmet I probably wouldn't be here today.

"This setup with the canopy is the smartest thing you can put on a (Top Fuel) car until we figure out something smarter.

"When I sit in this car with the canopy I have a level of comfort that I haven't had in a long time," Tony said. "Every driver should have that feeling. I've lost some good friends out here and don't want to lose any more."

The canopy concept began when Green thought back to his days racing 200-mph drag boats. He contacted longtime friend James Brendel, who owns Hondo Boats and Brendel Safety Capsules in Riverside, Calif. Brendel pioneered the use of enclosed capsules for drag boat racing, and the innovation has been responsible for saving countless lives and possibly the sport.

Green finally had the resources and funding for his project after he joined DSR in 2008 and shared his vision with the team owner.

Schumacher and Green embarked on the project in earnest two years ago and it came to fruition a year later when Brendel's self-contained canopy was fitted into a Top Fuel chassis and tested in Florida.

The capsule worked well but was too heavy, Green said.

DSR began working to develop a second generation canopy with Brendel and Indianapolis-based Aerodine Composites, which has designed and manufactured various parts for top NHRA and IndyCar teams over the past 20 years.

Aerodine built the canopy using a combination of Kevlar and carbon fiber that goes over of an existing chassis to nearly enclose the cockpit and tops it with an attached full canopy that lowers over the driver.

The module is reinforced for further side protection. The canopy can be quickly released inside by the driver or at the rear by crew or safety workers. The canopy will carry a 5-pound fire suppression system similar to those used in Funny Cars.

"The canopy doesn't make us go faster," Tony said. "It looks really cool, but I wouldn't care if it were ugly. That fact is I feel safer under it. That's all that matters to me."