ENNIS, Texas — Spencer Massey was in unfamiliar territory as far as recent history when he started the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship. By the end of the six-race playoff the Top Fuel standout wouldn’t mind a late-season push, putting him into some more uncharted territory.
After starting the Countdown to the Championship third or better the last three seasons, Massey entered this year sixth in points after an uncharacteristic summer slump. But Massey insists those struggles have been cured on his 10,000-horsepower Red Fuel powered by Schumacher dragster as he aims for his first career Top Fuel world championship.
To pull off that title, Massey will need an impressive finish to a 2014 season that has included two victories and that could start at his home track at this weekend’s 29th annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals at the Texas Motorplex.
“We’ve been struggling but I believe we’ll turn it around,” Massey said. “We’ve tried to find any imperfection that has been holding us back. We haven’t stopped working since Indy ended. We’re hungry and we feel like we have a chance to win the championship. We know what’s up for grabs and we’re going to give everything we have. That’s what it takes to win one of these things.”
Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event that will once again be televised nationally on ESPN2. It marks the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship. The continuation of eliminations for the Countdown opener, the Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals, will also be completed during qualifying rounds of the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals.
Three rounds of racing remain for both Top Fuel and Funny Car and all rounds remain for Pro Stock Motorcycle. Four pairs of Pro Stock cars also need to complete their first round runs. That makes the weekend even more important for Massey, who won his first-round matchup in Charlotte and will face J.R. Todd in Saturday’s quarterfinals at the Motorplex.
With the top three in points (Doug Kalitta, Antron Brown and Shawn Langdon) all losing in the first round on Sunday in Charlotte, Massey has a chance to make a significant move in the points standings at the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals. That it could come at his home track, where he has had significant success but never a Top Fuel victory, would make it even sweeter for the Fort Worth native.
“If you do well at the first two events that gets your momentum going to be in the running for the top spots,” Massey said. “We need a couple good races to get in that championship mix. We’ve done well in Dallas, but we’ve never won it. It’s a huge race because of where it sits in the Countdown and also because it’s my home track. It’s the first race I’ve ever witnessed a Top Fuel car going down the track. It’s a very special place for me and I would say it’s one of the biggest if not the biggest race of the year for me.”
That puts a major spotlight on the FallNationals, but Massey enjoys it, simply for the fact of the history he has at the track. His first passes in a junior dragster were made at the Texas Motorplex and he has raced at all levels at the Dallas track throughout his career, including Top Fuel, to make him one of the most experienced drivers when it comes to racing at the facility.
If nothing else, Massey hopes that comfort level pays dividends throughout one of the biggest weekends of the 2014 season.
“When I roll up to the Texas Motorplex it brings back so many memories,” Massey said. “Every time I pull up there, I think about those. Everything is just in automatic mode at that track and everything is second nature. I definitely feel at home at that track.”
If the results Massey and his team desire follow, then it would mark a stark turnaround from a disappointing summer that included five first-round losses in the past seven events entering the Countdown.
That’s wildly uncharacteristic for Massey, who has 16 career victories, but making a moving up the standings will be difficult against a Countdown field loaded with championship contenders like Kalitta, Brown, Langdon, Tony Schumacher, who has five Dallas wins, Brittany Force, Khalid alBalooshi, Richie Crampton, Steve Torrence and Todd. Entertaining family and friends is also part of the Dallas experience for Massey, but he will undoubtedly remain locked in on the task at hand.
“It’s a huge race for us and to win here you have to stay focused,” Massey said. “Your body and mind have to be ready and we’re going to be focused and ready to get it done. Hopefully on Sunday we’ll have a chance to celebrate with everyone.”
In Funny Car, two-time world champ Pedregon took home the Wally last season but he is chasing points leader and reigning world champion John Force. Two-time Dallas winners Del Worsham and Robert Hight, Courtney Force, Matt Hagan, Alexis DeJoria, who won the most recent event in Indy, Ron Capps, Tim Wilkerson and Tommy Johnson Jr. are among other championship hopefuls.
Line, last season’s Dallas winner in Pro Stock, took over the points lead after winning in Brainerd and is after his third career championship. Line will try to thwart of challenges from a strong field that includes reigning world champion Jeg Coughlin, Allen Johnson, four-time 2014 winner Erica Enders-Stevens, Dave Connolly, V Gaines, Shane Gray, rookie Jonathan Gray, Vincent Nobile and Texas resident Chris McGaha.
Krawiec and his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson team has been the most consistent this season. Teammate Andrew Hines is the current points leader and Krawiec enters the Countdown off his first Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals win. Reigning world champ Matt Smith, Michael Ray, Angie Smith, Steve Johnson, Hector Arana, Hector Arana Jr. and Scotty Pollacheck are a few of the Pro Stock Motorcycle riders who will attempt to take home a Dallas victory.
As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and enjoy some cherished face time and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.
Fans also will want to visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.
The event will also feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for Friday, Sept. 19, with sessions at 2:15 and 5:15 p.m. (also Charlotte PS and PSM eliminations). The final two qualifying sessions, which will both include Charlotte eliminations, will take place Saturday, Sept. 20, at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. The Charlotte final rounds will be held Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Final eliminations for the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21.
To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call Texas Motorplex at (800) MOTORPLEX (668-6775) or visit www.texasmotorplex.com. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.
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AAA TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS FACT SHEET
WHAT: 29th annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals, the 20th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the second of six races in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – earn points leading to 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships. The race also will feature the continuation of eliminations from the rain-delayed Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals from Sept. 14 at Charlotte, N.C.
WHERE: Texas Motorplex- Track is located at 7500 W. Highway 287 in Ennis, Texas.
WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 18-21
SCHEDULE:
THURSDAY, Sept. 18- LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying
FRIDAY, Sept. 19 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying and eliminations
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 2:15 and 5:15 p.m.
*The continuation of first-round eliminations for Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle from the Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals will be completed during the 5:15 p.m. qualifying session.
SATURDAY, Sept. 20 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.
*Eliminations for all pro categories from the Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals will be completed during scheduled qualifying rounds; Quarterfinals at 11:15 a.m., semifinals at 2:15 p.m. and finals at 4:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, Sept. 21 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Sunday, Sept. 21, ESPN2 will televise 90 minutes of qualifying highlights at 3:30 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, Sept. 21, ESPN2 will re-air 90 minutes of qualifying coverage at 4 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Sept. 21, ESPN2 will televise three hours of coverage starting at 8:30 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE (Digital HD feed):
Friday, Sept. 19, 9:30 – 10 p.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 03C
Saturday, Sept. 20, 6:30 – 7 p.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 03C
Sunday, Sept. 21, 7:30 – 8 p.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 03C
(3760 MHz, horizontal; Data Rate: 40.46147055 Mbp; Symbol Rate: 29.27 Ms; FEC: ¾; Bandwidth: 36 Mhz)
Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners’ interviews on Sunday.
2013 EVENT WINNERS: Doug Kalitta, Top Fuel; Cruz Pedregon, Funny Car; Jason Line, Pro Stock; Eddie Krawiec, Pro Stock Motorcycle.
MOST VICTORIES: John Force, FC, 7; Tony Schumacher, TF, 5; Warren Johnson, PS, 5; Cruz Pedregon, FC, 4; Greg Anderson, PS, 4.
TRACK RECORDS:
Top Fuel – 3.767 sec. and 325.53 mph by Shawn Langdon, Sept. ’13
Funny Car – 4.052 sec. and 313.37 mph by Robert Hight, Sept. ’13
Pro Stock – 6.550 sec. and 211.99 mph by Allen Johnson, Sept. ’12
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.828 sec. by Hector Arana Jr., Sept. ’11; 197.22 mph by Michael Phillips, Sept. ’11
NATIONAL RECORDS:
Top Fuel – 3.701 sec. by Antron Brown, Oct. ‘12, Reading, Pa.; 332.18 mph by Spencer Massey, April ’12, Charlotte, N.C.
Funny Car – 3.965 sec. and 324.12 mph by John Force, Feb. ’14, Pomona, Calif.
Pro Stock – 6.464 sec. and 215.55 mph by Erica Enders-Stevens, May ‘14, Englishtown N.J.
PS Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 199.26 mph by Eddie Krawiec, March ’11, Gainesville, Fla.
TICKETS: For tickets call (800) MOTORPLEX (668-6775). Tickets also are available at www.texasmotorplex.com.
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NHRA MELLO YELLO COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS
GLENDORA, Calif. – Unofficial point standings (top 10) for Mello Yello Drag Racing Series teams as eliminations are on hold for the rain-delayed Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals and prior to the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex. Points totals for Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals are not official until the completion of that event on Saturday at Texas Motorplex.
Top Fuel: 1. Doug Kalitta, 2,149; 2. Tony Schumacher, 2,116; 3. Steve Torrence, 2,113; 4. Antron Brown, 2,112; 5. Shawn Langdon, 2,106; 6. Spencer Massey, 2,094; 7. Khalid alBalooshi, 2,082; 8. J.R. Todd, 2,064; 9. Richie Crampton, 2,051; 10. Brittany Force, 2,043.
Funny Car: 1. John Force, 2,162; 2. Robert Hight, 2,141; 3. Ron Capps, 2,126; 4. Alexis DeJoria, 2,104; 5. Matt Hagan, 2,090; 6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 2,084; 7. Courtney Force, 2,076; 8. Cruz Pedregon, 2,057; 9. Tim Wilkerson, 2,052; 10. Del Worsham, 2,043.
Pro Stock: 1. Jason Line, 2,166; 2. Erica Enders-Stevens, 2,130; 3. Jeg Coughlin, 2,117; 4. Allen Johnson, 2,104; 5. Shane Gray, 2,093; 6. Dave Connolly, 2,090; 7. V. Gaines, 2,072; 8. Vincent Nobile, 2,069; 9. Chris McGaha, 2,042; 10. Jonathan Gray, 2,035.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Andrew Hines, 2,145; 2. Eddie Krawiec, 2,128; 3. Hector Arana Jr, 2,114; 4. Hector Arana, 2,091; 5. John Hall, 2,084; 6. Matt Smith, 2,076; 7. Michael Ray, 2,061; 8. Scotty Pollacheck, 2,052; 9. Angie Smith, 2,042; 10. Steve Johnson, 2,038.
