Two straight first-round losses isn’t exactly what Top Fuel standout Spencer Massey hoped for heading into an important part of the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.
If there is one positive, though, it is that Massey might be more motivated than ever to get things back on the right track with the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship approaching.
Massey also has one thing in mind heading into this weekend’s Lucas Oil Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by General Tire at Route 66 Raceway and that is making his presence known in his 10,000-horsepower Red Fuel dragster.
“We’re going to come out swinging,” said Massey, who dropped to sixth in points after a first-round loss on Sunday at Norwalk. “We need to go rounds and pick up points and get closer to the No. 1 spot before the Countdown begins. We’ve won at Chicago before, and we want to do it again for (team owner) Don [Schumacher] and all the Schumacher Electric guests that will be rooting us on.”
Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event that will again be televised nationally on ESPN2, including live coverage of final eliminations. It is the 13th of 24 races during the 2015 season, officially marking the first race of the second half of the year.
The event comes as the second race in a string of five races over six weekends as well, a stretch that finishes off with the Western Swing. It’s normally a time where Massey has performed well, as the 18-time event winner has thrived during busy times and in warmer temperatures.
Though he posted a semifinal appearance in Epping, Massey is currently clamoring for more from a car he knows is capable of performing at a high level in a loaded Top Fuel class. The key is delivering this weekend in Chicago to take some good vibes into the pivotal Western Swing.
“It would be really great to get some momentum going before we head out on the Swing,” Massey said. “This summer stretch of races is really important to go rounds and turn on win lights and stay near the top of points before it’s all reset for the Countdown to the Championship this fall. It’ll be here before we know it.”
Massey seemed on the cusp of returning to the form that led to a win earlier this season in Gainesville, qualifying well on Friday in Norwalk and ending up fifth overall. But he met a sudden end in eliminations, falling to Clay Millican for a second straight first-round exit. After showing plenty of promise early in the weekend, it was certainly not the way Massey wanted to end the event.
“You know, the car ran great in qualifying all weekend (in Norwalk),” Massey said. “We were No. 1 on Friday night, and we made it down all four laps in qualifying, but then you get to race day and the conditions are different, and our Red Fuel car just smoked the tires. That was a tough round because we need to go rounds to move up in the Mello Yello standings.”
The good news is Massey has an immediate turnaround at a track where he won in 2009. The only bad news is that he must again contend with a class filled with standouts, including teammate and points leader Antron Brown, who advanced to the final round in Norwalk and is after his first Top Fuel win in Chicago.
Defending world champion Tony Schumacher, leads active Top Fuel drivers with four career victories at this event, including in 2013, while other stars include Larry Dixon, who has three wins at the track, 2014 runner-up Doug Kalitta, who won last weekend in Norwalk, 2009 event winner, Richie Crampton, Brittany Force, Leah Pritchett, Steve Torrence, Clay Millican and J.R. Todd.
A veteran of the class, Massey is well aware of the constant challenge in Top Fuel. More often than not, though, that has brought out the best in Massey, which signals a strong performance may be coming in Chicago.
“Top Fuel is tough,” Massey said. “There are no easy rounds. We know we have a good car and we’ll be ready at the next one. We have a great group of crew members that are working hard right now. We just have to stay focused and work on getting some more round wins on Sunday. It’s been a tough stretch of races for everyone out here so to send my team back to the shop with a trophy would be incredible.”
Hagan, the defending Funny Car world champ and current points leader, is after his third consecutive win at the event and fourth overall. Ron Capps is currently second in points, while Del Worsham, a three-time Chicago winner, is among a group of talented standouts that also features Tommy Johnson Jr., Tony Pedregon, a four-time event winner, Alexis DeJoria, John Force, a 16-time champ and three-time event winner, Courtney Force, Robert Hight, Cruz Pedregon, Jack Beckman and Tim Wilkerson.
In Pro Stock, Nobile raced to his sole victory of the 2014 season at Chicago. The Summit Racing Equipment team of Greg Anderson, who won last weekend in Norwalk to take over the points lead, and Jason Line have both been strong all year, while reigning Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders has four victories in 2015. Other Pro Stock drivers expected to compete for the win include Allen Johnson, Phoenix winner Rodger Brogdon, V. Gaines, Shane Gray, Chris McGaha, Larry Morgan and newcomer Drew Skillman.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Hector Arana Jr. raced to his first final round appearance and victory of the season last year at Chicago. Eddie Krawiec sits first in Pro Stock Motorcycle points standings and has raced to three runner-up finishes this season. Andrew Hines, the defending world champ and a two-time event winner, is in third while others hoping to raise the Wally trophy on Sunday include Englishtown winner Jerry Savoie, Karen Stoffer, who won for the second time this season in Norwalk, Hector Arana Sr., Jim Underdahl, Matt Smith and his wife Angie Smith.
The race also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, including the exciting JEGS All-Stars event on Saturday where the best NHRA sportsman racers from each of NHRA’s seven divisions battle for bonus money and bragging rights.
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 get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.
Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying begins Friday, July 10, with sessions at 4:30 and 7:15 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, July 11, at 4:15 and 7:15 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 12.
