CHANDLER, Ariz. – 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).
SATELLITE (Digital HD feed):
Friday, Feb. 17, 10 – 10:30 p.m. (ET), AMC 7 / Transponder 12C
Saturday, Feb. 18, 8:30 – 9 p.m. (ET), AMC 7 / Transponder 12C
Sunday, Feb. 19, 9:30 – 10 p.m. (ET), AMC 7 / Transponder 12C
(3940 MHz, vertical; Data Rate: 40.461470554 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.
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.
