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Qualifying report

Massey qualifies No. 2 in Top Fuel at Las Vegas

Spencer Massey just wants a chance at the 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championship. On Sunday, he could get his best shot to make up some points during Sunday's eliminations in the Big O Tires NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Spencer Massey
Spencer Massey

Photo by: Michael C. Johnson

Massey posted his best qualifying effort, which placed him second, in the final session on Saturday when crew chiefs Todd Okuhara and Phil Shuler tuned him to a 3.776-second lap while his Don Schumacher Racing teammate and points leader Antron Brown struggled to a 13th place start for Sunday's eliminations.

His 3.776-second effort was just three-thousandths off of pole-sitter and teammate Tony Schumacher's 3.773.

"We've had three very solid runs during qualifying," Massey said. "We wanted to go number one and we gave it our best shot. We had some problems in the pits and these guys had to work their butts off today.

"We just need to go out there tomorrow and do what we've been trying to do all season and that's go rounds and end the day in the Winner's Circle."

Coming into the penultimate event in the 2012 season, Massey and the team were 104 points, five rounds of racing behind Brown. After qualifying, Massey gained 14 points on Brown, reducing his lead to 90 points, just more than four rounds of racing entering Sunday.

"I don't want to wish bad luck on anyone, but we want to win. It's tough not to count points. There's still a shot that we can do this. I believe in my team and that we will be there until the end."

Massey will line up against T.J. Zizzo in the opening round of eliminations Sunday.

"It was cool on Friday, was a little bit warmer today (Saturday) and it's supposed to be even warmer tomorrow. We made a great run today in the heat of the day that Todd and Phil will be able to build on for tomorrow."

"I just have to go out there and take this one round at a time and not beat ourselves. That's been the goal all season and this is what it comes down to. We only have two more chances to bring a Wally (trophy) home and I'd love to get another one for these guys.

"The more rounds we go, the more points we get towards the championship and that's what we have our sights set on."

Source: Don Schumacher Racing

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