Massey Collects Second Consecutive Win of the Season; Neff, Johnson, Smith also Winners

Courtesy of NHRA Communications Photo copyright 2011 Auto Imagery, Inc.

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. -- Englishtown 

Spencer Massey raced to his second consecutive win of the season Sunday at the NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

Mike Neff (Funny Car), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won in their categories at the eighth of 22 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

Massey drove his FRAM/Prestone dragster to a winning 3.821-second run at 319.07 mph to beat Top Fuel points leader Del Worsham on a holeshot. It was Massey’s second consecutive win of the season (Topeka) and fourth of his career.

“It’s awesome to beat the Alan Johnson/Al-Anabi/Del Worsham car in the final,” said Massey. “The Al-Anabi car has been on a roll and running killer numbers, so we knew we had to be on our  'A'  game, that the car had to run well and I had to be on my game. I even had a Full Throttle to amp myself up before I got in there.”

Worsham kept the points lead with his fourth final round appearance of the season, while teammate and defending event winner Larry Dixon moved around seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher to take over the second-place spot in the point standings after his semifinal round appearance.

In Funny Car, Neff held off No. 1 qualifer Cruz Pedregon to grab his second win of the season. Neff drove his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang to a 4.071 at 314.09 winning run after Pedregon posted a red light start. It was Neff’s third career win and fourth consecutive final round appearance for the season.

“I knew he red-lighted,” said Neff. “I was sitting there waiting for the Tree to come down, and I heard him leave and knew he red-lighted because the Tree hadn’t come down yet. I looked over and saw that his bulb was red, then I looked up and saw our win light on. By that time, I had already hit the gas and was taking off and saw our win light on. I wanted to see what it would run, then I was saying ‘Don’t drive over the centerline or something.' Wouldn’t you lose if you did that? Yeah, maybe I should have lifted.”

The win strengthened Neff’s points lead over the Funny Car class, while Pedregon fell just seven points from moving up to the third spot in the point standings.

Pro Stock’s Allen Johnson held off rookie sensation Vincent Nobile to pick up his first win of the season. Johnson drove his Team Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Avenger to a 6.689 at 210.64 for the win after Nobile posted a red-light start in the final round. It was Johnson’s ninth win of his career.

“It was a dream to have an all-team final round and to have it happen this early in the season is a dream come true,” said Johnson, who provides engines for Nobile. “I’m very proud of our engine guys and Mark (Ingersoll, crew chief) who makes the tuning calls. Vincent is a fierce competitor and I’m sure we’re going to tangle a few more times before this is over.”

The win moved Johnson up to seventh in the point standings, while leader Jason Line kept control of his points lead over the category with his second round appearance.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Smith on his Al-Anabi Racing Buell held off points leader Karen Stoffer to grab his first win of the season. Smith’s run of 6.900 a 191.73 was enough to beat Stoffer on a holeshot and give the 2007 world champion his first win of the season and 13th win of his career.

“I won my first race here in 2006, so I’ve always liked racing at this track,” said Smith. “When I saw these (pewter 60th anniversary edition) Wally trophies I said to myself I wanted to win at least one this year so I’m glad I did.”

The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series will return to action at the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers, June 17-19 at Bristol Dragway.  

Sunday's final results from the 42nd annual NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. The race is the eighth of 22 in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series

Top Fuel -- Spencer Massey, 3.821 seconds, 319.07 mph  def. Del Worsham, 3.815 seconds, 322.19 mph.

Funny Car -- Mike Neff, Ford Mustang, 4.071, 314.09  def. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, foul.

Pro Stock -- Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 6.689, 210.64  def. Vincent Nobile, Avenger, foul.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Matt Smith, Buell, 6.900, 191.73  def. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.889, 194.74.