Spencer Massey Wins Top Fuel Ironman Six Days After Earning License (1 Viewer)

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Spencer Massey Wins Top Fuel Ironman Six Days After Earning License
Laurie Cannister (Alcohol Funny Car), Steven Macklyn (Nitro Funny Car), Jim Halsey (Pro Modified) and John Montecalvo (Pro Stock) also claim titles at season-opening Texas Nationals

( Marion , Texas ; April 6, 2008) – Spencer Massey is not exactly new to this whole drag racing thing. The Fort Worth , Tex. resident has been driving in the A-Fuel ranks for the better part of four years, finishing as high as #3 in the world in NHRA competition. But when car owner Mitch King was looking for a driver for the Knoll Gas Nitro Jam season opener at San Antonio Raceway, Massey figured now was as good a time as any to take a step up. He earned his Top Fuel license in Houston six days prior to the event and headed to San Antonio Raceway.

Sunday afternoon he ended up in the last place he ever expected to be…the Winner’s Circle after defeating Terry McMillen in the final round to claim the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals Ironman.

“This is an absolute dream come true,” Massey said. “When we came here we were just worried about qualifying, then we just looked at things one round at a time. I have a really good team behind me and there really aren’t any long-term plans. But then again who would have ever thought we’d leave the Texas Nationals with the points lead?”

Massey was able to take a nice, leisurely trip down the eight-mile in the final round. Terry McMillen broke after his burnout in the other lane before idling down the track.

Steven Macklyn ( Salt Lake City , Utah ) is another young driver who earned his first Ironman at the Texas Nationals. Macklyn captured the Knoll Gas – Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car Ironman by stopping defending World Champion Dale Creasy Jr. in the final round.

Macklyn clocked a 3.749 at 226.85 mph to top Creasy’s tire-rattling 4.034/160.54 pass.

“I didn’t even think about who was in the other lane…I’m not good enough to even look in the other lane yet. I just focus on the tree and hope I don’t make any mistakes.”

Macklyn defeated Jeff Diehl in the first round and Jack Wyatt in the semifinals to advance to face Creasy in the money run.

“I got a little lucky,” Macklyn said. “I got out of the groove a little bit in the first round against Diehl but was able to drive past him, then I won a really good race against Jack. This is unbelievable.”

Laurie Cannister ( Johnstown , Ohio ) made a mockery of the Alcohol Funny Car class all weekend, setting record after record en route to her first AFC Ironman of the season. She saved her worst run of the weekend for the final, but it made no difference as she knocked off Rob Atchison ( London , Ont.) in the final round to garner her second career Alcohol Funny Car Ironman.

“Dale, my husband, does a great job getting this car ready to race,” Cannister said. “He helps me so much and tells me what adjustments to make as the day goes by. I definitely could not do this without him.”

Cannister claimed the Ironman with a 3.843 pass at 226.85 mph while Rob Atchison posted a 3.928/194.66 in the other lane.

The Torco Pro Modified final matched up a pair of nitrous-powered entries, the first time two nitrous Pro Mods squared off in a final round since 2005. Jim Halsey (Street, Md. ) was able to drive past Billy Harper ( Paducah , Ky. ) in the final round to claim the Ironman.

“I think the eighth-mile really helped the nitrous cars today,” Halsey said. “We were able to get down the track. The track was hot and a little tricky at the end but we got the job done.”

Halsey ran a 4.104 at 184.52 mph to better Harper’s 4.685/115.85 pass.

John Montecalvo (Center Moriches, N.Y.) is usually a strong starter. He has enjoyed early season success before, winning in Texas last year before heading to Rockingham and winning the second event of the season. He hopes that scenario plays out again as he defeated Jeff Dobbins (Wilmington, N.C.) in the Torco Pro Stock final in San Antonio.

“I just hope people are asking me about my late season success this season, not just my early wins,” Montecalvo said with a chuckle. “We had a terrible weekend to start, qualifying was a mess and we weren’t getting down the track. Then everything kind of came together.”

Montecalvo was able to pull off a trick not many drivers can pull off in the final, defeating Dobbins, a notorious leaver, on a hole-shot. He had a .013 reaction time and ran a 4.186 at 173.18 mph. Dobbins left in .026 and clocked a 4.178 at 173.74.

The Knoll Gas Nitro Jam will continue in two weeks at Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina for the IHRA Spring Nationals April 18-20. For ticket information please visit NitroJam.com.

MARION, Texas -- Sunday's final results from the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals presented by NAPA Auto Parts and The San Antonio Express-News at San Antonio Raceway. The race is the first of 11 in the 2008 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Spencer Massey, 3.261 seconds, 256.26 mph def. Terry McMillen, 15.164 seconds, 59.94 mph.

Nitro Funny Car -- Steven Macklyn, Chevy Monte Carlo , 3.749, 226.85 def. Dale Creasy Jr., Chevy Impala, 4.034, 160.54.

Pro Modified -- Jim Halsey, Chevy Camaro, 4.104, 184.52 def. Billy Harper, Dodge Viper, 4.685, 115.85.

Alcohol Funny Car -- Laurie Cannister, Chevy Camaro, 3.843, 195.82 def. Rob Atchison, Chevy Monte Carlo , 3.928, 194.66.

Pro Stock -- John Montecalvo, Chevy Cobalt, 4.186, 173.18 def. Jeff Dobbins, Ford Escort, 4.178, 173.74.

Top Sportsman -- Harold Snyder, Chevy Camaro, 4.846, 145.36 def. Bob Gulitti, Pontiac Firebird, 4.854, 144.23.

Top Dragster -- Gary Williams, Dragster, 4.634, 138.66 def. Wayne Baker, Dragster, 4.629, 146.97.

Quick Rod -- Bobby Gregory, Dragster, 5.702, 133.50 def. David Bills, Dragster, 5.703, 131.73.

Super Rod -- Kip Guenzel, Chevy Camaro, 6.423, 118.83 def. Jeromy Hefler, Camaro, 6.395, 107.85.

Hot Rod -- Cy Hill, Chevy Camaro, 7.003, 103.40 def. Delbert Hembey, Chevy Vega, 7.034, 103.95.

Super Stock -- Anthony Bertozzi, Pontiac Grand Am, 5.950, 117.85 def. Scott Richardson, Chevy S-10, 6.423, 102.63.

Stock -- Anthony Bertozzi, Chevy Camaro, 6.697, 99.44 def. Mark Faul, Chevy Chevelle, 6.946, 92.97.

ET Bracket -- Shaun Neidig, Dragster, 4.993, 132.65 def. Ronnie Hernandez, '23-T Ford, 5.548, 126.19.

Top ET -- Shaun Neidig, Dragster, 5.240, 105.90 def. Manual Hernandez, Chevy Camaro, foul.

Mod ET -- Ronnie Hernandez, '23-T Ford, 5.548, 126.32 def. Benny Gossett, '27-T Ford, 5.966, 112.20.

MARION, Texas -- Final round-by-round results from the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals presented by NAPA Auto Parts and The San Antonio Express-News at San Antonio Raceway, the first of 11 events in the 2008 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Mike Strasburg, 3.299, 208.04 def. Scott Palmer, 3.325, 242.02; Spencer Massey, 3.193, 264.86 def. Bruce Litton, 3.187, 264.03; Terry McMillen, 3.884, 163.65 def. Chris Karamesines, foul; Kevin Jones, 3.411, 243.68 def. Bobby Lagana Jr., 3.909, 153.86;
SEMIFINALS -- McMillen, 3.243, 257.87 def. Strasburg, 3.339, 220.94; Massey, 3.330, 223.84 def. Jones, 3.363, 250.74;
FINAL -- Massey, 3.261, 256.26 def. McMillen, 15.164, 59.94.

NITRO FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Steven Macklyn, Chevy Monte Carlo, 3.629, 238.85 def. Jeff Diehl, Monte Carlo, 3.989, 183.15; Jack Wyatt, Dodge Stratus, 3.446, 250.46 def. Terry Haddock, Stratus, 3.450, 241.71; Dale Creasy Jr., Chevy Impala, 3.419, 245.94 def. Matt Hagan, Monte Carlo, 4.976, 102.66; Bob Gilbertson, Stratus, 3.509, 215.65 def. Todd Simpson, Chevy Camaro, 4.189, 130.39;
SEMIFINALS -- Creasy Jr., 3.493, 239.61 def. Gilbertson, 3.553, 241.58; Macklyn, 3.577, 232.91 def. Wyatt, 3.883, 156.59;
FINAL -- Macklyn, 3.749, 226.85 def. Creasy Jr., 4.034, 160.54.

PRO MODIFIED:
ROUND ONE -- Scotty Cannon, Pontiac Firebird, 4.164, 183.24 def. Steven Wiley, Chevy Camaro, 4.349, 165.94; Jason Hamstra, Camaro, 4.010, 182.53 def. Kenny Lang, Chevy Corvette, 4.605, 131.18; Billy Gibson, Plymouth Superbird, 4.122, 178.12 def. Ed Hoover, Camaro, 5.994, 96.78; Quain Stott, Corvette, 4.123, 183.67 def. Burton Auxier, Corvette, 4.201, 167.34; Tommy D'Aprile, Chevy Bel Air, 4.130, 178.83 def. Thomas Patterson, Willys, 4.350, 166.09; Jim Halsey, Camaro, 4.047, 184.09 def. Mike Castellana, Firebird, 4.213, 175.05; Billy Harper, Dodge Viper, 4.046, 176.35 def. Mike Janis, Chevy Cobalt, 4.110, 183.87; Jason Stock, Corvette, 4.417, 166.83 def. Scott Cannon, Firebird, 4.420, 159.64;
QUARTERFINALS -- Stock, 4.132, 181.94 def. Stott, 4.103, 186.72; Halsey, 4.034, 185.41 def. Scott. Cannon, 10.188, 42.16; Harper, 4.044, 183.47 def. Gibson, 4.169, 175.68; Hamstra, 4.055, 182.01 def. D'Aprile, 4.215, 178.78;
SEMIFINALS -- Harper, 4.039, 184.04 def. Hamstra, 5.363, 92.75; Halsey, 4.069, 184.50 def. Stock, 4.160, 177.00;
FINAL -- Halsey, 4.104, 184.52 def. Harper, 4.685, 115.85.

ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Mark Thomas, Chevy Impala, 3.969, 188.52 def. Dale Brand, Chevy Camaro, 5.779, 79.66; Laurie Cannister, Camaro, 3.751,
198.32 def. Paul Noakes, Dodge Avenger, 4.029, 187.29; Thomas Carter, Camaro, 3.858, 194.60 def. Tim Stevens, Dodge Stratus, 3.975, 188.20; Rob Atchison, Chevy Monte Carlo, 3.884, 196.85 def. Tony Bogolo, Ford Mustang, 3.812, 191.00;
SEMIFINALs -- Atchison, 4.006, 191.24 def. Thomas, 3.952, 190.06; Cannister, 3.764, 197.08 def. Carter, 4.004, 183.94;
FINAL -- Cannister, 3.843, 195.82 def. Atchison, 3.928, 194.66.

PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Rob Mansfield, Pontiac GTO, 6.555, 80.33 def. Cale Aronson, Ford Escort, broke; Bob Bertsch, Ford Mustang, 4.211,
173.25 def. Jason Collins, Chevy Cobalt, 4.249, 170.95; Dean Goforth, GTO, 4.169, 172.89 def. Chuck DeMory, Mustang, 4.252, 168.47; Jeff Dobbins, Escort, 4.149, 174.44 def. Richard Freeman, Cobalt, 4.196, 172.39; Elijah Morton, Mustang, 4.181, 172.96 def. Scott Hintz, Mustang, 6.254, 74.69; Pete Berner, Pontiac GXP, 4.146, 173.90 def. Cary Goforth, Cobalt, 4.164, 172.36; John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 4.153, 174.46 def. Frank Gugliotta, Mustang, 4.129, 175.02; Larry O'Brien, Dodge Stratus, 4.179, 170.77 def. Robert Patrick, Mustang, foul;
QUARTERFINALS -- Morton, 4.166, 173.70 def. Mansfield, 4.212, 170.69; Montecalvo, 4.181, 174.44 def. D. Goforth, broke; Dobbins, 4.163, 174.46 def. O'Brien, 4.215, 172.43; Berner, 4.148, 175.05 def. Bertsch, 4.229, 173.36;
SEMIFINALS -- Montecalvo, 4.184, 174.26 def. Morton, 4.190, 173.21; Dobbins, 4.186, 173.38 def. Berner, 4.166, 173.81;
FINAL -- Montecalvo, 4.186, 173.18 def. Dobbins, 4.178, 173.74.

MARION, Texas -- Point standings (top 10) for IHRA professional categories following the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals presented by NAPA Auto Parts and The San Antonio Express-News at San Antonio Raceway, the first of 11 events in the 2008 Knoll-Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series -

Top Fuel
1. Spencer Massey, 112; 2. Terry McMillen, 93; 3. Mike Strasburg, 75; 4. Bruce Litton, 66; 5. Kevin Jones, 55; 6. Bobby Lagana Jr., 54; 7. Scott Palmer, 51; 8. Chris Karamesines, 49; 9. (tie) Fred Farndon, 10; Doug Foley, 10.

Nitro Funny Car
1. Steven Macklyn, 109; 2. Dale Creasy Jr., 90; 3. Bob Gilbertson, 81; 4. Jack Wyatt, 71; 5. Terry Haddock, 60; 6. Jeff Diehl, 53; 7. Todd Simpson, 52; 8. Matt Hagan, 19; 9. (tie) Jason Duchene, 10; Andy Kelley, 10; Mitch King, 10.

Pro Modified
1. Jim Halsey, 114; 2. Billy Harper, 87; 3. Jason Hamstra, 69; 4. Scotty Cannon, 50; 5. Tommy D{Aprile, 45; 6. Quain Stott, 44; 7. Billy Gibson, 43; 8. Scott Cannon, 41; 9. Mike Janis, 40; 10. Thomas Patterson, 33.

Alcohol Funny Car
1. Laurie Cannister, 121; 2. Rob Atchison, 89; 3. Thomas Carter, 74; 4. Mark Thomas, 71; 5. Tony Bogolo, 58; 6. Paul Noakes, 52; 7. Tim Stevens, 50; 8. Dale Brand, 40; 9. (tie) Larry Dobbs, 10; Terry Munroe, 10.

Pro Stock
1. John Montecalvo, 107; 2. Jeff Dobbins, 92; 3. Pete Berner, 74; 4. Elijah Morton, 73; 5. Dean Goforth, 51; 6. Bob Bertsch, 50; 7. Rob Mansfield, 49; 8. Larry O'Brien, 48; 9. Robert Patrick, 41; 10. Frank Gugliotta, 40.

About IHRA
Headquartered in Norwalk , Ohio , the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA), a division of Live Nation, promotes professional, semi-professional and local level racing opportunities for drivers at all levels. The $21.5 million Knoll Gas Nitro Jam™ Drag Racing Series is an 11-event North American professional drag racing circuit. In 2008, the series will be comprised of eight events in major cities throughout the United States and three in Canada . The Summit Racing Equipment Pro-Am Championship presented by Mr. Gasket consists of competition at national events and 40 events in six regional divisions, while IHRA’s Summit SuperSeries is conducted nearly every weekend at over 85 IHRA-sanctioned tracks. Providing a safe environment to develop future stars, IHRA offers the Junior Dragster Racing Series for youths ages 8-17. Stand-alone events include Live Nation’s entertainment-filled “Thunder Jam” shows and the street legal racing and lifestyle event series Street Warriorz. More information can be found at NitroJam.com.

About Live Nation
Live Nation is the world's largest live music company. Our mission is to inspire passion for live music around the world. We are the largest promoter of live concerts in the world, the second-largest entertainment venue management company and have a rapidly growing online presence. We strive to create superior experiences for artists and fans, regularly producing tours for the biggest superstars in the business, including The Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Madonna, U2 and Coldplay. Globally, we own, operate, have booking rights for and/or have an equity interest in more than 160 venues, including House of Blues® music venues and prestigious locations such as The Fillmore in San Francisco, Nikon at Jones Beach in New York and London’s Wembley Arena. Our websites collectively are the second most popular entertainment/event websites in the United States , according to Nielsen//NetRatings. In addition, we also produce, promote or host theatrical, specialized motor sports and other live entertainment events. In 2006, we connected nearly 60 million fans with their favorite performers at approximately 26,000 events in 18 countries around the world. Headquartered in Los Angeles , California , Live Nation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol “LYV.”
 
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