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License To Drive: Massey Earns His First Ironman Shortly After Passing Top Fuel Test
IHRA Amalie Oil Texas Nationals, Marion, Texas
MARION, Texas — Six days after earning his IHRA Top Fuel license, Spencer Massey defeated Terry McMillen in the final round to claim the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals Ironman.
“This is an absolute dream come true,” said Massey, a veteran of the NHRA’s A-Fuel ranks who was driving for car owner Mitch King this past weekend. “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 eighth-mile in the final round. McMillen broke after his burnout in the other lane before idling down the track.
Steven Macklyn also 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.
Laurie Cannister made easy work 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 in the final round for her second-career Alcohol Funny Car Ironman. 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 drove past Billy Harper in the final round to claim the Ironman. Halsey ran a 4.104 at 184.52 mph to better Harper’s 4.685/115.85 pass.
John Montecalvo defeated Jeff Dobbins on a hole-shot in the Torco Pro Stock final in San Antonio. Montecalvo had a .013 reaction time and ran a 4.186 at 173.18 mph, compared to Dobbins’s .026, 4.178 at 173.74-mph pass.