Spencer Massey wasn’t aware the official press release had been distributed on Monday afternoon following the Thanksgiving weekend.

Massey, a past IHRA Top Fuel champion and NHRA Rookie of the Year award winner, was named as the driver of the Prestone/Fram Top Fuel dragster at Don Schumacher Racing.

“I knew the release was coming, so this is a plus,” Massey said.

For the second time in three seasons, Massey will assume the seat of a veteran driver. Two years ago he replaced Larry Dixon at Don Prudhomme Racing following Dixon's move to the Al-Anabi Racing team.

Massey is confident he'll adjust quickly to yet another job driving for a legend.

Spencer Massey wasn’t aware the official press release had been distributed on Monday afternoon following the Thanksgiving weekend.

Massey, a past IHRA Top Fuel champion and NHRA Rookie of the Year award winner, was named as the driver of the Prestone/Fram Top Fuel dragster at Don Schumacher Racing.

“I knew the release was coming, so this is a plus,” Massey said.

For the second time in three seasons, Massey will assume the seat of a veteran driver. Two years ago he replaced Larry Dixon at Don Prudhomme Racing following Dixon's move to the Al-Anabi Racing team.

Massey is confident he'll adjust quickly to yet another job driving for a legend.

“That’s exactly what Don Schumacher is – a legend,” said Massey. “I’ve been blessed to be a part of two high profile teams to compete for the Full Throttle championship.”

Massey understands to whom much is given, much is expected. These kinds of expectations often lead to a higher level of pressure to perform.

“Yes and no,” Massey admitted. “In any form of racing, especially in a Top Fuel dragster, you always feel the intense pressure of having to do good just because you are driving a Top Fuel car. You have to perform for yourself and then on top of that you have a high profile team owner and big sponsors.

“But once you strap on that helmet and that motor turns over, and you are ready to stage the car, you forget about all of that stuff. You are just focused on the right foot going down and keeping it in the groove.”

Unlike his situation in joining Prudhomme where he replaced a departing driver, this time brings a new scenario where a change of marketing strategy for the sponsor led to the release of a popular driver. Massey understands he will have to prove himself worthy of the newly assigned driving gig.

“I’ve looked up to Cory for many years,” Massey said. “He’s an awesome driver and a great guy. He’s done very well with the sport and his sponsors and the race fans. These are some awful big shoes to fill here. I had to fill big shoes two years ago with Dixon. It’s almost the same except this time I’ve been around and been seasoned a bit.”

Massey’s ride with Prudhomme ended with the conclusion of the 2009 season when U.S. Smokeless Tobacco opted to end their long time relationship with the sport. Prudhomme subsequently sold his equipment and retired.

Massey, in the meantime, kept his driving options open running a few events with Mitch King’s operation on the Nitro Jam series and an occasional Full Throttle NHRA appearance. He’s also assisted in the tuning on the Chase Copeland Top Alcohol Dragster owned by Gene Snow.

Massey is unsure when he will make his testing debut with the new team.

“I think we are still looking to see what dates we are going to make it out there,” Massey said. “But I am sure they are going to want to get me out there as soon as possible.”

Monday’s announcement official closes a rumor mill which has been churning non-stop since September when talk began of McClenathan’s eventual departure.

“I learned not too long ago,” Massey said of his notification the job was his. “Throughout the season, I had all of these people coming up to tell me I’d be driving the FRAM car. I would look at them and say, ‘That’s news to me.”

“It was as if everyone seemed to know more about me than I did. It’s obviously turned out to work in my favor. I don’t know if it was the rumor that inspired it or DSR liked me all along. But, it’s happened.”

And for Massey, that was good news.

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