Massey gets first home-state pole, Beckman quickest both days for DSR heading to Sunday’s championship day near Houston

BAYTOWN, TX – Crew chiefs in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series could term their philosophy for a race weekend as: Friday nights are for speed, Saturdays are for need.

With optimum conditions for Friday night’s qualifying session in the NHRA SpringNationals near Houston, Don Schumacher Racing enjoyed a perfect night when it produced the weekend’s quickest times and fastest speeds, each of which were track records.

After a rainy Saturday morning, the sun appeared through blue skies that warmed the air and track to make it nearly impossible to top the previous night’s performances when DSR won both poles with Spencer Massey earning the top spot in Top Fuel with track records for time and speed, and Jack Beckman recorded the first and only sub 4-second run in the 28-year history of the event.

But what mattered most to all crew chiefs on Saturday, including those with DSR, was the “need” to determine how best to set up their cars for Sunday’s championship eliminations when track and weather conditions are expected to mirror those of the previous day instead of Friday night’s.

“Saturday’s runs were where we really pushed the limit of the track to see what we can do on Sunday because the conditions will be very similar,” said Capps, who qualified No. 3 with his Friday night run of 4.038 seconds at a track-record 319.67 mph in his NAPA AUTO PARTS 2015 Dodge Charger R/T led by crew chief Rahn Tobler.

Jack Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge team led by crew chief Jimmy Prock enjoyed both worlds.

After setting a track record Saturday night with a time of 3.988 seconds to become the first driver to crack the 4-second barrier at Houston, he also was the quickest in Saturday’s final session.

“Jimmy is a mad scientist,” Jack said of Prock, who has been with the DSR organization since October of last year. “We smoked (the tires) in the first session and then got track record in Q2. We smoked ’em on the first run Saturday then came back to be the quickest in Q4. Don’t give that guy too many times to figure out a racetrack.”

The Infinite Hero team was able to move up two spots to eighth in the season standings.

Massey’s opening-day run in 3.734 (330.07) produced his first pole of the year and first in his home state. The Fort Worth native will seek his first Texas title when he faces another Texan and friend, Kebin Kinsley.

“I’ve known Kebin for a long time and it will be fun racing our Red Fuel dragster against his Gas Monkey team. It’s too bad a couple of Texans have to race in the first round.”

Current Top Fuel points leader Antron Brown, who won at Houston a year ago, qualified 10th for his Matco Tools/U.S. Army team, while eight-time and reigning world champion Tony Schumacher and the U.S. Army qualified second setting up a possible intra-squad match-up in the quarterfinals if Brown and Schumacher win their opening races.

Another potential DSR match-up could occur in the Funny Car quarterfinals if points leader and reigning world champion Matt Hagan (Rocky Boots/Mopar), who is seeded sixth, and Capps win their first races.