Words by Jeff Burk - Photos by Joe McHugh - 4/8/2008

Spencer Massey has been driving legendary Texas racer Gene Snow’s A/FD for the last four years, learning his craft as a nitro racer. He earned his Top Fuel license just six days prior to his first qualifying lap as a Pro on Friday at IHRA’s San Antonio national event. On Sunday in his home state in front of a crowd of Texas fans he won his first Top Fuel race. All races were to the eighth mile.

“This is an absolute dream come true,” Massey said. “When we came here we were just worried about qualifying….”

Massey wasn’t the only rookie nitro driver to get his first victory at San Antonio. Steven Macklyn got his first win as a nitro Funny Car driver defeating defending IHRA fuel coupe champ Dale Creasy Jr. in the final round.

“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,” Macklyn said. “I just focus on the tree and hope I don’t make any mistakes.”

In doorslammer action perennial Pro Stock power John Montecalvo was again the winner and, in a very rare occurrence, a pair of nitrous oxide-injected Pro Mods met in the finals and Maryland’s Jim Halsey took home the title. Laurie Cannister, a racer who hasn’t been really active recently, got her first win of the season giving a dominating performance in the alky Funny Car class.