"We're almost a mile up from sea level and that means the crew chiefs have to change everything on the race car from (engine) compression to the supercharger to all the clutch settings," Massey said. "Basically everything that is in the trailer and on the car right now is going to be taken apart and put aside for next year. Everything is completely changed and it makes it that much tougher for the crew chief and the crew to be able to get these race cars performing the way they should."

Massey wasn't discouraged by their No. 9 qualifying effort because he knew what they were capable of doing on Sunday. Each round of racing on Sunday produced better times than they had throughout four rounds of qualifying on Friday and Saturday.

"I felt good about it (today)," he said. "We didn't perform like we should've in qualifying. We knew it was going to be hot. We knew it was going to be a tricky racetrack. You don't have to have all the horsepower up here on the mountain, you just have to make sure you get it down the track. Phil (Shuler) did a great job."

FUNNY CAR

Cruz Pedregon claimed his third victory in 2013 and 33rd for his career by knocking off Bob Tasca III in the final round. Pedregon’s 8,000-horsepower Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry posted a 4.233 at 295.46 while Tasca slowed to a 4.408 at 257.04 in his Mustang.

This is the third win of the season for Pedregon in four final round appearances. Pedregon, who was also the No. 1 qualifier and set the track E.T. record (4.073), picked up his 33rd career win. It is also his second win at Denver, winning 20 years after his first victory at Bandimere Speedway (1993). He moves to second in the points standings.