Massey races to first career win

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — Top Fuel rookie Spencer Massey raced to his first career victory Sunday in the NHRA Route 66 Nationals, beating points leader and No. 1 qualifier Antron Brown in the final.

Massey, driving for NHRA great Don "The Snake" Prudhomme, finished in 3.856 seconds at 308.35 mph to edges Brown, whose dragster trailed with a 3.870 at 301.54.

"This whole season has been a dream," Massey said. "I've been watching NHRA racing and wanting to drive a Top Fuel dragster in the NHRA since I was 4 years old and saw my first race. I watched Don Prudhomme win his last Top Fuel race in Dallas in 1994, and now he's high-fiving me in the winner's circle. That's unbelievable."

Tony Pedregon, Jeg Coughlin and Matt Guidera also won their categories in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event.

Pedregon earned his first Funny Car win of the season and moved to second place in the point standings by cruising past Ashley Force Hood, whose Ford Mustang lost traction at the start in the final round. Pedregon had a 4.114-second run at 303.78 in his Chevy Impala to earn his 41st career victory and second straight in the event.

Coughlin increased his series lead in Pro Stock by claiming his fourth victory of the season and 45th of his career. Coughlin took the automatic win in his Chevy Cobalt when final-round opponent Mike Edwards fouled at the start in his Pontiac GXP.

Guidera claimed his first victory of the season and fourth overall in Pro Stock Motorcycle by outrunning series points leader Eddie Krawiec, winner of the last two events. Guidera's Buell covered the distance in 7.096 at 181.79, while Krawiec's Harley-Davidson trailed with a 7.189 at 179.66.