The most difficult reality to swallow is the harsh reality of the end.

“It's life,” said a very pragmatic Spencer Massey, the day after Don “Snake” Prudhomme announced his retirement from drag racing after over 50 years in the sport as both a driver and a car owner.

“We all knew it could happen. But, as a team we all stuck together and we all knew it was a gamble.”

Less than six months ago, in the midst of the biggest drag race of the year, the U.S. Nationals, Prudhomme let the world know he was losing US Tobacco as a sponsor and the prospects for going forward did not look good. Prudhomme outlined at that time how he either needed to find a new sponsor, a business partner or an auctioneer.

The most difficult reality to swallow is the harsh reality of the end.

“It's life,” said a very pragmatic Spencer Massey, the day after Don “Snake” Prudhomme announced his retirement from drag racing after over 50 years in the sport as both a driver and a car owner.

“We all knew it could happen. But, as a team we all stuck together and we all knew it was a gamble.”

Less than six months ago, in the midst of the biggest drag race of the year, the U.S. Nationals, Prudhomme let the world know he was losing US Tobacco as a sponsor and the prospects for going forward did not look good. Prudhomme outlined at that time how he either needed to find a new sponsor, a business partner or an auctioneer.

Now, with less than 45 days to go before the start of the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle season, Prudhomme has finally pulled the plug on an illustrious career not just as a driver, but as a respected and revered car owner.

Massey, loyal to the final day, is saddened by the finality of the announcement, but given the chance to do it all over again, the 2009 NHRA Rookie of the Year wouldn't change anything.

“I am very honored to be part of Snake's final year in drag racing,” said Massey. “If I had never gotten Snake's call, I would have been driving my A/Fuel car and doing my same thing. I wouldn't have had the great experience of driving a Top Fuel car, placing sixth in the points and getting rookie of the year.

“It is a letdown. I loved working with Snake. But, I am very honored and pleased with what happened last season and all of last year.”

(continued below)

 

---

a d v e r t i s e m e n t

Click to visit our sponsor's website 

---

Massey could fool himself into think this is a temporary situation. He's not.

“Yea, I do,” said Massey when asked if he thought Prudhomme was truly done in drag racing. “Just the way he has talked in the past. He doesn't want to go out, and not to quote Snake, but he doesn't want to go out like some have. He doesn't want to go broke and end up owing people money. He isn't going to spend his family's life savings.”

Massey has contemplated his place, as the last driver, in Snake's drag racing history and smiled.

“I was just thinking the other day,” admitted Massey. “I am very honored to be a part of Don Prudhomme Racing. As a kid growing up, watching him, watching him retire. I was there at the Motorplex for his last win in 1984. He gave me a high-five and he had no idea who I was, just a fan, just a little kid at the time.

“It's unbelievable. I am still in my dream. You have to pinch me to wake me up and I don't want to be pinched, because I don't want to wake up from my dream. But, that is what is happening right now. I am being pinched and getting woken up. But, you know what – it's still been a great dream. What I thought was a dream has turned out to be a reality. And, that reality is I drove for the Snake, the legend, the man of the sport.”

Spencer has benefitted from his single year of driving for Prudhomme. Despite a 2008 Top Fuel title in the IHRA, the year with Prudhomme has doubled Massey's experience level. It has also put Massey in the map.

“Snake has done a heck of a job getting my name out there and promoting me as a rookie and as driver. It couldn't have turned out any better for myself. That is why I love everything that has happened even thought it has turned out this way.”

Massey will close the door on an exciting moment in his life and look to open the right door to his future in drag racing.

“I'm available and ready to do something. But, the shoe has to fit the right foot and I have a good foot so I hope something comes together.”

In the end, like Mary Poppins sang to the children, 'a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down,' Massey's dose of driving for the Snake makes reality all the easier to swallow.

{loadposition feedback}

Advertisement