CLAY MILLICAN TAKES INTERIM POSITION AT BRISTOL

It’s been an up and down NHRA season so far for veteran Top Fuel driver Clay Millican.

Millican, however, has been on an upward trend over the past three races, and that trend continued Friday at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn.

Millican occupied the provisional qualification place no. 1 with his time of 3.786 seconds at 325.06 mph in Q2.

“This team was absolutely incredible. I mean, we were in a little bit of a fight after testing, and the next thing you know we start making rounds, we go to a final in Charlotte, we go to the semifinals last week,” in Epping, NH, Millican said. “Nicky Boninfante, said it very well: “We will win.” And I like that. We will win. And I have to tell you that I’m excited to do that, obviously when you qualify as the No. 1 that we’re fighting against these days, you’ve accomplished something.

“But I’m very proud because it’s the first time, even provisionally. The first time I qualified 1st with this guy here and I’m looking at (team owner) Mr. Rick Ware, and we’re here because this guy loves drag racing. He makes his living in the NASCAR world, but he loves drag racing and is always there, even if he’s not here. But it’s really cool for me to do things that he hasn’t been a part of and the biggest thing he hasn’t been a part of yet is a win while he was on the circuit. That’s on my agenda for Sunday, in case you’re wondering.”

If Millican retains his No. 1 spot, it would be his first of the season and 26th of his career. The last time Millican was No. 1 was during the 2020 COVID-19 limited season, when it was No. 1 at No. 2 Indianapolis and Gainesville, Florida.

“I’m going to hate that I said this (Saturday) when I’m sitting in my fire suit in the sun, but I’m hoping it’s 95 degrees,” Millican said. “I won’t be mad about it. I would like to stay in qualification no. 1 right here in Bristol. It would be great. And when it comes to race day, last year I would have told you I wanted it to be hot on race day, but I think now we have a car, it doesn’t matter.”

Millican last won in 2023 with wins in Chicago, Denver and St. Louis.

Millican, a native of Drummonds, Tenn., has been competing at Bristol Dragway since he was a competitor in the sportsman ranks.

“I actually raced here when it was a dogleg — not in a Top Fuel car, but I remember in my little Modified Eliminator dragster, when you went through the dogleg in the pit stop, you were 25 years old. “Turning the point to go around the corner,” Millican said. “The amount of change after Bruton Smith decided to do what he did here is incredible. But when I got here, so Tracey and Leigh are here, my sisters, they’re my number 1 standing ovation section. Well, Leigh’s never been here before, so I did the tour yesterday. This place is beautiful.

“I actually took them into the creek right here where the athletes are parked because I parked there and my two boys played in that creek and that was a long, long, long time ago. It was just a special place. I’m proud to call it my home track, even though it’s 500 miles from my house. This is my home state and I am a born and raised Tennessee boy. I had the opportunity to go to many places. I’m still a sports guy at heart. I’m a guy from Tennessee and I’m proud of this place, proud of it.”

Millican then returned to the original question from the media, which was when the intimidation factor went away for Bristol Dragway – a question he didn’t hesitate to answer.

“Used yet? It’s still intimidating. I’m still hurt. Obviously, I’m up here running on adrenaline right now,” Millican said. “I think when it goes away, it’s time to put your helmet on because I still get nervous. The story about that, though, the real story is the early qualifying rounds. The butterflies are hot and heavy inside, then they kind of fade away and will be back at sea again before the first round. But I’m still hurt and angry and that’s what motivates me. That opportunity to do from the moment I put on my helmet until I go back to that pit area and see the people working on this car, that’s what drives me.

“It’s a crazy way to make a living, but I don’t know anything else I’d ever want to do. But it still comes down to being that kid who wanted so badly to drive a Top Fuel car — he just didn’t realize it would be 26 years to do it.”

Millican, who finished 11th in the 2023 season points standings, is optimistic about his team’s recent progress.

“Everything runs on people, and when your people are on it, you’re going to be sitting in this chair right here, qualification no. 1,” Millican said. “And it doesn’t matter if I make a mistake or a screw that somebody misses, those are the things that are going to stop you from doing laps and stuff. Now, yes, you can run into tuning problems, but a tuning problem goes back to the people. And I love Jim O (Oberhofer) and Nicky and I mean nothing bad.

“There are a lot of races that I cost. So at the end of the day, people are the most valuable asset you have. No matter how many blocks and superchargers Rick buys for us, the people who put it all together are what make these things go fast. And it is also what makes this sport so special. It’s not just the people working on the car, it’s the people in the stands.”