Fri, 2 Sep 2005, 02:23 PM Popular Mechanics Featured on Millican's Dragster at Indy

Courtesy of Joe Sherk

CLERMONT, Ind. -- A special Popular Mechanics/104+ Performance Additive theme will be featured on Clay Millican's Top Fuel dragster during NHRA's 51st annual U.S. Nationals this weekend at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

The new look, to be unveiled Friday night prior to the first qualifying session, temporarily replaces the traditional blue Werner Enterprises/Kenny Koretsky Motorsports dragster colors.

"There's definitely a lot to be learned from reading Popular Mechanics," said Millican, a winner of 44 IHRA races and four consecutive championships. "If the car performs the way we expect it to - and we win the race - it will make interesting reading in Popular Mechanics."

"We're honored to be associated with Popular Mechanics magazine," said Koretsky. "It caters to the do-it-yourselfers and that's always been the foundation of drag racing."

"We are pleased to be associated with Popular Mechanics for the U.S. Nationals " , said Manny Grijalva, vice-president of sales and marketing for Gold Eagle, 104+ Performance Additive's parent company. "This was an instance where a high-performance magazine was looking for a high-performance partner and it added up to a good opportunity for 104+ Performance Additive."

Millican, meanwhile, arrives at the home of NHRA's oldest, most revered race fresh from a victory in Sunday's IHRA World Nationals, that sanctioning body's biggest event.

"We'd like to keep that streak going. I don't think any Top Fuel driver - unless it was Don Garlits years ago - has ever won at Norwalk and gone to Indy and won," Millican said. "If we could do that, it would make what is already a great season that much better."

For Millican and crew, this provides another opportunity to earn their first NHRA win. They concentrate on IHRA competition and are leading the championship chase in quest of a record fifth straight season title.

"We usually run 10 NHRA races a year," added Millican, of Drummonds, Tenn., "and this will be No. 44 for the team. My guys are excited and we'll be ready to race.

"When people ask me when we're going to win that first NHRA race, I go back to what my Momma always said, 'It will happen when it's supposed to happen.' We hope that'll be at Indy this week."

This is the fourth of a season-high nine consecutive races for the Werner Enterprises/Kenny Koretsky Motorsports team. Millican resumes IHRA competition at Epping, N.H., Sept. 9-11.

The U.S. Nationals qualifying schedule has runs Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 3 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 12:45 and 4:10 p.m. Eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Monday.

NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Feb 13- NHRA and FOX Sports Announce TV Schedule for NHRA's 75th Anniversary Season
Feb 12- 75th Anniversary Celebration Kickoff at Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
Feb 10- Wally Parks 75th Anniversary Appreciation Fund Part of $27 Million Overall Purse
Feb 08- NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League Releases 2026 Schedule
Feb 07- Huge List of Legends Set to Appear at Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
Feb 05- NHRA and Legends Global Extend Merchandise Partnership Ahead of 75th Anniversary Season
Feb 04- Doug Foley Announces Addition of Ron Douglas as Consultant to Foley Lewis Racing Top Fuel Team
Feb 04- Tickets Now on Sale for NHRA's Debut at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park and Rockingham Dragway
Feb 04- Reed, Zetterström to Share Driving Duties of Reed Trucking & Excavating Top Fuel Dragster
Jan 29- NHRA to Honor Iconic John Force in 2027 with "50 Years Of Force"