Wed, 25 Aug 2010, 03:02 PM Kenny Koretsky and Clay Millican Team Up for Reading Race

By Joe Sherk

DRUMMONDS, Tenn. --

Clay Millican and Mark Pickens

Clay Millican is returning to NHRA Top Fuel racing in October with sponsorship from former car owner Kenny Koretsky's Nitro Fish Apparel.

The popular driver from Drummonds, Tenn. will be making his first 2010 appearance at the Toyo Tires Nationals, Oct. 8-10, at Maple Grove Raceway near Reading, Pa. He will be in the same MPE Motorsports dragster he drove to a 10th place a year ago en route to his first Full Throttle Drag Racing Series top 10 finish.

"I am happy to be able to help Clay and Mark (Pickens of MPE Motorsports) race this year," Koretsky said. "Maple Grove is my home track and there will be a lot of family and friends cheering for the Nitro Fish teams that weekend. We'd like to see Clay and Mark at every race in 2011."

Koretsky was the team owner when Millican won 13 races and two IHRA world championships in 2005 and 2006. He also claimed the $106,000 top prize in a special event, the Rocket City Nationals at Huntsville, Ala., in 2005.

Millican said he and Pickens have spent much of this year searching for marketing partners. "We've done a lot of talking and we hope to get back to the track on a regular basis next year. Right now, I know I will be very excited to mash the Nitro Fish dragster's gas pedal at Maple Grove.

"I'm very happy he wants us to be there," Millican continued. "We hope to make him proud of our performance at his home track."

The opportunity comes at the right time, commented Pickens, because the team has finished refurbishing its shop in Munford, Tenn., following May's devastating floods. "The guys have been working on the car, motors and everything necessary to get us ready to go.

"We are excited about the chance to get back to racing," Pickens continued. "Clay will be able to stay current driving the car. We fully expect to be out there next year with all of other the teams."

"It would be great if we could have a repeat performance of our 2008 race at Reading," Millican said. After a 13-event layoff, the team returned and he qualified 13th. He began eliminations with an upset win over No. 4 qualifier J.R. Todd in the first round, and he followed it by beating No. 5 qualifier Morgan Lucas in the quarterfinals. Millican lost to Tony Schumacher, the No. 1 qualifier and eventual race winner, in the semifinals.

Pickens is uncertain how many times Millican will race this year. "There may be two more," said Pickens. "It depends on how well we do."

The only two stops on the 2010 schedule after Reading are at Las Vegas (Oct. 29-31) and the season finale at Pomona, Calif., Nov. 11-14.

NHRA: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Oct 22- NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Awards Ceremony Returns to Pechanga Resort Casino
Oct 22- NHRA Breakfast at 2026 SEMA Show Features Legends, Champs & A Rookie Talking Funny Car Showdown
Oct 22- DALLAS - Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Wrap Up
Oct 22- Five NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Drivers Currently Eligible for 2026 Rookie of the Year
Oct 22- Lucas Oil and NHRA Celebrate 25-Year Partnership with Multi-Year Extension
Oct 19- DALLAS - Sunday Video
Oct 18- DALLAS - Sunday Wrap Up
Oct 18- DALLAS - Summary of Eliminations in Super Stock
Oct 18- DALLAS - Summary of Eliminations in Competition Eliminator
Oct 18- DALLAS - Summary of Eliminations in Top Fuel