Clay Millican and the Hope4Sudan/Motorvation Top Fuel team are again in control of their climb up
NHRA's Full Throttle point standings. Millican squares off against Doug Kalitta in Sunday's
opening round of the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals after qualifying ninth, right behind
Kalitta.
Kalitta, meanwhile, is ninth in series points (507), 57 ahead of the fan-friendly driver from
Drummonds, Tenn. Millican defeated Kalitta in the first round at Englishtown, N.J., two weeks ago.
"We have a repeat of our last race," said Millican, "even down to Antron Brown racing Joe Hartley
in the first round. And we are definitely hoping for the same outcome."
Millican's win then moved him closer to Kalitta in points and farther ahead of Hartley, who is
11th.
Millican's 3.957-second run Friday night was his qualifying best. He also had elapsed times of
4.090, 4.007 (second-quickest of Saturday's first session), and a tire-smoking, early-shutoff 5.455
in his final attempt.
"We could've had a quicker time on the (4.007) run," added Millican, "but the driver did a two-step
on the throttle. The car left hard on the second run, but it was too much for the hot track to
hold. And it was hot; the track temperature on that run was 135 degrees.
"I think it's supposed to be hot again Sunday -- and we hope so. I think it's time to put the
Topeka tune-up back in the car."
Millican finished second there in similar weather conditions. Should situations also repeat
themselves, he would have another opportunity to claim the coveted NHRA race victory.
