Clay Millican wasn't able to claim another Top Fuel victory in Norwalk Sunday, but he did win his
important first-round race against Doug Kalitta in the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals.
After being delayed for almost two hours by a thunder storm that drenched Summit Motorsports Park,
Millican's Hope4Sudan/Motorvation Top Fuel dragster was first off the starting line and stayed
there, getting the win light in 4.045 seconds at 287.41 mph to Kalitta's 4.332 at 244.12.
Millican now trails Kalitta by 38 points (540-502) in the fight for ninth place as NHRA's Full
Throttle Series heads into the final six races of the regular season.
"That was a big win for us," said Millican. "Being the first pair out is scary anyway, but it was
worse this time because of the rain delay," Millican said. "But the car was smooth, went straight
down the race track and we were able to get the win."
That put Millican into the quarterfinals opposite Larry Dixon, the race's No. 1 qualifier. Dixon
took advantage of tire smoke from Millican's car to drive away to the win - 4.174 at 251.81 mph to
a coasting 8.117 at 72.75.
"We smoked the tires early and lost the race," Millican said. "We did get the win against Kalitta,
which was very important, and (11th place) Joe Hartley lost in the opening round."
Up next is the annual Western Swing - successive races at Denver (July 12), Seattle (July 19) and
Sonoma, Calif. (July 26).
