The sun finally came out Sunday on the Toyo Tires Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, but it didn't
shine on Clay Millican, who lost a traction-troubled first-round Top Fuel race to Cory McClenathan.
And soon thereafter, Joe Hartley, his rival for 10th place in the Countdown race, defeated Doug
Kalitta.
"But we were fortunate because Antron Brown beat Hartley in the second round and we're still ahead
of Hartley," said Millican, "even it is only three points (682-679)." Millican led by 24 going
into Reading.
"We gave it our best shot, but the tires just got loose early in the run. I pedaled it three times
and the tires just wouldn't hook up again. He was farther down the track and able to get his car
hooked up before I did." McClenathan got the win light in 4.255 seconds at 236.17 mph and Millican
followed in 4.597 at 207.85.
Millican said the LifeLockracing.com team plans to test Wednesday at Indianapolis during the annual
pre-Mac Tools U.S. Nationals session at O'Reilly Raceway Park.
"Obviously, we want to get into the Countdown . . . and we have one more chance to make sure we
do," Millican continued. "Lance (Larsen, team crew chief) made a lot of changes going into
Reading, but we weren't able to see what worked because two qualifying runs were rained out. He
plans to talk with Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald, Antron's crew chiefs, during the test session to
get their input."
The 55th U.S. Nationals unfolds Sept. 4-7, and sends the top 10 drivers in each pro category into
the six-race Countdown.
