Fri, 30 May 2008, 05:20 PM Clay Millican and New Partner Mark Pickens Plan Return to NHRA Racing

Courtesy of Joe Sherk

DRUMMONDS, Tenn. -- Popular Top Fuel driver Clay Millican and Memphis businessman Mark Pickens have formed a partnership with plans to debut a new race team in time for NHRA's U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis, Aug. 29-Sept. 1.

Millican's contract and assets were acquired from Evan Knoll. They will operate under MPE Motorsports, LLC. "We are also searching for primary sponsors," said Pickens.

Millican's ready smile and fan-friendly approach made him a crowd pleaser. He won six straight IHRA Top Fuel World Championships (2001-06) and 51 races. He has been sidelined since January.

"I am so happy we have the opportunity to go racing again," Millican said. "One thing I really enjoy is driving a Top Fuel car. I can't wait to get behind the wheel.

"My only regret is that I wasn't able to get some wins for Evan in the Knoll Gas Motorsports dragster last year because he certainly gave us every opportunity in the world in our first full NHRA season. We didn't run as well as we wanted, but that was not Evan's fault.

"Mark and I wish Evan a speedy recovery," Millican continued. "I thank him for everything he has done for us. We can't wait to have him back at the races."

Veteran tuner Lance Larson has been hired as the team's crew chief. It will be based in Munford, Tenn., not far from Millican's home in Drummonds, Tenn. Larson and Millican have worked together before, including last year.

"I am really excited to get Clay back into racing," said Pickens, who is also a Sportsman racer. "He deserves the chance to show the entire racing community why he had so much success in IHRA racing."

Although on the sidelines for five months, Millican has kept very busy.

"Things were hectic while we tried to figure out what we were going to do," he reported. "It was nice to find I have a very good friend in Mark Pickens. He's a fantastic businessman and looked at this opportunity from a business perspective. He thought there was no reasons we couldn't make this work and keep the Top Fuel team in Tennessee.

"I spent more time on the phone working hard to make sure this is a good deal for Mark, myself and our brand new MPE Motorsports. There's a lot that goes into not just running these things but making sure everything is in place business-wise so that it works for everybody."

Millican did make a 12-day trip to Iraq earlier this month to visit the troops. Accompanying him were drag racers Erica Enders and Phil Burkhart and NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield. "That was a fantastic experience for me, one I'll never forget," he said.

But now the focus is on racing.

"We have a lot to look forward to," Millican said. "We are working on a new race shop in Munford. It is going to be very nice; something we can all be proud of. And when we get back on the track, we hope to win some races and maybe be a spoiler for those Countdown to the Championship drivers."