Rockingham Friday qualifying summary

Millican Leads IHRA Qualifying at U.S. Sports Scene.com Spring Nationals

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- (April 23, 2004) - Clay Millican led first day Top Fuel qualifying Friday at Rockingham Dragway during the U.S. Sports Scene.com Spring Nationals presented by Advance Auto Parts and Castrol. Millican, of Drummonds, Tenn., ran the quarter-mile in 4.550-seconds at 317.42 mph.

Other No. 1 qualifiers include Fred Hahn, West Seneca, N.Y., (Pro Modified); Rob Atchison, London, Ontario, Canada, (Funny Car); and John Nobile, Melville, N.Y. (Sunoco Race Fuels Pro Stock).

Millican's No. 1 Top Fuel is the quickest pass in IHRA history. He needs a 4.595 ET to back up the run for the IHRA national record. He also reset the Rockingham Dragway track records. Bruce Litton is in the second spot with Wilkesboro, North Carolina's Danny Dunn and Tim Cullinan third and fourth.

Hahn holds the No. 1 Pro Modified position with a 6.144 ET at 229.12 mph. Canadian Rick Distefano is No. 2, with defending event winner Mike Janis and Al Billes third and fourth.

In Funny Car Atchison claimed No. 1 with a 5.809, 239.44, to hold off current points leader Mark Thomas in the second spot. Defending world champion Atchison was the top qualifier at this event in 2003, however, Thomas, a five-time world champion, went on to win the event. Ronnie Midyette is third followed by Dan Roman and Terry McMillen.

Nobile took the top spot in Pro Stock covering the quarter-mile in 6.529-seconds at 212.03 mph. Holding the second spot is John Montecalvo, who defeated Nobile in the final round one month ago in San Antonio. Pete Berner, 2003 No. 1 qualifier, is third, followed by 2003 event-winner Rick Jones and Ron Miller.

Qualifying resumes Saturday at 1 p.m. for the U.S. Sports Scene.com Spring Nationals presented by Advance Auto Parts and Castrol at Rockingham Dragway. The final round of qualifying is scheduled for 6 p.m., with final eliminations Sunday.

-ihra-