Dallas: Clay Millican eliminations summary

Ennis, Texas - October 12, 2003 - Clay Millican of Team 104+ Octane Boost/Lehman Racing lost in the first round of eliminations at the NHRA O'Reilly Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex to Jim Head in just the second match-up of their careers.

Millican, a native of Drummonds, Tenn., was the number one qualifier following the first day of qualifications, which provided a wonderful birthday present for his mother, Martha, who is recovering from a gunshot wound suffered earlier in the week during an attempted robbery at the family's store. After Saturday's qualification rounds, he was the number five qualifier with an elapsed time of 4.588 at 314.57 mph.

In the first round of eliminations, Millican faced number 12 qualifier Head. Millican dropped a cylinder and finished with an elapsed time of 4.735 at 302.01 mph, while Head clocked the second-fasted elapsed time of the round with 4.557. Millican now has a 1-1 career record against Head. Additionally, this marks only the second time this year that Millican was eliminated in the first round. He has made it to the semi-finals three times, and the quarterfinals six times this season.

"Today was disappointing," said Millican. "After doing so well in qualifying, we really wanted to go far in eliminations. My crew and I are going to focus on our last two races of the season and try to finish on a good note."

Millican's next NHRA race will be the ACDelco Nationals in Las Vegas on October 24-26 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He will finish the season at the Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif., on November 6-9.