Phoenix: Clay Millican preview

Millican Looks to Improve Upon 5th Place Points Standing at NHRA CSK Nationals

Chicago - Clay Millican of Team 104+ Performance Additives/Lehman Racing, the 2001-2003 IHRA Top Fuel Champion, will race in his second NHRA event of the season at the CSK Nationals at the Firebird International Raceway in Phoenix, Ariz., on March 5-7.

Millican, a former forklift driver from Drummonds, Tenn., is currently in 5th place in the NHRA POWERade Top Fuel points totals, and hopes to improve upon that position with a strong performance in Phoenix.

"I'm looking forward to racing in Phoenix," said Millican. "We made some great testing runs at this track before the season started and I have no doubt that our team will do well. We're hungry for that first (NHRA) win."

In his first race of the season, the NHRA K&N Filters Winternationals, Millican qualified in the number three position and advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating his former crew member, Brady Kalivoda, in the first round. In the quarterfinals, Millican faced 2003 Rookie of the Year Brandon Bernstein, who edged Millican with an elapsed time of 4.482 to Millican's 4.556.

"Last weekend we made four passes in the 4.5 second range, and that gives our team a lot of confidence going into this race," said Millican.

Millican completed his first full Top Fuel season in the IHRA in 2000, finishing second in the IHRA Championship points total. He has won the IHRA Championship every year since, becoming the winningest Top Fuel driver in IHRA history with 30 victories.

The Lehman Racing team plans to race in 10-12 NHRA races this season, while also competing in the IHRA and going for their fourth consecutive Championship on that circuit.

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