Grand Bend, ONT- As summer sets in and the weather heats up, so does the race for points towards the 2005 IHRA Funny Car Championship. The 6th Annual Mopar Canadian Nationals proved to be as hot as the summer for the Amalie Oil InstiGator, powered by TORCO Racing Fuels.
Although Grand Bend Canada usually enjoys temperatures in the mid to low 70s, during the race teams were challenged to work with temperatures nearing 100 degrees and with a corrected altitude exceeding 4000 feet.
Terry Mc Millen, pilot of the 1999 Dodge Avenger, narrowed the points margin by defeating the defending world champion, Rob Atchison in the first round. Mc Millen’s semi-final appearance, coupled with a Mark Thomas first round loss to Jim Sickles tightens up the points race for the top four drivers leaving Mc Millen, Thomas, Sickles and Atchison within roughly 2 elimination rounds of each other. “This is one of the closest points races I can remember after 4 events”, Mc Millen recalled. “With less than 50 points between us, you can bank on the IHRA funny car class being a battle to the end.”
During elimination rounds the InstiGator car was equipped with a SPEED TV “in-car camera” to catch all of the action. The show featuring Mc Millen and his InstiGator will air on August 13th and again on August 15th at 4PM and 5PM respectively.
“Anytime that we get an opportunity to do these types of special projects – we jump at the chance,” explained Mc Millen. “The fans love seeing what goes on inside the Amalie Oil InstiGator during the race. Of course our sponsors love the attention it brings to the team. We’ve got the best partners in the business. When you talk about quality, everyone thinks of Amalie Oil, TORCO Racing Fuels, Flatout Gaskets, NGK Spark Plugs, MSD, Performance Graphics, Powershield Coatings and Crane Cams.
The next race in the IHRA Hooters Drag Racing series is the 3rd Annual Western RV Nationals presented by TORCO Racing Fuels. Mc Millen had an outstanding race at the 2004 event, finishing in the runner up position with a final round appearance. “We have always run well in Edmonton! We hope to continue that string,” exclaimed Mc Millen. “Track owners, Rob and Kim Reeves have spent many hours re-doing the track surface and facilities. We would like nothing more than to put the Amalie Oil InstiGator powered be TORCO race fuels in the winners circle. Evan Knoll President of Torco is keeping the hair clippers by his side.” When Terry wins, Knoll is providing a free hair cut, which is part of a year long standing bet.
Western RV will join the InstiGator marketing team in Edmonton again this year. “Western RV is the title sponsor for the Rocky Mountain Nationals, we’re proud to be associated with them,” stated InstiGator Marketing Director Jim Walczak. “Not only is Western RV Canada’s largest RV Dealer, they’re also number 1 in fun and they enjoy providing a way for families to make memories.” Mc Millen added, “We worked with Craig Amstead last year and we both enjoyed tremendous success. We have the time of our lives when we’re in Edmonton with the Western RV family.”
The 3rd Annual Western RV Rocky Mountain Nationals will be contested June 24-26 at Budweiser Motorsports Park in Edmonton, Alberta Canada.
For more information visit:
Western RV
Budweiser Motorsports Park
Connect with Terry McMillen Racing
