Elkhart, Ind. – March 16, 2006 – If a car could smile, the Amalie Oil InstiGator Funny Car, powered by TORCO Racing Fuels, would show off a toothy grin as big as the state of Texas. Maybe the car is just a reflection of its driver. Terry McMillen, pilot of the InstiGator, smiles as easy as the paint scheme on his hot rod. “Texas feels a lot like home for this team,” said McMillen. “It’s the first race of the eMax Drag Racing season and it’s the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals, there’s plenty to be happy about.” It’s no wonder San Antonio feels like home for the Hoosier Thunder Motorsports team, the InstiGator has posted a semi-final and final round appearance in the past 2 season.
The 5th Annual Amalie Oil Texas Nationals will be contested March 24-26, but race week starts early for McMillen and his team. McMillen will make several appearances leading up to the race, including a stop at Rockdale High School and at San Antonio area NAPA stores.
Rockdale Texas is the home of Hoosier Thunder Motorsports, adopted Junior Dragster family, the Gerthe’s, who race under he New Breed Racing banner. The Hoosier Thunder team started the program in 2005 to embrace the youth of drag racing. “The Gerthe’s really exemplify what drag racing is all about,” McMillen explained. “It’s a true family sport. They live it and it shows in how tight knit they are as a family.”
Parents Lisa and Duane lead the team, Ayrton and Alesie provide the driving skill and competitive edge. During the off-season the Gerthe’s continued their holiday tradition by delivering Christmas Round-Up, food and toys for needy families in the Rockdale area. Alesie also donated 10 inches of hair to “Locks of Love”, a charity that provides custom-fitted hair pieces to financially disadvantaged children with medical hair loss. “They’re a tremendous asset to this sport and to their community,” added McMillen. Alesie was recently selected as a member of the Rockdale High School Peer Assistance Leadership Program (PAL®). PAL® is a peer-to-peer outreach program designed to provide students the opportunity to create supportive environments that empower their peers to make healthy, positive decisions.
McMillen and the Hoosier Thunder Motorsports team will make a stop at the Rockdale High School on Tuesday, March 21, for a school assembly and to showcase the InstiGator Funny Car along side New Breed Racing’s Junior Dragsters and the newly unveiled Quick Rod Dragster that Alesie will pilot this season. “I’m really looking forward to this,” said McMillen. “It a great way to spend time with the Gerthe’s and honor their achievements. It’s also an opportunity to continue our educational program and positive messages to students.”
The Amalie Oil InstiGator will then continue its Texas tour with an appearance at the NAPA store located at 6018 West Avenue, San Antonio on Wednesday, March 22. The car will be on display from 10AM – 6PM while Terry provides autographs and racing stories for fans and friends of NAPA. “The NAPA – Amalie relationship in Texas is remarkable,” said McMillen. “Steve Anderson (NAPA District Sales Manager) does a fantastic job. We enjoy spending time with NAPA, it’s one of the things we always look forward to when we come to Texas.”
The Amalie Oil InstiGator Funny Car will also be on display and McMillen will participate during media day festivities on Thursday. The Amalie Oil Texas Nationals presented by Ancira Cars, Trucks and RVs and the San Antonio Express-News will begin on March 24 and conclude with championship rounds on March 26.
McMillen and the Amalie Oil InstiGator Funny Car partner with quality, high performance companies like Amalie Oil, eRaceFuels, Flatout Gaskets, NGK Spark Plugs, MSD, Performance Graphics, Powershield Coatings and Crane Cams.
