ATLANTA (April 23, 2008) – When Terry McMillen rolls his Torco powered, Amalie Oil Top Fuel Dragster out of the transporter for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals this afternoon, it will be the first time for McMillen as a team owner and driver. The team adds Ole Country Smokehouse of Anderson, South Carolina as an associate sponsor for the race.
McMillen made his NHRA Top Fuel debut last season. McMillen will strive to qualify and earn his first round win.
“We’re excited about being in Atlanta,” McMillen said as his truck entered Atlanta Dragway. “We planned on running several of the NHRA races this season – Atlanta wasn’t really one of them, but our crew chief John Smith has done a great job of getting a handle on this car and getting our crew to gel in a short amount of time. We’ve got 10 laps on this new chassis and combination and John already has us in the .60’s.”
John Smith, who joined McMillen this season, enjoys a tremendous heritage in drag racing. Smith has been both a driver and crew chief and has competed against his wife Rhonda Hartman-Smith as a driver, and competed against his father Paul and in-laws Virgal Hartman and Richard Hartman as a crew chief.
“We just want to do well for Amalie and Terry,” John explained. “We’re going to try and qualify somewhere in the middle of the pack and then see what happens on Sunday. Anything can happen once Sunday gets here.”
Professional qualifying for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals begins Friday.
McMillen’s unscheduled stop in Atlanta was made possible in part by a one race associate sponsorship from Ole Country Smokehouse. Ole Country Smokehouse has two locations in Anderson, South Carolina and provides catering services for parties, business luncheons, corporate events and fund raisers of any size from 50 to 2000 people.
