Woodland Park joins Hoosier Thunder as associate sponsor
LAS VEGAS — Terry McMillen is familiar with the high risk, high stakes world of Top Fuel drag racing. As the driver of the Amalie Oil Top Fuel dragster, he knows what it’s like to roll the dice and take a chance. In his first year as owner/driver of a Top Fuel team (second as driver), McMillen has taken many chances to put his team in the position it enjoys today.
This weekend’s ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals will be McMillen’s second NHRA event of the season and third of his career. He is still seeking his first NHRA round win. “I think we picked a pretty tough race to try and make a statement at,” McMillen said. “Everybody is on top of their game right now making a chase for the championship. Plus there’s about two dozen quality cars here trying to battle it out for one of the 16 spots. We’re up for the challenge. I think we can surprise some people if things go our way.”
McMillen’s optimism is not unwarranted. His Doug Kuch tuned Top Fuel machine finished the IHRA season with five final round appearances and two wins. Four of those came in the last five races as the Amalie Oil sponsored team made a push for the championship title.
“I think we have one of the better teams in drag racing,” McMillen said. “I’m sure we don’t have the budget to throw pieces and parts at it like some teams do. We put together a couple of brand new motors just for this deal. Kuch knows how to lean on these things and still get us down the track quick and clean. I’m confident that we can come out here and be competitive.”
Part of McMillen’s inspiration for Vegas is his long-time partner Amalie Oil Company. McMillen will entertain several Amalie overseas distributors in town for the SEMA/APEX show that begins immediately after the race.
Hoosier Thunder Motorsports also announced earlier this week that Woodland Park, Inc. would be an associate sponsor on McMillen’s car in Vegas. Woodland Park manufactures high quality recreational park trailers or Park Models. The Middlebury Indiana company, owned by Ernie Yoder, has always concentrated on quality – not quantity. Woodland Park can be found on the web at www.woodland-park.com.
Yoder has a continuing interest in drag racing. His grandson, Austin “Coil” Lambright, is a Hoosier Thunder crew member and a licensed Quick Rod driver. Lambright, who began his drag racing career in Junior Dragsters, has made several passes towards his Alcohol Funny Car license this year.
