MADISON, Ill. – Terry McMillen drove his Amalie Oil Top Fuel Dragster to another career best qualifying effort at the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals this past weekend at Gateway International Raceway. While McMIllen’s seventh best qualifying position would be a new career best for the Elkhart, Ind. resident, it would not be enough to propel him to his first round win of the 2010 season. Veteran Pat Dakin would provide McMillen his sixth consecutive loss.
“I hope that’s the last chapter in our book on how to lose races in the first round,” a frustrated crew chief Richard Hartman said.
While McMillen trailed in the race early (.025 seconds at 330ft.) he had managed to narrow the gap to .006 seconds by half track before pitching the blower belt and coasting to a 4.006 second pass to Dakin’s 3.954 winning effort.
“Sure it’s frustrating,” McMillen said. “I talked to my team and told them to keep their heads up. Our time is coming. We can’t keep putting together good qualifying runs and not eventually figure out how to make one of those good runs come on Sunday morning.”
