CONCORD, N.C. — After a promising start to the 2011 NHRA season, Terry McMillen is looking for improvement from his Elkhart, Indiana based team. McMillen brings his Amalie Oil/UNOH Top Fuel Dragster to this weekend’s VISITMYRTLEBEACH.COM NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS hoping his team can get back to winning rounds at the zMAX Dragway.
“I’m excited about getting back to four-wide racing,” McMillen said. “I’m hoping the new Christmas tree will make a difference for me. It looks good and visually it makes more sense than last year’s version.”
“When it comes to racing there’s nothing more exciting than racing in North Carolina,” McMillen continued. “These fans are some of the most hard core fans we’ll meet anywhere. When you pull up to zMAX Dragway you know you’re some place special when it comes to racing. Add 32,000 horsepower side-by-side and it’s no wonder even the NASCAR guys have to come out to see it. It’s no doubt a great spectacle.”
McMillen started the season with a round win against defending World Champion, Larry Dixon and has been win less in the past two events. “It feels like a dry spell already,” McMillen said. “We were knocked out of 10th leaving Vegas even though we had a pretty good qualifying effort. We just need to pick up our “A” game on Sunday. We’re going to have to fight harder than we did last season to stay in this points chase. Now is as good a time as any to get another round win.”
McMillen was also excited to announce two new race sponsors for the Four-Wide Nationals. Tim Marburger Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep will provide the tow vehicles and the team will rest peacefully at Double Tree Hotel Charlotte / Gateway Village. “It’s still exciting to us when we get to add quality companies like this to our team,” McMillen said. “Plus we’re going to have them out this weekend to spend some time with us in the pits. Marburger is sending some of their folks from the service department so we might just have to put them to work on our Hemi and see what happens.”
ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 6 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, April 16. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of eliminations coverage beginning at 7 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, April 17.
Full Throttle Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 1:30 and 4 p.m. on Friday, April 15 and 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 16. Final eliminations begin at noon on Sunday, April 17. Tickets are still available for the VisitMyrtleBeach.com NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. Call zMAX Dragway at (800) 455-3267 or visit www.zmaxdragway.com.
