NORWALK, Ohio – Terry McMillen, driver of the Amalie Oil/UNOH Top Fuel Dragster will entertain over 100 Amalie and UNOH guest at this weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals. He can’t think of a better way to entertain them than to win the race.
“There’s still a lot of racing to do before we get to Indy (Indianapolis – the final race before the top ten Countdown),” McMillen said. “I don’t want to get there and be 20 points short like last year. If every point counts, then I’m going to start counting them now.”
McMillen missed the 2010 Countdown by the closest margin of any pro category. His Elkhart, Ind. based team has improved, matching their round win total for all of last season through just nine races in 2011. McMillen knows it will take more to stay in the Top 10.
“Last year it was just me and Dave (Kalitta team driver Dave Grubnic) battling for the last spot,” McMillen said. “Now there are four or five of us all wadded up together. The only way to get any breathing room around here is to just start winning. We qualified better at Bristol, heck we even earned an extra point for being third quickest in Q1, but it’s going to take more than that. It’s easier to worry about points in Norwalk that to be worried about points at Indy.”
Guests of McMillen’s pit area will get a special treat in Norwalk as “Lil Gator”, Spencer Lacy, will show of his gator-themed Jr. Dragster. Lacy is the 2009 Dragway 42 Track Champion in the Jr. Super Stock class and competes weekly at Norwalk. “Spencer is part of the future NHRA,” McMillen said. “He’s already been racing for years and I’m proud that he carries the Amalie logo and gator-theme on his Jr. Dragster.”
Kasper Chevrolet-Buick of Norwalk will partner with McMillen’s team and provide a tow vehicle for this event. “The Norwalk community really backs up everything about this race,” McMillen said. “Kasper Chevrolet-Buick is no different. We thank them for their support.”
There are two rounds of professional qualifying scheduled for both Friday and Saturday with eliminations beginning on Sunday. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 10 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, June 25. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of eliminations coverage beginning at 8 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, June 26.
