PHOENIX, Ariz. – What a difference two weeks can make. After resettng his career best elapsed time two weeks earlier at the NHRA season opener in Pomona, Terry McMillen, driver of the AMALIE® Motor Oil INSTIGATOR Top Fuel Dragster, experienced a polar opposite weekend here in Phoenix.
“We just out tricked ourselves,” McMillen said shortly after an opening round loss to Tony Schumacher. “It seemed no matter what we did it was the wrong thing to do. The car wants to go out there and run a big number. All of the computer data says we’re there. We’ve just to get out of the way and let it happen.”
It’s just two weeks before the east coast opener in Gainesville at the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, arguably one of the largest races on the NHRA tour and some would wonder how much additional pressure that puts on Terry McMillen Racing crew to perform.
“It’s our biggest race no doubt,” McMillen said. “We want to do well there obviously for AMALIE and all of the employees and customers that will be there. So, we’re just going to put this race behind us, learn from our mistakes and take that Pomona tune up to the sea-level conditions in Florida and see if we can make a run at the heavy hitters in Top Fuel.”
Terry McMillen Racing is proudly sponsored by AMALIE Motor Oil, University of Northwestern Ohio, Genesis Tools, All Star Performance, Flatout Gaskets, Ross Pistons and Penray.
McMillen by the Numbers
- 15 – Position qualified at the Carquest NHRA Nationals
- 6:45am – Time that McMillen and crew showed up at the track for a Live interview with car and driver on ABC 15 in Phoenix
- 19 – days until the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals pro qualifying session start in Gainesville, Fla.
photo copyright Roger Richards and CompetitionPlus.com
