POMONA, Cailf. (November 12, 2017) – Riding the momentum of an NHRA national event win in Las Vegas, Terry McMillen, driver of the AMALIEⓇ Motor Oil XTERMIGATORⓇ Top Fuel Dragster had high hopes for a strong finish at the season’s final event in Pomona. While he came up short in Pomona, he did not come up short on reaching goals for the 2017 NHRA season.
“It’s hard to be disappointed today,” McMillen said after his close opening round loss to Richie Crampton. McMillen posted a 3.769 elapsed time to Crampton’s 3.724. “We’re really starting to run well and gel as a team. So, that’s a reason to not want the season to end. On the other hand we’re excited about the season ending because we hit our two main objectives of winning a race and making the Top 10. Now we can reset our goals, get everyone back to even in points and go after this thing again in a few short months.”
McMillen’s season was filled with career best stats. Here are just a few:
- Reset career elapsed time 3.723 Epping, New Hampshire
- Reset career speed 327.19 mph Epping, New Hampshire
- Most round wins in a season – 14 (prior 3 season he had 16 combined)
- First career win – Las Vegas
- Oldest 1st time winner in NHRA history
- Two final rounds (Seattle and Las Vegas)
Other highlights of the 2017 season include:
- Qualified for all 24 events
- Remained in Top 10 for entire season
- Compiled a 14-23 record – career best .378 win percentage
- Career best average starting position – 9.6 (previous 12.2)
“We accomplished something this year that a lot of people thought a single car team couldn’t do anymore,” McMillen added. “This has been an outstanding year for the NHRA and fans to see Clay Millican’s team and our team get our first wins. I think it’s really good for the fans and the sports that we could prove that anyone can still win on any given race day. I know that we all shed a lot of tears about it. I think we have a formula to keep the independent teams out here competitively. That’s doesn’t mean it will be easy. We have great support from our marketing partners that continue to believe in us and support us and we thank them and the fans that are diligent with their words of encouragement and support.”
“What is it,” McMillen asked “Ninety or 92 days until we’re back out here for the Winternationals? Whatever it is, it won’t be long and you can bet we’ll be ready to go to war all over again.”
