McMillen resets track speed record en route to win
GRAND BEND, Ont. – Terry McMillen, Hoosier Thunder Motorsports team owner and driver of the Amalie Oil Top Fuel Dragster, couldn’t have imagined the outcome of the Mopar Canadian Nationals in his wildest dreams. The Elkhart, Indiana based team to both McMillen’s Top Fuel Dragster and the Amalie Oil InstiGator Funny Car driven by Paul Noakes, raced their way to the winner’s circle this past weekend.
“When we started this two-car team I hoped that we could do something like this,” McMillen said. “But I know how hard it is to win one of these things, much less how difficult it would be to get two pro cars to win on the same Sunday. These two teams worked their butts off this weekend to make this dream come true. We’re still pretty ecstatic about the whole thing.”
McMillen qualified his dragster in the second position and then reset Clay Millican’s 2-year-old track speed record in his first elimination round. The 322.42 MPH pass was also a career best. The 4.665 elapsed time was just 0.019 seconds from resetting the track elapsed time record.
Noakes makes third time the charm
GRAND BEND, Ont. – For the third race in a row, Paul Noakes found himself in the final round of an IHRA national event. This time the Mopar Canadian Nationals provided a different outcome as the Les Mellows tuned Amalie Oil InstiGator Funny car prevailed, giving Hoosier Thunder Motorsports its first Funny Car victory ever.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am of these guys,” Terry McMillen, team owner said. “Paul and Les are the best in the business and they proved it again this weekend.”
Of the last 18 races that a Paul Noakes driven / Les Mellows tuned car has been entered, 11 have resulted in a final round appearance, five of those with wins, including the successful defense of the Mopar Canadian nationals.
Noakes and Mellows made the transition to McMillen’s Amalie Oil InstiGator at the beginning of the season with the goal of competing for a championship. “It took a little longer to get the car suited to Paul than we all had hoped for,” Mellows explained. “But now that he is becoming more comfortable with it we can begin to enjoy the results.”
Noakes plans to continue mid-season charge
Grand Bend, Ont. — Paul Noakes has driven the Amalie Oil InstiGator in back-to-back final rounds in each of the last 2 events. The mid-season charge has been enough to tighten the points chase, but not enough to make up any ground on Laurie Cannister, who beat Noakes in both final round appearances.
“We just want to continue this mid-season push,” Noakes said as he greets fans and sponsors at a London media and cancer benefit event. “Laurie is going to be tough to catch if someone in this funny car class can’t put the brakes on her. We’ve had three shots at her this season and have come up empty handed. It’s going to be tough, but I don’t think anyone has conceded the championship yet. We’re not racing for second place yet,” he said with a smile.
Les Mellows, crew chief agrees, “We are still running for number one in the championship, but we need to focus on those that stand in our way and compete at a high level every opportunity we have. The points will be tallied in five more races.”
Qualifying for the Mopar Canadian Nationals kicks off this Friday, July 18 and continues through the weekend with eliminations and champions crowned on Sunday, July 20. The race has Noakes and tuner Les Mellows a little more focused than usual. The Ontarians live just minutes from the Grand Bend Motorplex and consider this their home event.
McMillen reloads for Grand Bend
Grand Bend, Ont. — After returning from Edmonton and a short week at the race shop, Terry McMillen can’t wait to get back to racing. McMillen, driver of the Amalie Oil Top Fuel Dragster is determined to climb back in his dragster and get back winning rounds.
“We were a little disappointed leaving Edmonton,” McMillen admitted. “Those are some of the best fans in all of motorsports, not just drag racing. We wanted to perform better for them and for our sponsors. It just didn’t work out for us the way we wanted.”
McMillen points to the short week between Edmonton and Grand Bend as a turning point for his team. “We’re going to do whatever it takes to get some round wins. My guys are hungry for something positive to happen so we’re happy to get back after it in Grand Bend.”
McMillen to defend Rocky Mountain Nationals title
Edmonton, Alb. – Terry McMillen kicked off race-week for the Rocky Mountain Nationals this morning with an appearance on Canada’s #1 TV station, Global TV. The morning show featured an interview with Terry and newsman Mark Milne. McMillen, driver of the Amalie Oil Top Fuel Dragster, and defending event champion, told Milne that he hopes to repeat.
“Everyone remembers their first win,” McMillen said. “Last year we overcame a lot of adversity to get that win, so it makes it that much more special.” McMillen’s title defense is the first of his career and one that he expects to be tough. “This year’s Rocky Mountain Nationals is very special for our team,” McMillen continued. “Rob and Kim Reeves are working with this team and their busy schedules haven’t allowed them to be at a race yet this season. Having a chance to race and perform well for them will make this race special.”
“The competition in IHRA Top Fuel is tough,” McMillen said. “If there’s an easy round win out there, we haven’t found it.” While McMillen’s low ET of elimination at Maryland was not good enough to advance him past the hole shot victory of Mike Strausburg, he knows his John “Bodie” Smith tuned team is headed in the right direction.
Currently fifth in points, McMillen thinks his team is still in position to win its first championship. “A lot of teams will tell you they aren’t counting points,” McMillen said. “We’re counting them,” he chuckled. “We still control our own destiny. With some good fortune and good luck we should be able to make a run at the top spot.”
Edmonton business support drag racers
EDMONTON, Alb. – Professional drag racing teams from all across the United States will make their way across western Canada’s prairies to arrive this week in Alberta for one of Edmonton’s premier events. The Castrol Raceway will open its gates to host the Rocky Mountain Nationals (July 4-6), the fifth stop on the IHRA drag racing series. Many of the teams do so with the unprecedented support of Alberta area businesses, including the defending event champion in Top Fuel, Terry McMillen (Elkhart, Indiana) and the 2006 event champion and two-time defending IHRA World Champion in Nitro Funny Car, Dale Creasy, Jr. (Beecher, Illinois).
Terry McMillen, driver of the Amalie Oil Top Fuel Dragster looks forward to the race affectionally known as “The Rocky’s”. “Edmonton is a very special place for us,” McMillen said. “We earned our first career win here last year and that was great. But what really makes it a special place is the tremendous support we receive from the fans and businesses.” McMillen will also bring a second car, the Amalie Oil InstiGator Funny Car piloted by Ontario’s Paul Noakes.
Save a horse… ride along with Amalie
To commemorate Hoosier Thunder Motorsports’ ‘goin’ country’ this season – super friend Cori put together this video showcasing our friends over at CMT’s Trick My Truck. As you can see we were all having a ‘Big & Rich’ time during the Milan Motor City Nationals.
It’s not to late – so don’t forget to take your chance to become a part of the crew – enter the Trick My Truck sweepstakes and join Terry over at the Trick My Truck Community.
You can also check out McMillen’s pages on MySpace and Race Pages too.
Stay in touch. There’s no excuse with all these ways on the internet.
Alesi and Ayrton Gerthe attended the fourth stop of the IHRA Pro-Am Series
New Breed Racing competed in Quick Rod class during the recent Pro Am event held at the Pine Valley Raceway near Lufkin, Texas. After a hard weekend of racing the team found themselves very pleased with the outcome.
“Both cars went rounds each day and we had our strongest weekend as a team this year,” said Lisa Gerthe. “Alesi went out in round two on Saturday and on Sunday went down to the final ten cars. Ayrton went to the quarter finals on Saturday and went out in round two on Sunday. Their dedication and commitment in reaching their goal of going rounds for the weekend should definitely move them up in the points. We are very proud of their performance.”
New Breed Racing is proud to partner with Hoosier Thunder Motorsports, Amalie Oil, NGK Spark Plugs, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels, Flatout Gaskets, Go Graphix, Vickery’s Speed Shop, Auto Meter Products, Harwood Industries, Parsley’s Chicken Express, Biondo Racing Products, and Doug Foley’s Drag Racing School.
To learn more about Alesi & Ayrton Gerthe, visit:
Scott Kalitta Passes
Hoosier Thunder Motorsports morns the passing of Scott Kalitta. Scott was fatally injured yesterday during a qualifying pass at the NHRA Englishtown race. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Kalitta family.
The NHRA has set up a Scott Kalitta tribute page where fans, friends and fellow racers can go to remember and celebrate the life of Scott Kalitta.
Noakes races Amalie InstiGator into final round appearance
MECHANICSVILLE, Md. – The Hoosier Thunder Motorsports team car driven by Paul Noakes and tuned by Les Mellows raced the Amalie Oil InstiGator Funny Car to a final round appearance before falling to points leader Laurie Cannister. The effort put the team back into the championship hunt and after four of ten events they sit in the fourth position, just a few rounds from the number two spot.
“It was a great weekend for the car and for this team,” Noakes said after the event. “We’re one step closer to having the perfect car. I couldn’t be happier.”
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