Terry McMillen Racing

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McMillen makes hard work his goal for Denver

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DENVER, Colo.  – The MOPAR Mile-High NHRA Nationals marks the ‘five-to-go’ spot for Terry McMillen and his Amalie Oil/UNOH Top Fuel team. With just five races remaining until the NHRA Countdown to the Championship is set, McMillen knows this is crunch time for his Elkhart, Ind. based team.

“We’ve got our work cut out for us,” McMillen said. “We’ve got a couple of goals this weekend and none of them are easy. First we have to figure out how to make horsepower in the heat and with the mile-high conditions even the birds have to hitchhike to travel. At the same time we have to figure out how to start winning more rounds.”

After a stellar performance and final round appearance in Chicago from David Grubnic, McMillen finds himself outside of the Top 10 for only the second time this season – this time by 11 points. “We’ve got to win more rounds and start distancing ourselves from everyone else,” McMillen added. “It’s probably great show for the fans and everything, but I don’t want to wait to the last race and have a one round difference determining our future.”

McMillen will start race week with a customer appreciation event at La Salle Oil on Wednesday from 12PM-3PM in La Salle, Colo. LaSalle Oil customers and race fans will be treated to a cook-out while the gator-themed McMillen dragster is displayed. McMillen will also sign autographs, the public is invited.

McMillen vows to do whatever it takes in Chicago

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Joliet, Ill. —  Terry McMillen will bring his Amalie Oil/UNOH Top Fuel Dragster to the O’Reilly Route 66 Nationals with one thing on his mind – stay in 10th place for the NHRA Countdown to the Championship.

The Chicago area event marks the 11th stop on the NHRA tour with just six remaining races before the Countdown starts.  “I’m not sure if I like being chased for the 10th spot or chasing someone for the 10th spot,” McMillen said, referring to his failed last second fight last season to make the top 10. “I know we’re going to do whatever it takes to maintain the 10th spot. We’ve got to make up some ground; it has to start in Chicago.” McMillen maintains a slim two-point margin over Bob Vandergriff, Jr. and trails Shawn Langdon by 65 points for the ninth spot.

McMillen grew up about 20 minutes from the Joliet track in Midlothian and expects to see a lot of friends and family at what could be considered his hometown event. “There’s a lot of bragging rights that goes with racing around here,” McMillen said. “Beside family and friends, we’ll have Mark Adelizzi from Flatout Gaskets here. It’s just a big drag racing area – you want to leave here with something to brag about. Schumacher lives near here, Creasy, Jr. and the Zizzo’s – heck I remember delivering parts to “The Greek’s” (Chris Karamesines) garage when I was a 16-year-old kid.”

McMillen’s Elkhart, Ind. based team will also be sponsored in part by LaQuinta Inns & Suites for the race this weekend. the team headquarters will be at the Willowbrook, Ill. hotel just 30 minutes from the track.

McMillen looks for more round wins at Norwalk

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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.

Austin “Coil” Lambright to make Top Fuel debut at Thunder Valley as “Student Driver”

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BRISTOL, Tenn. – Austin “Coil” Lambright will make his Top Fuel debut this weekend during the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Lambright, Terry McMillen’s 24-year-old car-chief, earned his license earlier this season at Charlotte. He’ll race the second entry for Terry McMillen’s Hoosier Thunder Motorsports team.
McMillen is excited about fielding a second car at the famed Bristol Dragway. “I can’t think of a better place to showcase our second car than at Bristol,” McMillen said. “It’ll be great for Amalie Oil, UNOH and Austin.”

Along with flying the same sponsorship banners for his team, Lambright will also carry a “Student Driver” decal across the back wing of the 8,000 horsepower ride. “It’s a way for us to poke a little fun at him and at the same time pay tribute to the UNOH High Performance Motorsports program,” McMillen explained.

Lambright was born to be a drag racer. He was named after the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame member Austin Coil, who was an accomplished driver and the legendary tuner for John Force Racing. Lambright earned the nickname “Coil” from his teammates who noted his dedication to the sport. Lambright also counted Pat Austin as one of his favorite drivers growing up.

“My mom took me to the racetrack when I was six months old,” Lambright told CompetitionPlus.com earlier this year. “I lived at the racetrack from then on. My dad raced. I just worked my way up, started racing when I was 10 years old.” Lambright worked his way through the NHRA classes, competing in Jr. Dragsters, Super Gas, Super Comp, Alcohol Funny Car and now Top Fuel.

“I remember racing at Thunder Valley during the Junior Nationals years ago,” Lambright recalled.  “It’s a cool place. Racing through that valley between the mountains gives these cars a special sound.”

“I’m anxious for Friday to get here,” Lambright said. “I’m ready, the car is ready, it’s time to race.”

While Lambright is prepared to begin his Top Fuel career, he knows the weekend will be busier than normal as he pulls double duty as car-chief on McMillen’s ride and driver of the second Amalie Oil/UNOH Top Fuel Dragster.

When asked about his expectations for the weekend, Lambright showed maturity beyond his 24-year-old stature. “I’ve got to keep up with my duties on Terry’s car,” Lambright explained. “When I’m driving I just want to be a consistent driver and keep it in the groove. Our first goal is to get the car qualified. On Sunday we just want to have our car prepared well, I want to cut a good light and make a nice mid-nineties A to B run.”

Winning his first round in his first outing wouldn’t be a bad thing either.

ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 7 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, June 18. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours and 30 minutes of eliminations coverage beginning at 4:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, June 19.

McMillen ready to make noise in Thunder Valley

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McMillen's Amalie Oil/UNOH Top Fuel Dragster pulling the front tires at the launch

BRISTOL, Tenn. – “I love this place. There’s something about it that makes my short list of favorite places to drag race. It’s just as unique as it gets when it comes to a special place to race.” Terry McMillen doesn’t usually come up short on adjectives, this weekend’s Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals may only be different for the Amalie Oil/UNOH Top Fuel driver because he’ll have more to talk about.

McMillen’s Elkhart, Ind. based Hoosier Thunder Motorsports will field two Top Fuel entries this weekend, his gator-themed dragster will be accompanied by a similar gator-themed dragster driven by his 24-year-old car-chief Austin Lambright. “This is something we’ve been planning for awhile,” McMillen explained. “Part of what we like to do is over deliver for our marketing partners. This is something we want to do for everyone that supports our program – get them more exposure. Plus, Austin has worked so hard to help grow this team to where we’re at today. Our team has always been about supporting the future of our sport and we certainly believe that Austin is part of the future NHRA.”

McMillen is currently 10th in the Top Fuel points standings and in the midst of what is shaping up as a five car fight for the 10th and final spot in the Countdown. “I’ve had more than a few people tell me I was crazy for bringing out a second car right now,” McMillen said. “We certainly don’t want this to be a distraction in our quest to get in the countdown. But at the end of the day, this will be a great thing for our marketing partners and that’s really what this is all about.”

McMillen’s two car team will also receive support this weekend from Grindstaff Ford who will supply the teams with tow vehicles. “Ford is obviously a big part of this race,” McMillen said. “So having the support of a great dealership like Grindstaff means a lot. Plus they’re big race fans. I can’t wait to put both of these cars in the field for them and all of our sponsors.”

McMillen will also spend Thursday, at the Country Club of Bristol to support Speedway Children’s Charity in a golf outing.

ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 7 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, June 18. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours and 30 minutes of eliminations coverage beginning at 4:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, June 19.

Will McMillen bring ‘Big Mo’ to Kansas?

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TOPEKA, Kan.  – Sometimes in sports it’s referred to as “Big Mo”. It’s a game changer, when the momentum, or “big mo”, swings its favor and carries a team to a win. Terry McMillen hopes the momentum gained after Atlanta’s semifinal appearance carries his Amalie Oil / UNOH Top Fuel team to the winner’s circle. This weekend McMillen will try again at Heartland Park Topeka during the 23rd annual NHRA Summer Nationals. 

“Topeka was good to us last year,”McMillen said. “This is where we got our first round win last year and stomped that monkey off of our back.”

The semifinal appearance in Atlanta put McMillen back in the points chase and currently in the top ten in points. “Our team has the confidence now and that’s half the battle to going rounds,” McMillen continued. “Last year it seemed like it was our team and team Kalitta’s David Grubnic fighting it out for that last spot in the countdown. It was tough enough last year, but I think it’s already tougher this year. There’s at least three or four more solid teams fighting for that spot. The only way to stay ahead is to keep winning rounds. That’s our focus right now.”

Ed Bozarth Chevrolet of Topeka joins McMillen this weekend as associate sponsor. Bozarth Chevrolet supplied McMillen with a Chevrolet Tahoe for the team tow viechle.

Atlanta is almost like home for McMillen’s team

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COMMERCE, GA.  – While Terry McMillen’s Amalie Oil/UNOH Top Fuel Dragster is based out of Elkhart, Ind. this weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals will feel a lot like home for McMillen’s team.

“This is almost like a home race for us,” McMillen said. “About half our team lives about 45 minutes from the track. So besides the UNOH and Amalie VIP guests that we’re planning for this weekend, we’ll probably have as many family and friends at this race. It certainly adds excitement and raises the level of expectation for our team.”
McMillen’s team put together its best qualifying performance of the season in Houston, posting their first top half qualifying position. McMillen’s team also earned another bonus point during qualifying for being one of the top three best of session. This brings their season total to five points.

“We didn’t even know qualifying bonus points existed last season,” McMillen joked. “It’s nice to see that improvement.”

Now McMillen hopes that Atlanta will be his team’s breakout race.

“We certainly feel like we’re doing a little better this year than we did at this point last year,” McMillen continued. “Qualifying in the top half field at Houston let us know that the car is starting to respond to the changes we are making and we’re continuing to pick away at the little things that seem to be keeping us from being as consistent as we want to be on race day. We’re expecting that continue this weekend in Atlanta. Hopefully that translates to another top half qualifying effort and some round wins on Sunday.”

Adding to the weekend excitement for McMillen is Commerce Chrysler Dodge Jeep who provided the team with a tow vehicle and McMillen with a Dodge Challenger SRT. “Angie, Bobby and the team over at Commerce Chrysler Dodge Jeep are incredible,” McMillen said. “Having a chance to cruise around town in a Challenger SRT is pretty amazing. The car is a head turner from the time you hit the ignition switch. We put a post on our Facebook page about it and everyone voted that I enter it in competition and get a time slip to show. While it’s tempting to do, it’s not my car, so we’ll just have to enjoy it for the weekend. I’m sure if someone wanted to buy it and take it to the track they wouldn’t object.”

McMillen looking for improvement at 4 Wide Charlotte race

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Terry McMillen - Team Owner / Driver

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.

Fiesta Henderson and Findlay Chevrolet join McMillen in Vegas

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LAS VEGAS — Terry McMillen and Hoosier Thunder Motorsports announced a one race sponsorship for this weekend’s NHRA race with The Fiesta Hotel and Casino and Findlay Chevrolet.

Fiesta Henderson will provide accommodations for McMillen’s team while Findlay Chevrolet provides the team with a 2011 Tahoe for towing McMillen’s Amalie Oil / UNOH Top Fuel Dragster and a 2011 Malibu for the team to get around town in style.

“The hospitality and red carpet that Fiesta rolled out for us is amazing, “McMillen said. “I can see why the locals love this place. Great dining and lots of action makes for fun times.”

McMillen was able to make quick friends with Doug Flemming and George Herold when he visited Findlay Chevrolet in Las Vegas. “Everyone we met a Findlay was so nice,” McMillen said. “Everyone really made me feel at home – it just felt like family.”

 

McMillen hopes for better luck in Vegas

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McMillen's top end interviews are often compared to John Force

LAS VEGAS —  With two races in the record books for the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season, Terry McMillen, driver of the Amalie Oil /UNOH Top Fuel Dragster hopes this weekend’s Las Vegas event is a luck changer for his Elkhart, Indiana based team.

While his performance in the early part of this season has landed him in the Top 10, facing defending NHRA Champion, Larry Dixon, in the first round was not what McMillen had planned.

“No doubt, facing Larry [Dixon] and the Alan Johnson team in the first round at each event was not on our agenda,” McMillen said. “While we split one win and one loss with him in the first two outings, we always hope to meet a strong team like that in the later rounds. Although, if we could maintain a 50% win-loss average against the Alan Johnson teams this season, it would certainly put us in an All-Star category.”

“We’re just going to concentrate on qualifying in the top half of the field and hopefully that will set us up to have better chances to win rounds on Sunday,” McMillen continued. ”I think we have improved a lot over our performance from last season, but so has everyone else. We’re just going to have to continue to improve our game to stay on this race.”

Terry McMillen will make two appearances in preparation for the race. On Wednesday, Terry and the Amalie/UNOH Top Fuel Dragster will be at Meyers Auto Parts from 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. for a customer appreciation event and cookout. The public is welcome. Meyers is located at 3540 Boulder Highway in Las Vegas.

Terry will also participate in an autograph session and fanfest that will take place on the Brooklyn Bridge replica outside the New York New York Hotel & Casino on Thursday, March 31, from 6-8 p.m. NHRA announcer Bob Frey will host a Q&A session with the drivers from 6-7 p.m. Several cars will be on display outside the casino.