Some might think about ‘March Madness’ as a term associated with college basketball. Well, for Hoosier Thunder Motorsports is the last minute mad dash to get ready for San Antonio.
In just six days the big rigs will be pulling out of Elkhart and heading towards Texas. But it’s never too late to add to the good news.
Late last week the London Free Press (London, Ontario) did a story on Paul Noakes and Les Mellows joining Hoosier Thunder (I guess that’s the “I” in IHRA – for International.). You can read the story here – Drag Racer realizes dream. Jim Cressman did a nice article on those guys.
McMillen makes move to put Amalie Oil InstiGator in winner’s circle
Mellows and Noakes join Hoosier Thunder Motorsports
ELKHART, Ind. – Terry McMillen, Hoosier Thunder Motorsports team owner announced changes today to his long-time ride, the Amalie Oil InstiGator Funny Car, powered by Torco Race Fuels. McMillen will turn over tuning and driving duties on the Amalie Oil InstiGator to concentrate on the Amalie Oil Top Fuel Dragster. The move will strengthen both the Top Fuel and Funny Car teams.
McMillen will rely on the championship tuning abilities of veteran Les Mellows while driving duties will rest on the shoulders of Paul Noakes. Both Mellows and Noakes reside in Ontario.
“Last season I drove both the Top Fuel and Funny Car,” McMillen explained. “Last season the Top Fuel car was owned by Foley and Lewis and this season it will be out of the Hoosier Thunder stable. We’re excited about having two top professional cars on our team. I’m confident that Les and Paul can take that car to the next level and represent Amalie and all of our associate sponsors well.”
McMillen drove the Amalie Oil InstiGator for seven seasons with a career best third place finish in 2004. The winner’s circle eluded McMillen until last season, when he captured his first Iron Man behind the wheel of his Top Fuel Dragster. “It’s a hard decision to take yourself out of the drivers seat,” McMillen said. “But Amalie deserves the best on both of these cars. I can’t think of anything that would make me happier than to have both cars in the winner’s circle before the season is over.”