Rat
Nitro Member
- Joined
- May 14, 2007
- Messages
- 1,883
- Age
- 40
- Location
- Bay Shore, NY
From my out-of-print book. I own all rights.
Clay Millican has had a career in the IHRA that could make anyone speechless; 6 consecutive championships and 51 wins. On the NHRA side of things his record unfortunately has yet to really be made, but time is running out when it comes to the sport thinking it can keep him winless of a national event. 2012 finds him driving the best and most consistently quick NHRA Top-Fuel Dragster he has ever driven. With almost a career left first average of 75%, he often leaves on his opponents and is more often outrunning them. One of the nicest Top-Fuel racers you will ever meet, you should meet him at your next NHRA event, it may even be the place he finally holds an NHRA trophy.
PK: What are your overall feelings on the countdown and is it a good system for the NHRA?
CM: I think it is a good system. It makes it exciting for the fans. Who’s going to get in, who’s not? Who is going to get it all together at the end of the season and be the champ?
PK: What does it take to be a successful driver in this class?
CM: Understanding the situation you are in each run and doing what needs to be done accordingly.
PK: What is your favorite race track?
CM: This one is easy Rockingham.
PK: You are one of the best in the class for having a really great light at any time leaving almost 75% of the time on your opponents. How do you stay so focused and what do you attribute to being the most important factor?
CM: I think too much emphasis is put on reaction time by the media. So much of the actual number you see has to do with how the driver stages the car. Also car set up has a huge amount to do with what the reaction time number is. For me it is all about being consistent. The things I do to be consistent that is just something I study I a lot.
PK: What is your biggest NHRA and IHRA moment?
CM: IHRA: Beating Shirley for our first win. Getting my head shaved on the starting line at Martin Michigan after beating Big Daddy’s all time when record. Win number 50 at Rockingham knowing that would be my last full season in the IHRA. All six of our Championships are all very special. NHRA: making it to three straight finals.
PK: Do you have any aspirations to drive in another class, or be a crew chief, or a team owner in any class?
CM: My aspirations are simple. I want to continue making a living in the sport I love, so I guess my answer is by any means necessary. I love this sport!
PK: What is your private ride and does your career as a driver/rider influence any of your daily driving habits?
CM: I am just a simple country boy I do not have any fancy rides at all. I drive a 2008 Dodge dually. When you drive as fast as I do for a living driving fast on the public roads just isn’t that fun. I just don’t really drive fast and I am always wearing my seat belt.
PK: Over the course of a weekend the goal is to make 8 passes down the strip. Outside of explosions and any major after run engine damage, what is the maximum expectancy of the parts you have to replace due to wear and what and when do you replace?
CM: I am just going to list out what our standard replacement schedule is.
If you average out the cost of each run over a season it will be about $15k per pass down the track.
PK: The price to race in the sport's top class keeps rising and has almost kept the independent team out of racing completely. What do you see for the reason the costs have skyrocketed and what would you do to put a cap on or decrease the costs making it friendlier to small budget teams?
CM: The reason cost continue to climb is simple, these cars continue to go faster and faster. There is no real simple way to make the cost go down. For every rule that is changed we as racers look for other areas to make up for what we lost. Nitro racing is as close and competitive as it ever has been. Nitro racing now looks like Pro Stock, almost every lap is side by side, close and competitive.
PK: What are your feelings on the sport’s decision to move to 1000 feet?
CM: I do not think the NHRA had any choice. A lot of tracks we race on were built for cars going 200 mph not 330 mph. It was becoming more difficult to stop at some of those older tracks.
PK: If the sport was to return to 1320 feet, what steps would you take in slowing these cars down to make sure that a quarter mile return was a safe return?
CM: I do not think we will return to 1/4 mile racing. I do not know of an economical way to slow these cars down. The fans will expect to see 330 mph 1/2 mile runs. The cars are over 320 now in the 1000’. As I said earlier rules to slow the cars down make the cost go up.
PK: Can you provide an example of the financials and the amount of parts that are needed to compete at top level for a season?
CM: An easy way to think of the budget need for a single car team is $125k per race. So let’s do the math:
23 races x $125 = $2.875 MILLION
PK: Can you provide an example of what a driver would roughly make in a season?
CM: I would say that is all over the board. Some drivers actually pay the team owners to be the driver. Some drivers bring sponsorship with them so they can drive. There are a few paid drivers out there and their salary would be based on experience and how well they work with the teams sponsors. So I guess my answer is there is no real standard going rate.
I can tell you this most crew chiefs will make more than their driver does. NHRA is not NASCAR where the roundy round guys make millions. Your average Top Fuel guy is making a living.
PK: How did you get to drive a Top-Fuel Dragster?
CM: My whole life story in one sentence. I convinced Peter Lehman he needs to become a Top Fuel Team owner and let me drive.
PK: I know your son, Dalton, is a championship winner with ATV’s and Motocross. What sanctioning body does he race for and does he have any NHRA asirations?
CM: My son Dalton won the 450A National Championship in the AMA ATV National Motocross Series in 2011. Dalton loves what he is doing but wants to move into a Top Fuel Car if and when our team could ever add a second car.
Clay Millican has had a career in the IHRA that could make anyone speechless; 6 consecutive championships and 51 wins. On the NHRA side of things his record unfortunately has yet to really be made, but time is running out when it comes to the sport thinking it can keep him winless of a national event. 2012 finds him driving the best and most consistently quick NHRA Top-Fuel Dragster he has ever driven. With almost a career left first average of 75%, he often leaves on his opponents and is more often outrunning them. One of the nicest Top-Fuel racers you will ever meet, you should meet him at your next NHRA event, it may even be the place he finally holds an NHRA trophy.
PK: What are your overall feelings on the countdown and is it a good system for the NHRA?
CM: I think it is a good system. It makes it exciting for the fans. Who’s going to get in, who’s not? Who is going to get it all together at the end of the season and be the champ?
PK: What does it take to be a successful driver in this class?
CM: Understanding the situation you are in each run and doing what needs to be done accordingly.
PK: What is your favorite race track?
CM: This one is easy Rockingham.
PK: You are one of the best in the class for having a really great light at any time leaving almost 75% of the time on your opponents. How do you stay so focused and what do you attribute to being the most important factor?
CM: I think too much emphasis is put on reaction time by the media. So much of the actual number you see has to do with how the driver stages the car. Also car set up has a huge amount to do with what the reaction time number is. For me it is all about being consistent. The things I do to be consistent that is just something I study I a lot.
PK: What is your biggest NHRA and IHRA moment?
CM: IHRA: Beating Shirley for our first win. Getting my head shaved on the starting line at Martin Michigan after beating Big Daddy’s all time when record. Win number 50 at Rockingham knowing that would be my last full season in the IHRA. All six of our Championships are all very special. NHRA: making it to three straight finals.
PK: Do you have any aspirations to drive in another class, or be a crew chief, or a team owner in any class?
CM: My aspirations are simple. I want to continue making a living in the sport I love, so I guess my answer is by any means necessary. I love this sport!
PK: What is your private ride and does your career as a driver/rider influence any of your daily driving habits?
CM: I am just a simple country boy I do not have any fancy rides at all. I drive a 2008 Dodge dually. When you drive as fast as I do for a living driving fast on the public roads just isn’t that fun. I just don’t really drive fast and I am always wearing my seat belt.
PK: Over the course of a weekend the goal is to make 8 passes down the strip. Outside of explosions and any major after run engine damage, what is the maximum expectancy of the parts you have to replace due to wear and what and when do you replace?
CM: I am just going to list out what our standard replacement schedule is.
- Crankshafts: 6 to 8 runs. Cost: $3900
- Connecting Rods: 10-12 runs cost. Cost: $160 each
- Pistons: 6 to10 runs. Cost: $65 each
- Head Gaskets: 1-3 runs. Cost: $160 pair
- Rod and Main Bearings: 1 run Cost: $400
- Oil: 1 run: 8 gallons. Cost: $160
- Spark Plugs: 1 run: 16 Cost: $80
- Plug Wires \ Caps: Replaced after each event: Cost per run: $43.75
- Clutch Disc: 5 per run: used 1 run: Cost: $160 each
- Clutch Floaters: 4 per run: used 1 run: Cost $50 each
- Fuel: 20 gallons per run: Cost $25 per gallon
- Ring and Pinion Gear: used 20-30 runs: Cost $3000
- Rear Tires: 4-6 runs: Cost: $1100 set
If you average out the cost of each run over a season it will be about $15k per pass down the track.
PK: The price to race in the sport's top class keeps rising and has almost kept the independent team out of racing completely. What do you see for the reason the costs have skyrocketed and what would you do to put a cap on or decrease the costs making it friendlier to small budget teams?
CM: The reason cost continue to climb is simple, these cars continue to go faster and faster. There is no real simple way to make the cost go down. For every rule that is changed we as racers look for other areas to make up for what we lost. Nitro racing is as close and competitive as it ever has been. Nitro racing now looks like Pro Stock, almost every lap is side by side, close and competitive.
PK: What are your feelings on the sport’s decision to move to 1000 feet?
CM: I do not think the NHRA had any choice. A lot of tracks we race on were built for cars going 200 mph not 330 mph. It was becoming more difficult to stop at some of those older tracks.
PK: If the sport was to return to 1320 feet, what steps would you take in slowing these cars down to make sure that a quarter mile return was a safe return?
CM: I do not think we will return to 1/4 mile racing. I do not know of an economical way to slow these cars down. The fans will expect to see 330 mph 1/2 mile runs. The cars are over 320 now in the 1000’. As I said earlier rules to slow the cars down make the cost go up.
PK: Can you provide an example of the financials and the amount of parts that are needed to compete at top level for a season?
CM: An easy way to think of the budget need for a single car team is $125k per race. So let’s do the math:
23 races x $125 = $2.875 MILLION
- 2 chassis complete
- 12 complete short blocks
- 16 sets of cylinder heads complete
- 2 complete rear ends
- 2 sets of wings, front and rear
- $175K in clutch disc and floaters
- 23 crankshafts
- 6 super chargers
- 4 Injectors
- 6 sets of rear wheels 3 sets of fronts
- $40k in tires
- $30k in RacePak computer equipment
- 4 sets of MSD Mags
- 200-300 Pistons
- 150-250 Connecting Rods
- 175 sets of Rod and Main Bearings
- 1 complete race rig but you really need 2. It is basically impossible to haul all you need in one rig without being overweight.
- At least 6 people who eat sleep and breathe nothing but your race car.
PK: Can you provide an example of what a driver would roughly make in a season?
CM: I would say that is all over the board. Some drivers actually pay the team owners to be the driver. Some drivers bring sponsorship with them so they can drive. There are a few paid drivers out there and their salary would be based on experience and how well they work with the teams sponsors. So I guess my answer is there is no real standard going rate.
I can tell you this most crew chiefs will make more than their driver does. NHRA is not NASCAR where the roundy round guys make millions. Your average Top Fuel guy is making a living.
PK: How did you get to drive a Top-Fuel Dragster?
CM: My whole life story in one sentence. I convinced Peter Lehman he needs to become a Top Fuel Team owner and let me drive.
PK: I know your son, Dalton, is a championship winner with ATV’s and Motocross. What sanctioning body does he race for and does he have any NHRA asirations?
CM: My son Dalton won the 450A National Championship in the AMA ATV National Motocross Series in 2011. Dalton loves what he is doing but wants to move into a Top Fuel Car if and when our team could ever add a second car.
