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CHANDLER, Ariz. - It came like a bolt out of the blue, and it was something Clay Millican, Mike Kloeber and the veteran crew had been seeking -- a 4.479-second qualifying run Saturday during qualifying for Sunday's Checkers Schuck's Kragen Nationals at Firebird Raceway. It was the quickest in Millican's driver career.
"That was fantastic," said Millican. "That has been my favorite word lately, and it definitely fits here. I was very happy that our team owner, Evan Knoll, was here to see our run. Mike has been working hard, trying to get hold of a good combination."
Millican, in his first full season of NHRA POWERade Series racing following a record-setting six IHRA Top Fuel championships and 50 victories, didn't qualify for the Winternationals two weeks ago. But he'll begin Sunday eliminations from the No. 3 spot. Ironically, he'll race one of his former IHRA rivals, Doug Foley, in the first round. Foley was 14th at 4.560, 326.16 mph.
"I was beginning to doubt myself," said Kloeber, who has been teamed with Millican throughout his career. "We ran good during testing and I just got behind. I had to be more aggressive on the tune-up and then everything else fell into place. We are all looking forward to Sunday's race."
Millican will be seeking his first NHRA victory.
Millican Records Career-best Time, Qualifies Third at CSK Nationals
Knoll-Gas Motorsports/Torco Racing Fuels Dragster Runs 4.479 Seconds
CHANDLER, Ariz. - It came like a bolt out of the blue, and it was something Clay Millican, Mike Kloeber and the veteran crew had been seeking -- a 4.479-second qualifying run Saturday during qualifying for Sunday's Checkers Schuck's Kragen Nationals at Firebird Raceway. It was the quickest in Millican's driver career.
"That was fantastic," said Millican. "That has been my favorite word lately, and it definitely fits here. I was very happy that our team owner, Evan Knoll, was here to see our run. Mike has been working hard, trying to get hold of a good combination."
Millican, in his first full season of NHRA POWERade Series racing following a record-setting six IHRA Top Fuel championships and 50 victories, didn't qualify for the Winternationals two weeks ago. But he'll begin Sunday eliminations from the No. 3 spot. Ironically, he'll race one of his former IHRA rivals, Doug Foley, in the first round. Foley was 14th at 4.560, 326.16 mph.
"I was beginning to doubt myself," said Kloeber, who has been teamed with Millican throughout his career. "We ran good during testing and I just got behind. I had to be more aggressive on the tune-up and then everything else fell into place. We are all looking forward to Sunday's race."
Millican will be seeking his first NHRA victory.
