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Clay Millican gave longtime racing partner Werner Enterprises a triumphant sendoff Monday with his record-shattering 50th IHRA eMax Drag Racing Series Top Fuel victory in the rain-delayed Universal Technical Institute World Finals at Rockingham Dragway.
The win was Millican's third straight - all, ironically, on rain-delay Mondays - and a remarkable 11th of his career at Rockingham Dragway. It also completed an up-and-down season that saw the Werner Enterprises/Kenny Koretsky Motorsports team collect its sixth straight IHRA championship.
"It's incredible for anyone to win 50 races," said team owner Koretsky. "We are excited about his 50th win and six straight IHRA season championships. It just doesn't get any better than this."
"This 50th win was an incredible deal because it came in Werner's 50th year," said Millican of the bittersweet day. Werner Enterprises, the primary sponsor of Millican and crew chief Mike Kloeber for seven years, recently announced it was leaving drag racing.
"I'll remember this day for a long time, without doubt," he added. "I don't normally get too emotional, but I did. It's a tough, tough thing to see them leave. We absolutely appreciate everything they did for this race team. We will always remain friends."
Millican, Kloeber and crew showed a gritty, determined side in winning this championship. In previous years, they dominated early and coasted home. They won 11 of 12 races in 2002 and 10 of 12 in 2003.
But Millican had to battle back after a slow 2006 start. He only won once in the first eight events, but then the team rallied at the finish, notching Monday victories at Cayuga, Ont., Canada and Budds Creek, Md., before Monday's fitting finale.
He out-dueled and outran Rick Cooper in the last round. Millican left the starting line first and stopped the clock at 4.642 seconds (312.13 mph) to Cooper’s 4.655 at 315.64. Millican defeated T.J. Zizzo in the first round, 4.657 seconds at 312.21 mph to 4.784 at 314.83 and had a bye run in the semifinals when Jim Cavalieri was a no show.
"Monday's have been pretty good to us lately," said Millican. "Mike had the car running good. I guess we've made more Top Fuel runs at Rockingham than anyone else over the last six years. That track has been good to us."
Kloeber said the engine "broke a lifter in the finals and dropped a cylinder but we were able to get the win. It felt great getting our 50th IHRA win. That had been one of our goals all season."
"I'm very, very proud of Mike Kloeber, Clay and the whole team for not losing their composure during this tough season," said Koretsky. "It was a battle to the end . . . and I'm glad we won."
KPK Motorsports appreciates all its sponsors. We couldn't do this without them. Our thanks to Werner Enterprises, Nitro Fish, OCC, Motel 6, Goodyear, Royal Purple, Champion, Speed Pro, Fel Pro, FRAM, Prestone, Autolite, ISC Racers Tape, Cyclo, Boninfante Clutches, American Racing Wheels, Jerry Bickel Race Cars and VHT.
Millican/Team Koretsky Win 50th IHRA Top Fuel Race in Series Finale at Rockingham
Clay Millican gave longtime racing partner Werner Enterprises a triumphant sendoff Monday with his record-shattering 50th IHRA eMax Drag Racing Series Top Fuel victory in the rain-delayed Universal Technical Institute World Finals at Rockingham Dragway.
The win was Millican's third straight - all, ironically, on rain-delay Mondays - and a remarkable 11th of his career at Rockingham Dragway. It also completed an up-and-down season that saw the Werner Enterprises/Kenny Koretsky Motorsports team collect its sixth straight IHRA championship.
"It's incredible for anyone to win 50 races," said team owner Koretsky. "We are excited about his 50th win and six straight IHRA season championships. It just doesn't get any better than this."
"This 50th win was an incredible deal because it came in Werner's 50th year," said Millican of the bittersweet day. Werner Enterprises, the primary sponsor of Millican and crew chief Mike Kloeber for seven years, recently announced it was leaving drag racing.
"I'll remember this day for a long time, without doubt," he added. "I don't normally get too emotional, but I did. It's a tough, tough thing to see them leave. We absolutely appreciate everything they did for this race team. We will always remain friends."
Millican, Kloeber and crew showed a gritty, determined side in winning this championship. In previous years, they dominated early and coasted home. They won 11 of 12 races in 2002 and 10 of 12 in 2003.
But Millican had to battle back after a slow 2006 start. He only won once in the first eight events, but then the team rallied at the finish, notching Monday victories at Cayuga, Ont., Canada and Budds Creek, Md., before Monday's fitting finale.
He out-dueled and outran Rick Cooper in the last round. Millican left the starting line first and stopped the clock at 4.642 seconds (312.13 mph) to Cooper’s 4.655 at 315.64. Millican defeated T.J. Zizzo in the first round, 4.657 seconds at 312.21 mph to 4.784 at 314.83 and had a bye run in the semifinals when Jim Cavalieri was a no show.
"Monday's have been pretty good to us lately," said Millican. "Mike had the car running good. I guess we've made more Top Fuel runs at Rockingham than anyone else over the last six years. That track has been good to us."
Kloeber said the engine "broke a lifter in the finals and dropped a cylinder but we were able to get the win. It felt great getting our 50th IHRA win. That had been one of our goals all season."
"I'm very, very proud of Mike Kloeber, Clay and the whole team for not losing their composure during this tough season," said Koretsky. "It was a battle to the end . . . and I'm glad we won."
KPK Motorsports appreciates all its sponsors. We couldn't do this without them. Our thanks to Werner Enterprises, Nitro Fish, OCC, Motel 6, Goodyear, Royal Purple, Champion, Speed Pro, Fel Pro, FRAM, Prestone, Autolite, ISC Racers Tape, Cyclo, Boninfante Clutches, American Racing Wheels, Jerry Bickel Race Cars and VHT.
