Bristol: Clay Millican preview

Millican to Race in Home State of Tennessee at NHRA O'Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals
Native Volunteer Looks to Repeat Recent Final Round Appearance

Chicago -- Clay Millican of Team 104+ Performance Additives/Lehman Racing will race in his home state of Tennessee at the NHRA O'Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol on April 30 -- May 2, where he will look to build on his recent final round appearance at the NHRA event in Houston.

"It's really exciting to race in my home state," said Millican, a native of Drummonds, Tenn. "I am a Volunteer at heart, and anytime I race in the state of Tennessee I feel at home. It is very important to me to do well in front of my fellow Tennesseans."

Millican enters the race with a great deal of confidence and high expectations after advancing to his first career NHRA final round in Houston. Millican defeated Mark Kinsella, Doug Kalitta, and 2002-2003 NHRA Top Fuel Champion Larry Dixon en route to his finals appearance, where he lost to Brandon Bernstein.

Millican will look to repeat this performance, and is hopeful for his first-ever NHRA Top Fuel victory. "The team is even more prepared now than we were in Houston," said Millican. "Winning the (IHRA) race in Rockingham and making six more runs last weekend has certainly helped us get ready for this race."

A three-time IHRA Top Fuel Champion, Millican is currently 11th in the NHRA POWERade Top Fuel points standings after competing in just three of five NHRA national events this season. With his success in Houston, he brought his career NHRA round winning percentage to 48% in just 31 career NHRA starts since 1998.

Millican will race in at least eight NHRA national events this season with Team 104+ Performance Additives, while going for his fourth consecutive Top Fuel title in the IHRA with Team Werner. He currently holds the first place position in the IHRA points standings, and recently tied the IHRA record for most career wins in any professional class with his 32nd career victory at the IHRA Spring Nationals in Rockingham, N.C.

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