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GAINESVILLE, Fla. - There are times when the difference
between winning and losing is attitude.
Even though six-time IHRA Top Fuel world champion Clay
Millican didn’t light a single win-light during the NHRA ACDelco Gatornationals
in Gainesville, Fla., he and his SinFuel Choppers Top Fuel dragster presented by
Torco Race Fuels/Knoll Gas might as well have scored the overall
victory.
The real triumph was in providing a measure of encouragement
for team owner Evan Knoll, who was sidelined earlier in the year with serious
health issues. Millican drove his way into a tough sixteen car field with only
one testing weekend’s worth of preparation.
“This was a weekend to help Evan feel better,” Millican said.
“We came out here with the intention of giving him something to root for. He
provided us with the opportunity to go and I am so proud of the way this team
has performed for the last two weekends.”
When one considers the additional facts, the team didn't get
the word they would race in the Gatornationals until four days prior to the
event, it makes their effort even more impressive.
“We were really pumped up about testing last weekend and then
the call came in telling us we had a green-light to head to Gainesville,”
Millican said. “It didn’t take long for the realization to set in, ‘hey, we’re
racing this weekend.”
Such a proclamation for the SinFuel Choppers Top Fuel team
presented by Torco Race Fuels/Knoll Gas was a complete 180-degree turnaround for
a team who had accepted the fact they would be limited to testing for the
duration of the 2008 season while Knoll healed from injuries sustained in a 2004
automobile accident.
“Bringing the car out as the first one in both Top Fuel
sessions was tough; that feat alone makes what Johnny West and Lance Larsen
pulled off this weekend even more impressive,” said Millican.
Millican secured his first qualifying berth for 2008 by
landing tenth with a 4.624 elapsed time at 325.77 miles per hour.
Millican then dropped a tough first round match opposite
Brandon Bernstein. The match was anything but a runaway victory for the latter.
Bernstein edged Millican by a 4.593, 325.85 to 4.623, 322.34
margin.
“He left on me but the incremental times had us side by side
all the way,” Millican explained. “It was a heck of a drag race and I can’t help
but be proud to be associated with the incredible team Evan Knoll has formed
here.”
The key the weekend’s success, Millican admits was a lack of
pressure.
“I think all pressure is self-induced,” Millican said. “If
there’s one thing I’ve never gotten from Evan or Latrell [Preston, Torco CFO] is
any pressure demanding that I win. All they do is provide me the tools to get
the job done.
“Pressure can only be self-induced and I’m sure I do manage to
do that from time to time, but I always try to use the pressure as a positive.
Once I’m in the car, all of the pressure is gone. I want to win as bad as anyone
but I look at this experience as just fun. I’m one of the luckiest people
because I’m part of this team.”
SPONSOR FACTS –
TORCO RACE FUELS - Torco Race Fuels, Inc. entered the race
fuels market in 1995 and quickly grew into one of the larger entities within the
industry. The Decatur, Michigan-based company features a broad range of fuels
and power products ranging from sportsman brands to the top of the line
nitromethane.
Torco Race Fuels, Inc. serves as the official race fuel of the
International Hot Rod Association and maintains a solid presence in other
motorsports venues such as motocross, off-road, snowmobile and circle track
racing.
SINFUEL CHOPPERS - Dan King, and his son Deekn, founded
SINFUEL Choppers in 2000. The company evolved from a simple chopper restoration
to a full custom shop today.
Torco Race Fuels owner Evan Knoll has commissioned SINFUEL
Choppers to build a custom chopper in remembrance of those members of the U.S.
Military POW-MIA and their families as well as the veterans past and present. To
honor them, Knoll has committed to a year-long raffle of the bike and will
donate 100% of the proceeds to the National League of POW-MIA Families and
select veterans groups.
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