Clay Millican may not have run the entire Knoll Gas Nitro Jam series this season, but Friday at Maryland International Raceway he felt right at home.
 
The six-time IHRA Top Fuel World Champion, driving in just his second Knoll Gas Nitro Jam national event of the season, jumped straight to the top of the Friday qualifying sheet and provisionally broke Melanie Troxel’s mph world in the process, clocking a 4.642 at 328.14 mph.

 

Clay Millican may not have run the entire Knoll Gas Nitro Jam series this season, but Friday at Maryland International Raceway he felt right at home.
 
The six-time IHRA Top Fuel World Champion, driving in just his second Knoll Gas Nitro Jam national event of the season, jumped straight to the top of the Friday qualifying sheet and provisionally broke Melanie Troxel’s mph world in the process, clocking a 4.642 at 328.14 mph.
 
“I didn’t think a 4.64 would stand up because of the conditions and I even had to pedal it,” Millican said. “If I didn’t pedal it I think it would have run in the .40’s. I love this place, that’s why I’m here. There is nothing better than racing in Budds Creek.”
 
Michael Gunderson (Middleburg, FL) was second on the provisional Top Fuel qualifying sheet with a career best 4.668 at 301.74 mph. Current points leader T.J. Zizzo was on the wrong side of the bump spot after Friday qualifying as his tire-shaking 8.559 put him ninth on the sheet.
 
Bob Gilbertson (Gastonia, N.C.) claimed the provisional Nitro Funny Car pole and grabbed Last Man Standing brought to you by MetalWood Bat honors with a 4.921 at 309.77 mph.
 
Scott Cannon (Lyman, S.C.) became the second Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified driver to ever dip into the 5.90 range, running a 5.993 at 240.64 mph to climb to the top of the provisional qualifying sheet during Friday evening qualifying. Cannon’s 5.993 blistered the Maryland International Raceway et record and his speed was good enough to set the IHRA world speed record, pending a back-up. Cannon will have to make an official run within one percent of his 240.64 during the event to claim the record. Cannon also claimed the five points for winning Last Man Standing honors.
 
“When we left the pits we weren’t worried about the five points, we just wanted to qualify. We backed the car down a little bit but must have gotten a little confused along the way,” Cannon said with a chuckle. “Now we’re qualified so we can go after it every pass tomorrow.”
 
Mike Janis (Buffalo, N.Y.) also set a provisional speed world record, surpassing Cannon’s mph with a 241.02 pass. Janis can claim the world speed record with a back-up pass during the event.
 
Dale Brand provisionally rewrote the Alcohol Funny Car record books with his powerful blast down the track Friday. His 5.604 at 249.39 obliterated both ends of the track record and provisionally set both ends of the world record. He also claimed the five bonus points for winning the Last Man Standing brought to you by MetalWood Bat.
 
Brand raced for the first time since going to seven final rounds during the 2002 season last weekend in Milan, Mich. At that event he established a new et record, but knew he had even more power heading to Maryland International Raceway.
 
“We knew when we left Milan we had more in it,” he said. “We were a little worried about the starting line, but down-track this was awesome. It was a lot of fun out here. IHRA did a great job getting this track ready for this weekend.”
 
Robert Patrick (Fredericksburg, VA) claimed the provisional pole in the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock class, becoming the second member of the Jerry Haas 6.20’s Club and provisionally matching the world et record when he laid down a blistering 6.299 pass. Patrick also claimed the Quartermax Last Man Standing honors for Friday evening, adding five to his national points lead.
 
“We haven’t really been paying attention to the Quartermax Last Man Standing points, but it looks like we’re going to need them,” Patrick said. “It was great to be able to come out here and qualify #1 Friday and get into the Jerry Haas 6.20’s Club in the process.”
 
The IHRA mph world record also fell, pending back-up, when Brian Gahm (Lucasville, Ohio) was clocked at 223.06 mph through the traps at the finish line. Cary Goforth (Holdenville, OK) had set the world speed record two pairs earlier, posting a 222.88. Both drivers will have the chance to back up their record runs during Saturday qualifying or Sunday during the rounds of elimination.
 
The Torco President’s Cup Nationals at Maryland International Raceway will continue Saturday with the first professional qualifying session scheduled for 10:30 a.m. There will be an afternoon qualifying session at 2:30 and an evening session, as part of the Night of Fire, scheduled for 7 p.m.