Extreme 10.5 star Dan Millen didn’t win either race in the ADRL’s latest two-in-one event, but he still left Norwalk, Ohio, on a successful note.

A second-round appearance in the rain-postponed completion of Dragstock VII at Summit Motorsports Park last weekend combined with a runner-up finish in the Ohio Drags IV portion vaulted Millen from 11th place in points past Eric Stubbs and Michelle Wilson and up to the eighth and final qualifying spot for the series’ championship-deciding Battle for the Belts next month in Texas.

Additionally, the Michigan-based racer officially lowered the class ET record to an incredible 3.82 seconds, which narrowly missed backing up his even quicker 3.78 run in qualifying number one for the Ohio Drags.

“I’m not going to lie, I was really nervous we weren’t going to make it into the Battle for the Belts. I most definitely thought we had started one race too late,” Millen admitted, referring to sitting out much of the first half of the season while sorting out his blown Hemi-powered 2010 Mustang.

Extreme 10.5 star Dan Millen didn’t win either race in the ADRL’s latest two-in-one event, but he still left Norwalk, Ohio, on a successful note.

A second-round appearance in the rain-postponed completion of Dragstock VII at Summit Motorsports Park last weekend combined with a runner-up finish in the Ohio Drags IV portion vaulted Millen from 11th place in points past Eric Stubbs and Michelle Wilson and up to the eighth and final qualifying spot for the series’ championship-deciding Battle for the Belts next month in Texas.

Additionally, the Michigan-based racer officially lowered the class ET record to an incredible 3.82 seconds, which narrowly missed backing up his even quicker 3.78 run in qualifying number one for the Ohio Drags.

“I’m not going to lie, I was really nervous we weren’t going to make it into the Battle for the Belts. I most definitely thought we had started one race too late,” Millen admitted, referring to sitting out much of the first half of the season while sorting out his blown Hemi-powered 2010 Mustang.

The relief was countered, however, by a certain amount of aggravation about the ways in which he bowed out of both races in the Buckeye State.

After easily getting past Jeff Naiser in the Dragstock opener, Millen lined up against Kenny Doak (coincidentally his first-round opponent in the Battle for the Belts), who popped the blower on his ’70 Chevelle during the burnout. What should have been an automatic advancement to the semis turned into his own disqualification, however, when Millen’s car also was shut down at the end of its burnout with a fluid leak.        

“Our oil line fitting was loose, but I’m not going to beat up any of the crew too much because stuff like that can happen,” Millen said. “So yeah, I’m mad about it, but you know, these guys try their hardest and mistakes happen. But I can assure you, that problem will never happen again.”

Besides, fast forward to Saturday night and Millen made his own mistake. When the starting tree came down for the final round against Chuck Ulsch, he left .009 too soon, throwing away a 3.89 pass while Ulsch blew up in the opposite lane and coasted to victory.

“When I got back to the trailer I was obviously mad because I red-lit, but then I went to the tower and found out what the points were and they told me I had made it into the Battle for the Belts. I thought for sure we didn’t make it, but once we found out I was in there the irritatingness of me red-lighting eased. I was still not happy about the red light, of course, but it made it a lot easier to take,” Millen said.

The record-setting elapsed times also helped salvage the weekend, though Millen admitted they came as a surprise.

“I was very happy with the .78, but it was unexpected,” he said. “People don’t realize just how good that Norwalk track was through that morning session. It was absolutely one of the best tracks we’ve ever raced on.”

Still, Millen dismisses any suggestion that the track was “too good,” as some ADRL competitors complained.

“I heard that, but I really don’t understand how a track can be too good. To me that just doesn’t make sense; I’m not sure how a drag racing track can be too good. I don’t believe that’s even possible. Myself, I’ll take it like glue,” he said.

Heading to the Texas Motorplex for the Oct. 22-23, Battle for the Belts showdown, Millen said he’s not sure if he’ll do any testing, especially since the tracks he has access to would not be prepped to ADRL national event standards. Plus, he admits to feeling reluctant to change anything on the car at this point.

“I somewhat wish I had the car more sorted out the beginning of the year; I’m sure just like everybody, they want their stuff figured out early, but what’s happened my whole racing career is that I always seem to struggle a little at first and then do well toward the end of each year, that’s just the way it seems to go,” he said. “Some of the stuff we’ve changed we’ve got a little lucky with and I’m obviously happy with that, but I definitely don’t want to change too much.

“We’re going to go out there and do our best and if we can win it that will obviously be amazing, but I’m just hoping to go there and do well.”

{source}
<div style="float:left; padding:5px;">
<script type="text/javascript">
sr_adspace_id = 2000000613807;
sr_adspace_width = 300;
sr_adspace_height = 250;
sr_ad_new_window = true;
sr_adspace_type = "graphic";
</script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://ad.afy11.net/srad.js?azId=2000000613807">
</script></div>

<div style="padding:5px;"><script type="text/javascript">
google_ad_client = "pub-8044869477733334";
/* 300x250, created 4/3/09 */
google_ad_slot = "2028912167";
google_ad_width = 300;
google_ad_height = 250;
</script>
<script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
</div>{/source}