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.

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.”

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. - Clay Millican on pressure to perform

 

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.”