The decision to keep the MPE Motorsports Top Fuel dragster at home versus entering the NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals in Las Vegas was made by driver Clay Millican, who manages the team for owner Mark Pickens.
Millican, a six-time IHRA Top Fuel champion who now drives exclusively
in NHRA Full Throttle competition, confirmed he made the decision to
ensure the future for the organization. The team will return to
competition in Commerce, Ga., the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern
Nationals, April 16 – 19, 2009, the next event on the NHRA Pro schedule.
“It is Mark's team,” reminded Millican when asked about the decision.
“He put me in charge of his money and I am doing my best to take care
of it.”
Millican said Pickens supported his driver/manager’s decision to skip the fifth race of the 24-race tour.
“Mark told me that he knows what my budget is and appreciates me
treating his money as if it were mine,” Millican said Monday afternoon
from his Memphis, TN.-based shop.