​Never in the wildest dreams of veteran Top Fuel racer Clay Millican’s mind did he ever imagine that he, competing full time with the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, would one day be sharing a team with drivers in NASCAR, IndyCar and a wide range of motorsport disciplines.

“I would have never thought I’d be at the 24 Hours of Daytona or on the starting line of the Indy 500,” Millican said. “That is something I never imagined. But it has certainly expanded my horizon to motorsports a little bit.”

Millican is of course referencing his new partnership with Rick Ware Racing which has taken ownership of his 11,000-horsepower dragster. RWR owns teams in NASCAR, IndyCar, IMSA and a few smaller series. And now, of course, NHRA.

Millican was quick to point to the capabilities of his new team as a big reason behind both his successes, and his struggles, this season.

Millican placed his machine 10th on the ladder Saturday with a weekend-best 3.737 at 329.91 mph and ended up losing in the first round to eventually finalist Justin Ashley.

“The amount of parts and pieces and the inventory has improved greatly,” Millican said. “Obviously it took us a little while to get our feet under us. We were used to those broken-in parts and those new parts tricked us a little bit. (Rick Ware) is a ball of energy all of the time. After every single run the group gets a text from him, whether it is good or bad. He keeps up with all that is happening no matter how busy he is.”

Millican’s reference to the highest of highs and the lowest of lows of course resides in his successes on the track this season. Millican won the race at Chicago earlier this year, but outside of that has not won a round of competition in seven other races. This weekend, he hopes to right the ship.

Of course, a trip to Summit Motorsports Park also brings back a wave of memories for the veteran racer. Millican began his career turning laps at the track with the International Hot Rod Association before having an opportunity to do the same in NHRA competition. In fact, Millican was reminded of just how many years he has been competing at the track when a fan brought to him a press kit to sign from an IHRA season way back in 2004.

“Every blue mood I will put my name (in Ebay) just to see what pops up, but I’ve never seen something like that before,” Millican said. “It is usually hero cards I come across, but that was pretty cool. It brings back a lot of memories. (Former team owner) Peter Lehman was so far ahead of the game back then and he is the reason I am here to do this today.”

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