NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

As the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series regular season nears its completion, drivers such as Top Fuel veteran Terry McMillen are battling for their lives to get into the top 10 in points to be eligible for the Countdown to the Championship.

Entering the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, McMillen is just 19 points – less than a round’s win worth of points – behind 10th-place Leah Pritchett in the battle for the final transfer spot.

On the strength of a runner-up earlier this year at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Florida – McMillen’s first final-round appearance – he stayed in the top 10 through midseason before dropping to 11th place after the NHRA New England Nationals. He has been in 11th place since and will need to go at least one round further than Pritchett in Brainerd or at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis if he hopes to take part in the final championship chase.

McMillen assessed his chances in this interview with NHRA’s Amanda Busick from the Wally Parks NHRA Studio.