NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Clay Millican remains the most recent Top Fuel winner in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, and the popular driver has a chance to continue his hot streak in a major way at a track that means so much to him.

Millican and the NHRA return to Bristol Dragway for this weekend’s 22nd annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, and it’s the site of Millican’s first NHRA Top Fuel win, an emotional victory that took place on Father’s Day six years ago.

While that victory may never be topped for Millican, the fan-favorite standout for Rick Ware Racing has a huge opportunity this weekend in his 11,000-horsepower Parts Plus dragster. The postponed NHRA New England Nationals from last weekend will be completed in Bristol on Friday and Saturday, which means two races will take place in Thunder Valley in Top Fuel and Funny Car, as well as the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge. Starting with the first round of eliminations from Epping taking place under the lights in Bristol, to the chance for three rounds of nitro on Saturday — and race day on Sunday at Millican’s favorite track — the veteran has his sights set on a big weekend.

“That’s certainly our game plan,” Millican said. “It’s going to be a little different, and you have to have the mindset that every run matters. You have to drive for the finish line and try to cross that stripe first. I’m so looking forward to this. We just want to win and sometimes you get wild and crazy runs, but the fans sure seem to love it. I love it when the win light comes on, and I’m mad when it doesn’t.”

Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock), and Jerry Savoie (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners in Bristol. Millican’s thrilling victory in Bristol came in 2017, and he also enjoyed a strong turnaround performance last month in Chicago.

He picked up his first win in five years with his Chicago triumph, giving Millican and his team a huge boost heading into Bristol. Millican has praised his time with Rick Ware Racing since Ware purchased the Top Fuel team last year, but the team endured some early struggles in 2023. Those are now behind them, and Millican is looking for more Bristol magic going against the likes of points leader Steve Torrence, defending world champ Brittany Force, Tony Schumacher, Antron Brown, and Austin Prock.

“It’s been pretty awesome how this has all been going,” Millican said. “I’m on a pretty good roll here. That first Bristol win was so important to me. I’ve done a lot of things in my drag racing career, and nothing will top it. For it happened the way it did, in Tennessee and on Father’s Day, nothing will ever top how much that meant. This track is my home race, and we can’t wait for this weekend as well. I think it’s going to be a really cool opportunity this weekend for everyone that’s coming.”

Qualifying begins with the first round at 4 p.m. ET on Friday. The first round of eliminations from the NHRA New England Nationals in Top Fuel and Funny Car takes place during the second qualifying session in Bristol at 8 p.m. ET. The second round will be during the third qualifying session at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Bristol, with the semifinals running in between qualifying sessions on Saturday. That leads into the finals of the NHRA New England Nationals in Top Fuel and Funny Car during final qualifying at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Eliminations for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals begin at noon ET on Sunday. The Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge will run concurrent with the semifinals and finals on Saturday in Bristol in the nitro categories.
 
The weekend’s doubleheader race in Bristol will include extensive coverage on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), starting with NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals qualifying at 7 p.m. on Friday and the first round of eliminations of the New England Nationals at 8 p.m. ET. Final eliminations of the NHRA New England Nationals will be broadcast at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, with Sunday coverage including qualifying action from Bristol at noon ET and eliminations from the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at 7 p.m.

To purchase tickets, fans can visit www.BristolDragway.com. Children 12 and under are admitted free on Friday with a paid adult. Children 12 and under are $10 on both Saturday and Sunday, and $15 for a three-day combo.