NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Two years after destroying his family-run Hot 4 Teacher Funny Car during qualifying at the 2022 Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, Alex Miladinovich has done his penance for the regrettable mistake that cost him control of his car — and the car itself — in a horrendous clout against the Pomona guardwall.

The fan-favorite independent Funny Car driver is back in action this weekend with a new car – homebuilt as always – and a new attitude as he continues the long climb back into business.

“I came out swinging, you know, the macho ‘I'm gonna do this,’ and I’ve been in the penalty box for two years paying for that,” he admitted of the accident. “I stayed in it way too long and I had to pay the price. I’m lucky I didn’t get injured, but I learned my lesson. Now I’m just let me go with whatever happens and not force anything. I had to swallow that pill and live with it, but I’m lucky the crews and sponsors stayed around and all the people that wanted to come on board. 

Miladinovich stayed busy during the long rebuilding process, including taking CAD classes that led to him designing a new clutch for nostalgia nitro cars and racing some dirt midgets at Ventura Speedway to keep his car-control skills sharp and the team tested last month in Bakersfield to shake down the new car.

“We broke in all of the new parts and accomplished what we wanted to do,” he said. “We kinda ran out of time but we got to half track and the car was going straight, so I'm feeling good.

Miladinovich, who previously raced a Camry, is under a Ford Mustang shell this weekend as he and fellow Funny Car racers Steven Densham and Jason Rupert made the long drive out to Brownsburg, Ind., to each collect some leftover bodies from John Force Racing.”
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Returning sponsors include Ver Steeg Trucking, RSF RedShirtFriday.com and L&N Linens, and he’s added TransActionLaw.com and Grant Air Conditioning, the latter from a connection with old high school friend Darin Grant. Villa Ford also jumped in, giving the team a new Explorer for its tow vehicle.

With 21 cars o the grounds, Miladinovich knows it’s going to be tough to male the field, especially with the threat of weather Saturday perhaps curtailing some sessions, but he’s determined to do it right this time and be around for more than one event.

“We hope to also run in Phoenix, maybe Las Vegas,” he said. “I tried to get stocked up with enough parts for at least two more races in case something comes along sponsorship wise. I'm just trying to make it happen.”