Story By: NHRA – BRISTOL, TN – 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 returns 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 raceday 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.”
In Funny Car, defending event winner and back-to-back world champ Capps will attempt to continue his Bristol success on what could be a huge weekend in his 11,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra. His six wins at Thunder Valley leads all Funny Car drivers – and is tied with Schumacher for the most in NHRA history – and Capps has been close to multiple wins this year.
He’s advanced to three finals and the veteran will look to finish the job against a lineup that includes points leader Matt Hagan, Robert Hight, John Force, Alexis DeJoria, Cruz Pedregon, Chad Green, Bob Tasca III, J.R. Todd and Chicago winner Tim Wilkerson.
“There’s just times and places where you seem to do well,” Capps said. “From the first time we’ve raced there, I loved every part of it and we always seem to do well. I’ve won with some great crew chiefs and teams there, and I just love every part of going to Bristol. This track has always been really good to me, and hopefully we can have another great weekend because it’s going to be an epic weekend on Friday and Saturday, and then you wake up and get to race on a Bristol Sunday.”
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 sesion 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 12 p.m. 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 12 p.m. ET and eliminations from the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at 7 p.m.
In Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, eight drivers are set for their Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday as well. Chicago Pro Stock winner and points leader Dallas Glenn will face off with rookie Jerry Tucker, while the other matchup features Deric Kramer and Stanfield. Others to watch in the category include reigning world champ Erica Enders, Greg Anderson, Camrie Caruso and Kyle Koretsky.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Gaige Herrera will race teammate Eddie Krawiec in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, with the other matchup featuring Chip Ellis and Hector Arana Jr. Herrera has been dominant in 2023, winning all three races and building a commanding points lead. He’s making his Bristol debut and will take on the likes of defending world champ Matt Smith, Angie Smith, Steve Johnson and Savoie.
The NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals will also feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Type A Motorsports, Legends Nostalgia Nitro Funny Cars and Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown. Pro Mod will have a double-race weekend, running eliminations from Epping on Friday and Saturday.
Autograph sessions will take place on Saturday at the Toyota Display with Toyota-sponsored drivers, at the Mission Foods display at 11 a.m. on Saturday with PS and PSM drivers in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, as well as a special autograph session and fanfest at the Bristol Dragway Welcome Tent in the midway immediately following final qualifying.
Race fans at Bristol Dragway can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the Bristol event winners.
As always, fans also get an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet in Bristol. Fans can also visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere with displays, merchandise, food, and fun for the entire family.